Can't miss
- The ha'a Before kickoff, Hawaii's players face the crowd and perform the ha'a, a Polynesian war chant. The stadium goes quiet for it.
Quick answers
What time do the Hawaii tailgate lots open?
The Zone 13 tailgate lots on upper campus open 4 hours before kickoff. Tailgating ends 30 minutes before kickoff, with everything packed back into your vehicle, and there's no tailgating after the game.
Can you grill at Hawaii tailgates?
Only in the Zone 13 tailgate lots, with a gas grill on a 5 to 25 lb propane tank and an ABC fire extinguisher on hand. UH's game day page bans cooking devices outside the tailgate area, including the Zone 20 structure. Charcoal, wood, fryers, smokers, fire pits and tabletop burners aren't allowed, and no grilling under a tent.
Can you drink at Hawaii tailgates?
No. UH doesn't allow alcohol in the tailgate lot. Fans 21 and over can drink at the free Rooftop Paina beer garden before the game or buy canned drinks inside the Ching.
Do you need a ticket to tailgate at Hawaii?
You need a Zone 13 tailgate pass, one per vehicle, bought online ahead of time. UH's policy makes each pass holder responsible for making sure everyone in their group has a game ticket.
How do you buy parking at Hawaii?
Tailgate passes and Lower Campus Zone 20 passes are sold online in advance only. Without one, park in the Upper Campus general lots on game day, paid at the East-West Road or Maile Way booths by card or mobile wallet. No cash.
The game-day timeline
- 4 hrs beforeParking gates and the Zone 13 tailgate lots open
- 3 hrs beforeRooftop Paina opens on level 5 of the Zone 20 structure
- 2.5 hrs beforeThe team is dropped off on Dole Street and walks through the rooftop
- 2 hrs beforeStadium gates and the ticket office open
- 30 min beforeTailgating ends and the Paina wraps. Everything goes back in the car
- 1 hr afterTailgate area vehicles must be gone or get towed
Where to park
Tailgating happens in one place: the Zone 13 lots on upper campus. Everything else is parking only.
- Tailgate lots
- Zone 13 on upper campus, along Correa Road from Campus Center to Kennedy Theatre. One pass, one car, one space, first come first served, no saving spots.
- Getting in
- Upper campus gates are East-West Road off Dole Street and Maile Way off University Avenue.
- Lower Campus
- Zone 20 parking structure next to the Ching, pre-purchased online only. No tailgating, and no eating or drinking outside your car.
- No pass
- Upper Campus general lots on game day, paid at the East-West Road or Maile Way booth. Card or mobile wallet only.
- Oversized
- No RVs, campers, trailers, big trucks or vans for more than 8 in the tailgate area.
- Accessible
- Kupuna and ADA drop-off is in front of the Center for Disability Studies on Lower Campus. Enter from Dole Street or the H-1 UH exit.
Have your pass on your phone or printed and ready to scan at the gate. Without one, you'll be sent to the upper campus general lots.
From the tailgate lots it's about a 5 to 10 minute walk down to the Ching, so it's an easy walk back after the game.
No car? Rideshare drop-off and pickup is in front of the Center for Disability Studies on Lower Campus, across from the Stan Sheriff Center loading dock. Drivers exit through the Varsity Gate.
The rules
Rules last verified Oct 15, 2026 against hawaiiathletics.com and hawaii.edu.
UH's tailgating policy is long and specific. These are the rows that change what goes in your car.
- Grills
- Gas only, in Zone 13 only: 5 to 25 lb tank, ABC extinguisher, 15 feet from buildings, not in the lot below the Physical Science Building. Cooking devices are banned outside the tailgate area.
- Not allowed
- Charcoal, wood, open fires, deep fryers, smokers, fire pits and tabletop propane or butane burners.
- Alcohol
- None in the tailgate lot. No drinking games either.
- Tents
- Allowed in your space with no stakes or pegs, off the grass and walkways, 10 feet from buildings. No grilling under a tent.
- Power and sound
- Generators 600W or less, 15 feet from buildings. Music can't carry past 5 feet or top 80 decibels.
- Your space
- Set up in front of or behind your car and stay out of drive lanes. No ball games, drones, bikes or scooters.
- When it ends
- 30 minutes before kickoff. Everything goes back in the car and the lot is cleared. No tailgating after the game.
- Bags at the gate
- One clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a 5.5 x 8.5 inch clutch. No coolers or outside food.
- Gates open
- 2 hours before kickoff. Re-entry is allowed at designated gates.
Before you go
Hawaii football game day informationHawaii football tailgating on campusUH Manoa tailgating policies (PDF)Rainbow Warrior football Rooftop PainaUH tailgating area mapOfficial pages. Rules change; check them the week of the game.
Pack for Honolulu
What we'd bring.
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Ultralight Tall-Back Camp Chair
$45
Ships free
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27 qt Hard Cooler, 24 Cans
$199
Ships free
A hard cooler that fits the trunk and the tight space behind the car.
More for this lot
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Tire Table Aluminum, Medium: Table That Mounts on Your Tire$199.95 · Ships free
Honolulu stays warm through the fall, and showers pass quickly. Bring shade, sunscreen and a weighted tent.
Gear for Hawaii fans
In stock now.
Where the party is
Hawaii tailgates on upper campus, a short walk up the hill from the Ching, in a strip of lots that runs along Correa Road. The lot is dry, so if your crew wants a beer before the game, UH puts the beer garden on the stadium-side parking structure roof.
The tailgate
Zone 13 lots
The only lots where UH allows tailgating, along Correa Road from Campus Center to Kennedy Theatre. Gas grills, tents without stakes and small generators are allowed in your space.
The free party
Rooftop Paina
A free pregame on the fifth floor of the Zone 20 parking structure next to the Ching, from 3 hours before kickoff to 30 minutes before. It has live music, local vendors and a beer garden, and the team walks through about 2.5 hours out.
The walk
Dole Street
The team is dropped off on Dole Street about 2.5 hours before kickoff and walks through the rooftop on its way into the Ching.
What to eat
Gas grills are the only cooking UH allows in the lot, so a lot of tailgates come ready to serve. Food and drink are also sold at the Rooftop Paina.
Cook thisHuli huli chickenGetting out
Lower campus empties through a few gates, and the tailgate lots are up the hill. Your options, best first:
- Walk back up to Zone 13. It's a 5 to 10 minute walk, and you have 60 minutes after the game to drive out.
- Meet your rideshare at the Center for Disability Studies. That's the official pickup. Drivers leave through the Varsity Gate.
- Follow the parking staff. Officers and UH parking staff direct traffic out of both campuses on game day.
Skip this
Linger in the lot after the game. UH tows tailgate area cars still there an hour after the final whistle.
First time here?
- Buy the Zone 13 tailgate pass online before game day. None are sold at the gate.
- Lots open 4 hours before kickoff. Pack up 30 minutes before.
- Gas grills only, and only in Zone 13, with a 5 to 25 lb tank and an extinguisher.
- No alcohol in the lot. The beer garden is at the Rooftop Paina.
- No tailgating in the Zone 20 parking structure.
- Clear bag only, and no coolers past the gate.
Visiting? How to join a tailgate
The Rooftop Paina is free and open to everyone, so it's the easy first stop. In the Zone 13 lots, bring something to share and say hello before you step into a setup.
Free · one page · works offline
Your Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex game-day sheet, by email
One page for the lot: where to park, when it opens, what you can bring.
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