As we prepare for the kickoff of the 55th annual Rivals.com Hula Bowl extravaganza, we should take a moment to give thanks not only for the game but to the people who work hard all year long to produce this wonderful event.

After 18 years of overseeking the Aloha Bowl and Hula Bowl - and adding the Oahu Bowl in 1998 - Lenny and Marcia Klompus gave up the Aloha and Oahu Bowls and relocated to Maui. Their goal was to concentrate exclusively on making the Hula Bowl the No. 1 all-star game in America. Sold-out games, sold-out airplanes, sold-out rental cars, sold-out hotels and condos, totally booked restaurants and activities put millions of dollars into our economy - not to mention the value of the prime-time exposure of Maui on ESPN and around the world coverage on Westwood One radio network.

Some of this year's guests will include Y.A. Tittle, Billy Kilmer, Tony Dorsett, Billy Sims, George Rogers, Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Danny Wuerffel and Kevin Butler, to name a few.

Charities along with the businesses of Maui all profit.

A tip of the hat to all the people in the community who contribue on an annual basis.

N.W. "Skip" Cady III Vice President, Sales and Marketing Consolidated Resorts, Inc. - The Maui News - Maui's Newspaper Since 1900