Pro Bowl tailgaters at Aloha Stadium were thankful for the winds Sunday.
It was hot, which is also great for publicity, and it's one of the reasons Pro Bowl fans point to in hoping that the game returns to Hawai'i next year.
It's the kind of fun where you'll stand in line, not knowing who's signing autographs up front.
And although the Pro Bowl is no stranger to Hawai'i, there's always something new happening with the game.
For the first time, players on the field can "tweet" during a game, that is, use Twitter.
Although for many fans here, it wasn't so much about the tweets as it was teams.
Take "Raider Nation," a tailgating section decorated in Oakland Raiders fashion by "Raider Joe" of Royal Kunia.
But although "Joe" is a big Raider fan, he welcomes fans of other teams to his tailgating party. He admits that he didn't meet half the people there until that day.
"Melissa and Carrie - I met them this morning. My nephew Chris from Maui, Skipper from, louisiana," he says. "What I do is share the aloha to everyone from the mainland because their first time, we have to share what we have inside to them, let them know this is what we have."
Yes, sunshine helps sell the state, plus a $4 million fee the state pays the NFL to host the game.
The Hawai'i Tourism Authority says the Pro Bowl generates about $28 million in visitor spending and more than $3 million in state tax revenues.
The game reaches more than 13 million viewers, but it's the aloha that matters here.
"The atmosphere, the people, the excitement, so many things to do here, so much fun to be had it's endless, endless possibilities," said D. Washington, who is visiting from Washington, D.C.
If the Pro Bowl left the state?
"Host it and I'll come back, if not, I won't go," Washington says. "This is the reason, the Hawaiian experience, that's why you want to go to the Pro Bowl, everyone knows the pro bowl belongs in Hawaii....you cannot beat Hawaii!"
Whether we'll see a Hawai'i 2013 shirt, it's not yet known. The contract expires with this game.
But the NFL and state, say negotiations are ongoing.
