Edison, El Toro Will Hang Loose in Hawaii

There are worse ways to start a football season.

Edison and El Toro will play their season openers this weekend in Hawaii. Thursday, Edison will play Punahou and El Toro will play Kamehameha at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, site of college football’s Aloha and Hula Bowls and the NFL’s Pro Bowl.

Although it’s the fifth trip to Hawaii for Edison, it’s the first football trip for El Toro Coach Mike Milner. He can’t wait to see the North Shore after enduring the painstaking planning.

“It started with [El Toro girls’ athletic director] Sherri Ross, who knew someone at Kamehameha,” Milner said. “One thing led to another and unfortunately, my assistants got wind of it and they forged ahead.

“I wish I had a quarter for every yellow note pad I’ve gone through, jotting things down and making arrangements. Then, I wouldn’t have to coach anymore.”

Travel agent Milner has an itinerary filled every day from 6 a.m. to midnight for the 150 people in the El Toro party, which includes approximately 100 players and coaches.

Edison is taking 200 people, but Coach Dave White is right at home being the ringleader.

White said fund-raisers such ascar washes, local merchant coupon books and raffle tickets for a supermarket shopping spree helped the Chargers pay for their trip, which will begin with a chartered flight.

“Some kids raised so much money they didn’t have to pay a dime for this trip,” White said. “Every trip has been a great experience for the players and parents.

“Some have never traveled out of California. So we’ll go to a luau, visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial, go to Diamond Head. Everyone has always been well-behaved and I think we become a closer team over there.”

But does White worry about monitoring the activities of 85 teenagers?

“The kids have free time and each coach is responsible for about nine kids,” White said. “I lay down the law before we go. They know there’s consequences.”

For the El Toro entourage, Milner’s jam-packed schedule may not afford his players much opportunity to get into trouble. And Milner, an avid surfer who tries to vacation in Hawaii at least once a year, has plenty of fun activities planned.

He may even try to sneak out for some pre-6 a.m. surfing.

“My 9-year-old son Michael is going and he likes it too,” Milner said. “I’m sure we’ll find a way to get out there.”