The Aloha Stadium Authority is expected to approve on Tuesday the hosting of the 2006 Hula Bowl, according to stadium spokesman Patrick Leonard.

The approval means the college football all-star game will leave Maui after eight years and return to Honolulu for its 60th anniversary game.

The Hula Bowl — Hawai'i's longest-running sports attraction — will be played Saturday, Jan. 21, at Aloha Stadium.

Kickoff is tentatively scheduled for 2 p.m.

State officials received a deposit check and a signed contract from the Hula Bowl last week, reserving the rental of the stadium, Leonard said.

"We committed that date (Jan. 21) to the Hula Bowl," Leonard said.

In addition, Hula Bowl officials want to schedule a press conference in Honolulu sometime in the second week of November, Leonard said.

Dwindling attendance has dogged the game in recent years.

Last year's game drew about 12,000 to Maui's War Memorial Stadium.

In its last game on O'ahu in 1997, the Hula Bowl drew about 24,725. In its heyday, the game drew crowds as large as 49,000.

Also on Tuesday, the authority will vote on a proposed alcohol ban outside the stadium before, during and after regular-season college football games. A ban will not be in place for this University of Hawai'i season.

Alcohol-related misbehavior during UH games is the driving force behind the proposal, which was spearheaded by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.

The public is invited to attend and testify about the proposed ban.

Earlier this month, the State Office of Information Practices said the authority, in its Sept. 29 meeting, violated the state's sunshine law on open meetings when it approved a recommendation to consider banning alcohol outside the facility.

The violation means the authority will have to vote again.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.