Drivers should expect an increase in traffic congestion in the 'Aiea/Halawa area Friday because of the University of Hawai'i football game at Aloha Stadium and the rush of holiday shoppers at Pearlridge Center and area malls, the state Department of Transportation said.

The sold-out UH-Boise State game at the 50,000-seat stadium is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., with tail-gaters allowed in the stadium parking at 10:30 a.m. through the lower Halawa parking gate. Nearby designated parking areas for the game are scheduled to open at 11:30 a.m.

Many stores in the area will start their after-Thanksgiving promotions as early as 5 a.m.

The DOT said traffic around these areas on the H-1 Freeway, Kamehameha Highway and surface streets likely will be higher than usual for most of the day.