The 2002 ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl was the inaugural Hawaii Bowl game and matched the hometown Hawaii Warriors with the Tulane Green Wave. Hawaii came into the game 10âÂÂ3 and Tulane came into the game 7âÂÂ5. The game was sponsored by ConAgra Foods, a packaged foods company.
Hawaii opened the scoring with a 1-yard Thero Mitchell touchdown, to lead the game 7âÂÂ0. In the second quarter, Josh Galeai scored on a 2-yard touchdown run giving the Warriors a 14âÂÂ0 lead. Seth Marler kicked field goals from 22 and 37 yards before the end of the first half to cut the lead to 14âÂÂ6. In the third quarter, Lynaris Elpheage scored on a 60-yard punt return to cut the lead to 14âÂÂ12. Tulane went for two but failed, and the score remained 14-12 Hawaii.
Later, Tulane quarterback J. P. Losman scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. He ran in the two-point conversion, giving Tulane a 20âÂÂ14 lead. Mewelde Moore later scored on a 25-yard touchdown run for Tulane. Tulane went for two again, but were denied, leaving the score 26âÂÂ14 Tulane. Shawn Withy-Allen, subbing for an injured Timmy Chang, threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Colbert in the third quarter to cut the lead to 26âÂÂ21.
Losman scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown. He then threw a pass to Damarcus Davis for the two-point conversion and a 34âÂÂ21 lead. Wide receiver Colbert caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Withy-Allen to cut the lead to 34âÂÂ28. On Hawaii's next drive, Withy-Allen was sacked in the end zone for a safety, making the final margin 36âÂÂ28.