Despite the trend of rain showers and gusty winds in early February, the weather cleared up on Feb. 9 and was perfect for beachgoers again. However, many of the beaches here remained relatively empty. That's because thousands of residents and tourists flocked across the street to Kapiolani Park for the Pro Bowl Football Festival.

The free festival resembled an NFL-themed carnival, where football-related games replaced the midway rides, and merchants peddled jerseys and autographed collectors' items instead of elephant ears and funhouse mirrors.

Legions of air blower machines kept the army of bounce houses and kicking and passing games inflated as children of all ages romped around, emulating their favorite players from the gridiron.

"I was so close ... did you see that spiral, Daddy?" a child asked his father while the pair hastened to the next game.

All day families breezed between games, long lines and booths where NFL players and cheerleaders were signing autographs. However, these same stars stepped out of the booths from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the YMCA Youth Football and Cheerleading clinics.

Hawaii National Guardsman Michael Geister of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery Regiment, brought his 10-year-old son Kurt to the football clinic. In addition to meeting a few of the Dallas Cowboys himself, Geiter said he came to watch his son interact with and learn from the pros.

"That's what it's all about," he said.

Both Geisters planned to attend the Pro Bowl the next day.

"It's too bad [the Cowboys] choked in the playoffs," the elder Geister said, but conceded that at least they lost to the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Only a 40-yard dash from the clinics, the U.S. Army's solid black tents stood out like a wide open receiver in the end zone. There, recruiters from stations around Oahu, and even the mainland, ran an Xbox 360 Madden '08 tournament and gave fans a chance to play quarterback at one of two inflatable football tosses.

The Madden tournament winner went home with an Eli Manning Super Bowl jersey, iPod Nano and a replica of the medallion used in the coin toss at this year's Super Bowl.

Though the festival's atmosphere was one of fun and games, recruiters in the tent also encouraged participants to work for their prizes.

Recruiters gave Army T-shirts and bags to adults and children who could crank out 50 and 30 push ups, respectively. Senior citizens earned the same prizes by demonstrating one or two push ups with proper form.

Maj. Omer Ozguc, a family practitioner at Tripler Army Medical Center, encouraged his 11-year-old son, Emre, as he eeked out his last push up. Both also planned to attend the Pro Bowl the following day.

"How many did I do?" the younger Ozguc asked.

Sgt. 1st Class Steve Thomas, Kapolei Recruiting Station, smiled and said "30" as he handed Ozguc his T-shirt and bag.

"[It's about] giving back to the community ... and trying to spark an interest in the Army," said Staff Sgt. Jake Aitaro, Kapiolani Army Recruiting Station.