HONOLULU — The Los Angeles Rams may be heavily favored to win this Sunday’s Super Bowl, but Mari and Vaigai, Honolulu Zoo’s two resident Asian elephants, had to put their two cents in — with the help of watermelons.

What You Need To Know

  • Super Bowl LVI kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 13 with the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals competing in SoFi Stadium, the Rams’ home turf

  • Mari, one of Honolulu Zoo's Asian elephants, selected the Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl LVI

Zoo staff carved logos of the Cincinnati Bengals (AFC champions) into one watermelon, and the Los Angeles Rams (NFC champions) logo into another. Which watermelon did the pair pick first? More on that later.

In the meantime, the Spectrum Hawaii News staff had a few things of their own to say on the topic with no strong pull either way.

“I live in Los Angeles, but I was born in Cincinnati, so I’ll be happy for either winner,” said Ryan Cooper, managing director of Spectrum Networks West. “On the one hand, it would be great for LA to have a third major sports championship (after the Lakers and Dodgers) in recent years, but I also think it would be great for Cincinnati to experience its first Super Bowl win. As for my prediction, I do believe the Rams have the edge.”

Among the rest of the Spectrum News Hawaii team, all based on Oahu, Digital Executive Producer Nuy Cho said she has no allegiance to either team, but her husband, Robert said, “I don’t really know much because really, the Giants suck. But, it’s a sort of mentor versus mentee being that Matthew Stafford would be the mentor. He’s been in the league as a veteran quarterback, but he’s played on a pretty bad team in Detroit. He’s put up some pretty good numbers throughout the league over the years, but once again, being in Detroit, you know, that really doesn’t measure up too much against being on a losing team for the last seven years. 

“And then you have the mentee — Joe Burrow is a kid that won a Heisman Trophy in college, and a national championship at LSU. I think he’s already in his third year in the league and he’s already been in the Super Bowl; plus he’s coming off of a pretty bad injury. This is a pretty remarkable feat on its own, to get this far — to get the Bengals who are a pretty good team, but who haven’t been in this position in years going back to the Boomer Esiason days in the 80s to this point. My pick would be the Bengals, the underdog playing in an away game in the Rams’ stadium. It’ll be played as a home game for the Rams, who are probably a better team than the Bengals. But I like the underdog and a Cinderella story.”

Brian McInnis, digital sports reporter, weighed in. “I’m pulling for the Bengals because of the human embodiment of swagger that is quarterback Joe Burrow. Also, it’s nice to think that somewhere, Burrow’s former LSU coach, Ed Orgeron, is saying, ‘Joe Burrow … and Geaux Tigers,’ in his distinctive, gravelly voice.” Per McInnis, no bets as of the moment.

“I actually had a long streak — from about 4th grade through my late 20s — of predicting the Super Bowl winner as long as I didn’t bet on the game. So I don’t bet,” shared Lianne Bidal Thompson, digital producer. “I tend to like the stories, so until I realized my Niners had a chance, I really thought it would be the Rams winning at SoFi. But, how can you resist Burrow and the Bengals’ story? So it’ll probably come down to a game-day pick for me.” (She’s leaning toward the Rams.) Thompson noted that she’s most excited to watch the halftime show at SoFi, featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick and Eminem.

There are also many folks who will go about their Sunday like any other Sunday, not getting heated over who wins, who fumbles or who drops the ball (heaven forbid). Michelle Broder Van Dyke, digital journalist, said, “Bengals are large cats and Rams are sheep, right? So maybe I’d pick the Rams because my dog would be mad at me if I pick the cats.” Well said.

Digital political journalist Michael Tsai added, “Oh, I’m a Jets fan, so the Super Bowl doesn’t mean anything to me except jealousy and resentment. And this year I don’t have a Belichick or Brady team to root against. I guess I’ll take the Bengals because that’s almost like the Bangles, and I’m still nursing a 35-year crush on Susanna Hoffs. I’ll wager that Em gets in at least one good dig at Machine Gun Kelly.”

As for the results of the watermelon pick, Mari, at 46 years of age, with allegiance to none, slowly trod to the Cincinnati Bengals (watermelon). Vaigai, at 36 years of age, followed close behind, but chose none. The Rams weren’t even a close second. 

According to Tyris Perreira, mammal curator for Honolulu Zoo, “Watermelon is one of their favorites (fruits). They have many, such as coconuts, cantaloupes, pineapples and exotic fruits. Watermelons are only for special occasions.

“This is the third year that Mari and Vaigai have made their picks for the Super Bowl, and so far, it’s 50/50. It’s always up to Mari because, as the matriarch, she always comes out first.”

Mari came to Honolulu Zoo in 1982 and Vaigai in 1992. Both arrived with their mahout, who stayed to work together with the zoo’s elephant handlers. “Vaigai was born on the banks of the Vaigai River in India; that’s how she got her name,” shared Perreira.

The Super Bowl LVI takes place Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m. from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Don your team colors and shirts, prep the grills, fill the snack bowls and get ready for the Big Game.