Maui Invitational returns to the Valley Isle

LAHAINA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Businesses on the Valley Isle are bracing for a busy weekend because the Maui Invitational is back.
After relocating to Oahu last year because of the devastating wildfires, the tourney returns to Maui. For the first time ever the college basketball tournament is kicking off with a festival.
It starts with a three-day celebration this Sunday at the Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows.
“We are committed to rebuilding stronger than ever and we can’t do that without the community and it’s important for us to create a space where we can provide access so our community can start to rebuild and that starts off with events like this,” said Nicholas Kuhns, Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows General Manager.
There will be free live performances featuring Maui artists and a makeke featuring Maui vendors.
“It’s a time to celebrate our culture, our art. It’s time to give businesses a well-needed boost where we can highlight some of the amazing products that are available on Maui for our visitors, also for our kamaaina to just shop, enjoy. Holidays are right around the corner,” said Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement Chief Executive Officer Kuhio Lewis.
The college basketball tournament started at the Lahaina Civic Center 1984.
It moved to North Carolina in 2020 and to Las Vegas in 2021 because of the pandemic. Then it moved to Oahu in 2023 because of the devastating fires.
Now that it is back on Maui, organizers want to celebrate the island’s resiliency by giving the community a much-needed economic boost.
They expect about 7,000 visitors.
“Many of the restaurants are actually looking forward to this because it doesn’t just bring in business for the hotels, of course, but it brings in business to everyone around the entire area, all of the businesses, all of the small shops, the vendors, but also a lot of the students who really want to play in their own careers one day this is something very special for them,” Maui Hotel and Lodging Association Interim Executive Director Naomi Cooper said.
The tournament includes eight men’s college basketball teams which include Memphis, UConn, Colorado, Michigan State, Auburn, Iowa State, Dayton and North Carolina.
Chaminade will not be playing this year but will play in next year’s tourney.
The games start on Monday and end on Wednesday.
Limited single game tickets are still available.
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