LAHAINA, Maui, Hawai'i – This year's
Maui Jim Maui Invitational will shift to the island of O'ahu while its traditional home court – the Lahaina Civic Center – continues to serve as a critical hub for Maui wildfire recovery efforts. The 2023 Tournament will take place at the Stan Sheriff Center on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Manoa' from Nov. 20 to 22.
All eight teams from the original field are participating, including five that are in the top 10 of
ESPN's early preseason poll: Kansas (#1), Purdue (#3), Gonzaga (#7), Tennessee (#8) and Marquette (#10).
"While we have to move this year's Tournament off of Maui, we are determined to celebrate and honor the culture and traditions that make this event so special," says Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperSports LIVE, the operator of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. "Throughout this process, we've seen the spirit of 'ohana in action. Thank you to Governor Josh Green, Hawai'i Tourism Authority, and Mayor Richard Bissen as well as the staff at Chaminade University of Honolulu and University of Hawaii at Manoa' for working tirelessly with us to keep this year's Tournament in Hawaii."
All previously purchased tickets will be honored and located in similar seats in the Stan Sheriff Center. Additional tickets will go on sale in early October at
mauiinvitational.com. Fans who have previously purchased Tournament travel packages will be offered comparable travel packages with beach hotels in Honolulu.
"We are disappointed that we could not make the Lahaina Civic Center available for the Maui Jim Maui Invitational this year, but we are thankful the Tournament is staying in Hawaii," says Richard Bissen, Mayor of Maui. "We appreciate everything the Maui Jim Maui Invitational is doing to help Maui and its residents."
The Tournament returns to the city where it all began. In 1982, Chaminade, then an NAIA school, beat No. 1 Virginia in Honolulu – a game that remains arguably the biggest upset in college basketball history. The infamous game was played at the Blaisdell Center which is just 2 ½ miles away from the Stan Sheriff Center.
Chaminade has played six all-time games at the Stan Sheriff Center, all against the University of Hawai'i, five of them as exhibitions.
"The Maui Jim Maui Invitational is a great event that celebrates all of Hawaii," says Josh Green, Governor of Hawaii. "We look forward to welcoming players, staff and fans to O'ahu and using the Tournament and its international TV audience as a way to bring attention to and raise funds for Maui recovery efforts."
The Maui Jim Maui Invitational has long been considered the preeminent early season college basketball tournament. Combined, the eight teams in this year's field – Tennessee, Syracuse, Purdue, Gonzaga, Kansas, Chaminade, UCLA and Marquette – boast 263 NCAA Tournament appearances; 17 NCAA Tournament Championship Titles; and three AP Coach of the Year award winners – Mark Few (2017); Bill Self (2009, 2016); and Shaka Smart (2023).
The
Maui Jim Maui Invitational launched the
Hoops for 'Ohana online auction last week in partnership with Hawai'i Community Foundation's
Maui Strong Fund. All the proceeds will go directly to wildfire relief and recovery efforts. Fans can bid on unique items donated by past Maui Jim Maui Invitational basketball programs and Tournament partners. To learn more, visit
mauiinvitational.com/hoopsforohana.
For more information on this year's Tournament, visit
mauiinvitational.com.
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About the Maui Jim Maui Invitational
In December 1982, then No. 1 ranked Virginia, led by National College Player of the Year Ralph Sampson, played little-known NAIA Chaminade University in Honolulu while on the way back from a trip to Tokyo. The Silverswords stunned top-ranked Virginia 77-72 in one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history. Two years later, in 1984,
Chaminade University hosted the first
Maui Jim Maui Invitational and it has proven to be the premier early-season college basketball tournament for 36 years running. Each year, the Maui Jim Maui Invitational attracts the top programs, best-known coaches and most outstanding players to compete in an exciting atmosphere at the
Lahaina Civic Center near the beautiful beaches of
Maui.
About Maui Jim Sunglasses
Maui Jim sunglasses were born on the beaches of Maui; designed to protect eyes from the harsh rays of the island sun. Today, Maui Jim is the world's fastest-growing premium polarized sunglasses brand and is sold in more than 100 countries. Maui Jim is recognized for its unparalleled "Aloha Spirit", customer service, and advanced, patented PolarizedPlus2® lens technology. All Maui Jim sunglasses block 100 percent of harmful UV rays and eliminate reflected glare while enhancing color, clarity, and detail. Maui Jim sunglasses have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as an effective UV filter for the eyes and surrounding skin. In 2022, Maui Jim became part of Kering Eyewear, which belongs to the global Luxury group Kering. For more information, visit MauiJim.com or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at @OfficialMauiJim.
About KemperSports LIVE
KemperSports LIVE, a division of KemperSports, is focused on operating and managing sports events, elevating brands through sponsorships and activation, delivering client value through sponsorship sales, and generating high impact sport and event PR. The team has managed and operated major national events and partnerships, including the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, the Asheville Championship, the McDonald's All American Games, the POWERADE Jam Fest, activation for KitchenAid and its PGA of America partnership, and the Jr. NBA. For more information, visit
www.kempersportslive.com.
