HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's and women's basketball teams will be facing their Division I cousins, the University of Hawai'i in exhibition games on Maui on Saturday, Nov. 2 in upcountry Maui.
The exhibitions are in conjunction between the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA), the County of Maui's Office of Economic Development and UH Manoa for
Kinipopo, Hina'i ma Pukalani, 'Bows vs. Silverswords.
The games will be played at Ka'ulaheanuiokamoku Gymnasium on the Kamehamemeha-Maui High School campus in Pukalani. The women's game will tip at 2 p.m. followed by the men at 5 p.m. The contests will feature concession stands and food trucks along with Maui-based musicians and entertainers will be on hand. Admission is free.
For the Silversword men, exhibitions against their neighbors right down Waialae Ave. have been common with the last meeting between the two teams in Nov. 2021 at the Stan Sheriff Center on the UH Manoa campus.
Traveling to Maui is a biennial event for the 'Swords, who participate in the Maui Invitational every odd year, although the team itself hasn't played on the Valley Island since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the 2021 tournament to Las Vegas and 2023 to UH after the Lahaina wildfires. The 'Swords will return to Maui for the 2025 tournament.
It will be just the second all-time exhibition meeting for the 'Swords' women. Their only other matchup was in Nov. 2010 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The contests are a part of a two-day event, which will also have a basketball clinic for keiki grades 4 through 6 at Lahainaluna High School's Jimmie H. Greig Gym on Friday, Nov. 1 from 5 to 6 p.m. Both the 'Swords and Rainbow Warrior men's teams will assist in the clinic. As space is limited, registration is required.
To register for the clinic, please click
here.
(The Silverswords will hold another clinic in connection with the Maui Invitational, set for Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Dream Courts next to the Lahaina Civic Center. Registration will be announced at a later date.)
"We invite Maui residents to take full advantage of this terrific, free opportunity for our keiki to strengthen their skills and for basketball fans to see both teams showcase their talents right in their backyard," said HTA board chair Mufi Hannemann.
To help facilitate economic recovery for Maui, the Maui Economic Recovery commission identified the opportunity for regular community gatherings that promote healing for displaced families and business recovery.
"We are excited to welcome our collegiate athletes to Maui, not only to highlight talent and dedication, but also to serve as a powerful inspiration for our youth," said Maui County Maui Richard Bissen. "These collegiate athletic experiences will showcase for our young, aspiring athletes what focus, discipline and hard work can accomplish, and the demonstration games will be a wonderful opportunity for family and friends to enjoy the exciting competition while supporting local businesses."
"Sports and recreational activities can play a valuable role in nurturing physical and mental well-being and renewing connections with community," said Micah Kane, CEO and President of the Hawai'i Community Foundation. "We appreciate this partnership with the County of Maui and HTA to support West Maui families in enjoying local basketball games and engaging keiki in skill-building – and the opportunity to provide Maui with an economic boost during the events."
Additional supporters of this event include Kamehameha Schools, Lahainaluna High School, Maui Brewing Company, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, and Polynesian Adventure Tours.
Kinipopo, Hina'i ma Pukalani, 'Bows vs. Silversword is a part of HTA's continuing efforts to uplift the community and support Maui in its rebuilding efforts with funding administered by the Hawai'i Community Foundation.
About the Hawai'i Tourism Authority
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is the state agency responsible for representing The Hawaiian
'Islands around the world, and for holistically managing tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with community desires, economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, and visitor industry needs. HTA works with the community and industry to Malama Hawaii – care for our beloved home. For more information about HTA, visit hawaiitourismauthority.org or follow @HawaiiHTA on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X.'
