The 2024 edition of the Maui Invitational college basketball tournament will be played at its traditional home in the Lahaina Civic Center, event operator KemperSports announced on Thursday.
In the wake of the Aug. 8 wildfires on the Valley Isle that killed more than 100 people, damaged or destroyed thousands of structures and came within feet of singeing the exterior of the Civic Center, the decision was made to relocate the prestigious and popular event to the University of Hawaii’s Oahu basketball venue, SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Tournament officials made clear at the time that their intention was to return to Maui, but offered no guarantees until Thursday’s news release. The LCC has been used as a federal relief site in the months after the fires. A visit to the area by Spectrum News on Sept. 6 showed just how close the blaze came to the building; a tree in the middle of a roundabout on its southern side, facing historic Lahaina town, was scorched bare where the flames approached. Much of the hillside was charred, with burned-out structures in direct view.
Meanwhile, the 2024 field is shaping up to be another loaded one on the heels of a 2023 tournament that featured, at the time, the Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 11 teams in the country. Purdue, the current national No. 2, won the event's Wayne Duke Trophy for the first time.
It will be held in its traditional window of Thanksgiving week. Due to come for games Nov. 25 to 27 are Connecticut (current No. 1), North Carolina (7), Iowa State (10), Auburn (13) and Dayton (16), plus Michigan State, Memphis and Colorado.
“We are tremendously excited to bring the tournament back to where it belongs,” Tournament Chairman Dave Odom said in the KemperSports release. “It will be great to showcase the beauty of Maui while watching some of the best college basketball in the country.”
Three hotels at Kaanapali Beach, north of Lahaina – The Westin Maui Resort and Spa, Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa – are being offered to fans of visiting teams who buy tournament packages.
Also Thursday, it was revealed that Maui Jim would return as the title sponsor after Allstate filled that role for the 2023 transplanted tournament.
“As a long-standing community partner, we are looking forward to welcoming the Maui Jim Maui Invitational back to Lahaina,” Maui Mayor Richard Bissen stated. “We appreciate their unwavering support and sensitivity in navigating this difficult time and appreciate their commitment to bringing this much anticipated event back to Maui’s community.”
Tournament officials said $2 million for wildfire relief efforts was raised through the 2023 tournament on Oahu.
The PGA Tournament successfully held its season-opening event, The Sentry, in Kapalua in January.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.