The 2023 Maui Invitational will relocate to the island of O’ahu while the Lahaina Civic Center “continues to serve as a critical hub for Maui wildfire recovery efforts,” the tournament announced Friday. The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s Stan Sheriff Center will host the event from Nov. 20 to 22.
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The Athletic previously reported the tournament would be moved to Honolulu out of respect for the people who have been affected by the wildfires.
Initially, organizers hoped to keep the Thanksgiving tournament on the island and infuse financial support to the devastated community, but instead opted to relocate to allow people space to recover. Additionally, the Lahaina Civic Center, where the tournament is traditionally played, is being used for FEMA and other relief workers, and much of the fiber optics needed to televise the event have been damaged.
Organizers also hope to use the relocated tournament as a continued fundraising effort for the victims of the Maui fires. Already, the Maui Invitational has launched Hoops for Ohana, an online auction of basketball memorabilia, game tickets and gear, and several schools have partnered to host charitable exhibition games.
This year’s field includes Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA and Chaminade.
“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,” Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperSports LIVE, operator of the Maui Invitational, said in a release.
“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 Hawai’i at Mānoa for working tirelessly with us to keep this year’s Tournament in Hawai’i.”
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(Photo: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images)
