Maui Invitational nears long-awaited return to Lahaina
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - In another key step for Lahaina’s recovery, the Maui Invitational returns to the Valley Isle this weekend.
One of the nation’s premier college basketball tournaments is back on Maui after relocating last year due to the wildfires.
”I think college basketball and the Lahaina Civic center are just so intricately tied together,” said tournament director Nelson Taylor. “The Maui Invitational is really the first of its kind of multi-team event and early season tournament. It’s got great prestige.”
Due to last year’s wildfires and the COVID pandemic, the tournament has been away from the Valley Isle for three of the last four years.
Once again, the field is stacked with powerhouse programs including defending champion UConn, North Carolina, Michigan State and Auburn — all squaring off at the Lahaina Civic Center.
“Coaches really love playing in the venue,” Taylor explained. “It really for a lot of them reminds them of places they started their career or for some of them, even worked their way up through high school or other coaching avenues. They just love that feel of the gym.”
The tournament is expected to bring in over 6,000 visitors with an economic impact of $24 million — a desperately needed win for the Maui small business community.
“It’s extremely exciting,’” said Cheryl Daniels, general manager of Aloha Mixed Plate. “We’re so grateful that they thought to come back to us to give us the opportunity to showcase that restaurants are open and drive business our way.”
Aloha Mixed plate is located at the end of Front Street. It was spared by the fires, but has felt its financial effects as visitor traffic remains low.
”We don’t have a lot of tourism,” Daniels said. “There’s not a lot that Lahaina town has to offer, so the four or five restaurants that are right here close by to the Civic Center is all there is, so we’re extremely grateful.”
As businesses gear up for a long-awaited boost, tournament organizers want the event to send a message nationally that Maui is ready to once again welcome back visitors.
”We are hopeful that the tournament would be that shining light and kind of beacon for everybody to show that west Maui is open,” Taylor said.
“We are moving forward on Maui and really encouraging people to come back and experience Maui.”
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