LAHAINA, Hawaii – The Maui Invitational returns to the Lahaina Civic Center for the first time since wildfires devastated the area and killed 101 people.
The tournament will be played Nov. 25-27 after moving to Honolulu earlier this season.
“As a long-standing community partner, we look forward to welcoming the Maui Jim Maui Invitational back to Lahaina,” Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement Thursday. “We appreciate your unwavering support and sensitivity as we navigate this difficult time and appreciate your commitment to bringing this long-awaited event back to the Maui community.”
The deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century devastated the historic city of Lahaina on August 8, thousands of residents lost their homes and most of the city's downtown was reduced to ashes. The death toll rose to 101 this month when the remains of 76-year-old Paul Kasprzycki were identified. There are still two people missing.
The Lahaina Civic Center was saved from the flames, but officials opted to move the Maui Invitational to Oahu. No. 2 Purdue beat No. 4 Marquette in the title game.
The 2024 Maui Invitational includes top-ranked UConn, No. 7 North Carolina, No. 10 Iowa State, No. 13 Auburn and No. 16 Dayton. Colorado, Memphis and Michigan State round out the field.
