Posted on: Friday, January 4, 2008
State tourism agency chips in to support high-profile sports events
Advertiser Staff
The state's tourism agency yesterday announced it will support a range of sporting events this year — including surfing, soccer, Kona's world-famous Ironman triathlon and big-game fishing.
"High-profile, quality sporting events are invaluable in providing worldwide media coverage for Hawai'i," said Rex Johnson, Hawai'i Tourism Authority president and chief executive officer.
The HTA's Sporting Events Program in 2008 includes:
Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, December. The WAC vs. PAC-10 postseason college football bowl game has been played annually at Aloha Stadium since 2002.
Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, Nov. 12-Dec. 20. It is the world's premier series of professional surfing events.
EA Sports Maui Invitational, Nov. 24-26. The Invitational is a preseason college basketball tournament that draws more than 4,000 visitors to Lahaina.
Pan-Pacific Championship, Feb. 20 and 23. The international soccer tournament draws teams from Asia and North America.
Honolulu Triathlon, May 17-18. The event draws more than a 1,000 competitors each year. The race begins and finishes at Ala Moana Beach Park
Moloka'i World Championships, May 18. The world's elite surfski and outrigger canoe paddlers compete in this race across the Kaiwi Channel.
Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, July 28-Aug. 1. Held in Kona, the annual tournament draws teams from all over the world.
Maui Jim Hawai'i Marlin Tournament Series, June-October. The series consists of six big-game fishing tournaments across the state.
Duke's OceanFest, Aug. 16-24. Surf legends and celebrities participate in surf contests, tandem surfing and surf polo honoring Duke Kahanamoku at Waikiki Beach.
Maui Marathon, Sept. 13 and 14. The Maui Marathon attracts nearly 2,500 runners each year.
Ford Ironman World Championships, Oct. 11. The event attracts more than 1,800 athletes to Kona for a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike race and 26.2-mile run.
XTERRA World Championship, Oct. 19. The world championship began in 1996 with 123 competitors. Now the off-road triathlon, held in Makena on Maui, attracts more than 500 athletes from all over the world.
O'ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association Championship Racing Series, August-October. The series includes the state championships, Elau Hoe, Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Moloka'i Hoe.
XTERRA Half Marathon World Championship, Dec. 7. The off-road trail running event is a culmination of more than 20 qualifying races in a dozen countries throughout the year.
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