HONOLULU — The University of Hawaii is the leading contender to host the displaced Maui Jim Maui Invitational in November as the historic town of Lahaina begins to recover from devastating wildfires.

With the longtime home of the prestigious early-season college basketball tournament, the Lahaina Civic Center, untouched but adjacent to decimated homes, an alternative site has been sought by Chicago-based tournament operator KemperLesnik.

What You Need To Know

  • The University of Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center is a leading candidate to host the Maui Jim Maui Invitational college basketball tournament Nov. 20-22 in place of the Lahaina Civic Center

  • A deal between UH and Maui Invitational operator KemperLesnik has not been finalized but could be announced Friday, sources told Spectrum News

  • The 40th edition of the Maui Invitational has one of the strongest on-paper fields in its history with powerhouses Kansas, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Marquette and Purdue as the headliners

  • The UH men's basketball team has a Nov. 21 home game against Northern Arizona scheduled that would likely have to be played late that night or relocated

UH’s Stan Sheriff Center is a desirable option for the event Nov. 20-22. The venue can hold 10,300 spectators and is minutes away from Waikiki hotels. An official announcement from KemperLesnik could come Friday, sources told Spectrum News, with tournament officials already on Oahu this week.

The 40th edition of the Maui Invitational has one of the strongest on-paper fields in its history with powerhouses Kansas, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Marquette and Purdue as the headliners to go with UCLA, Syracuse and host Chaminade.

A venue on Maui would’ve been the preferred scenario for the tournament, sources said, but no other locations, like War Memorial Gym in Wailuku or the South Maui Community Park Gymnasium in Kihei, emerged as appealing options with a combination of seating capacity and fiber-optic cable connectivity.

The Lahaina Civic Center, the longtime home of the Maui Invitational, was being used as a FEMA and Small Business Administration relief center as of Sept. 6. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

UH Athletic Director Craig Angelos said on ESPN Honolulu’s Craig Angeles Show on Tuesday night that it there was a strong likelihood the tournament would come to Manoa.

As of Wednesday, sources said some details remained to be hammered out before UH and KemperLesnik could make things official, including what will happen to a Nov. 21 game at the Sheriff between the Rainbow Warrior basketball team and visiting Northern Arizona. Twenty-four hour arena access was also said to be a sticking point.

Stan Sheriff Center’s arena manager, Rich Sheriff, told Spectrum News on Tuesday that discussions were still ongoing.

Should the Maui Invitational’s first appearance on Oahu come to fruition, the tournament may elect to import a special hardwood floor with traditional Maui Invitational branding. There is a precedent; UH hosted the two-game Armed Forces Classic to kick off the 2016-17 season and an elevated court was imported in pieces and assembled for Arizona, Michigan State, Kansas and Indiana to play on.

The Rainbow Warriors had a pre-arranged game that Nov. 11, 2016, night against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. After the arena was cleared out following the Armed Forces Classic games, UH played on the elevated court. One other Rainbow Classic game between Texas State and Florida Atlantic was moved to Iolani School. UH could do something similar with NAU as a late-night affair after the four Maui Invitational games are played on Nov. 21.

The Maui Invitational recently announced an online charity auction, the Hoops for Ohana Auction, for Maui relief with items from past Maui Invitationals signed by the likes of former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, Kansas' Bill Self and Michigan State's Tom Izzo.

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.