HAWAIIAN ISLANDS — As most of the nation prepares for a cold and snowy winter, the Hawaiian Islands becomes the hottest sports destination in the United States. Fans looking to get their fill of surfing, football, and golf, will find Hawaii to be a sports mecca in December and January when elite professional and collegiate athletes gather across the Aloha State to compete in some of the most esteemed sporting events. Here’s a sampling of world-class competitions that sports fanatics will definitely want to add to their winter calendar:
- Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (Oahu) – November through December 20 – Three exhilarating events held on the famous North Shore of Oahu. Top surfers from across the globe ascend on the warm Pacific Ocean to ride some of the best monster waves found on the planet. http://www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/
- Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (Oahu) – December 24 – As the country waits for Santa Claus to arrive in his reindeer sleigh, football fans in Hawai‘i celebrate Christmas Eve cheering on the top team in the Mountain West Conference and Conference USA at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. http://sheratonhawaiibowl.com
- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Maui) – January 4-7 – The PGA TOUR’s season opening event welcomes a winners-only field to Kapalua’s Plantation Course for four challenging days of tournament action. With more than 80 golf courses across the Hawaiian Islands and warm tropical weather year-round, it’s no wonder why the best golfers love visiting Maui in January. http://kapalua.com/golf/hyundai-tournament-champions
- Sony Open in Hawaii (Oahu) – January 10-13 – The PGA TOUR’s first full-field event of they year tees it up at the venerable Waialae Country Club on Oahu’s south shore. This course is fan friendly in the sense that it’s easily walkable and located just 15 minutes east of Waikiki. http://sonyopeninhawaii.com
- Mitsubishi Electric Championship (Hawaii, the Big Island) – January 18-20 – Golf takes a swing to the largest Hawaiian Island where emerald green fairways are surrounded by jet black lava rock. The PGA Champions Tour season gets underway at the award-winning Hualalai Golf Course with three days of tournament action on the famed Kohala Coast. http://www.hualalairesort.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/ig.page/PageID/1459