RELEASE NUMBER 55 | 26
HONOLULU – The 60th Annual OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic tips off Friday, Nov. 6, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, celebrating six decades of college basketball in Honolulu while shining a spotlight on a cause that hits close to home for many Hawaiʻi families.
This year’s tournament also marks the 10th annual Coaches vs. Cancer Hawai‘i initiative led by University of Hawaiʻi Head Coach Eran Ganot. Since 2017, the effort has raised more than $200,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge Hawaiʻi, providing critical support for cancer patients and caregivers who must travel to Oʻahu for treatment.
Located at 251 South Vineyard Street in Honolulu, Hope Lodge offers a free home away from home for patients receiving cancer treatment and their caregivers. The 20-room facility opened in 2016 through community support, including a lead gift from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation and land donated by The Queen’s Medical Center. Since its opening, Hope Lodge has helped thousands of patients and caregivers access treatment without the added burden of lodging expenses.
“Through Coaches vs. Cancer, we’ve seen how something as simple as having a place to stay can make a real difference for families facing cancer,” said Ganot. “We’re grateful to everyone who has supported this effort over the years and helped ensure that patients and their loved ones have a place to call home while receiving treatment.”
OUTRIGGER has served as a presenting and title sponsor of the Rainbow Classic for nearly three decades and continues to support the tournament’s community impact through its partnership with UH Athletics.
“The Rainbow Classic has been part of Hawaiʻi’s sports tradition for 60 years, and we’re grateful to have been part of that history for nearly 30,” said Sean Dee, executive vice president at OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group. “But what makes this year’s tournament especially meaningful is the opportunity to help support Hope Lodge. For families traveling to Oʻahu for cancer treatment, having a free place to stay can take away one significant worry at an already difficult time. We’re honored to support Coach Ganot and everyone working to make that possible.”
Fans can support the cause by purchasing golden raffle tickets for a chance to win a custom longboard during Friday’s tournament and bidding on auction items online at coachesvscancerhawaii.org. All proceeds benefit Hope Lodge.
The Rainbow Classic began in 1964 when broadcaster Chuck Leahey and then-head coach Red Rocha created the tournament to bring college basketball to a community dominated by football and high school sports. Today, it holds the distinction of being the longest-running preseason collegiate basketball tournament in the country.
The University of Hawaiʻi men’s basketball program has won the Rainbow Classic 17 times and returns looking for its third consecutive championship after winning in 2024 and 2025.
The 2026 tournament field includes Bethesda, UT Arlington, Portland and Hawaiʻi. The Rainbow Warriors open against Bethesda on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. HT, followed by UT Arlington on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. and Portland on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. Find more tournament details at hawaiiathletics.com.
At each UH game, one lucky fan in attendance will win tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Auana paired with a one-night stay at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel. Nightly OUTRIGGER PaddleCam winners will receive $100 gift certificates to Kani Ka Pila Grille at OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort and every time the Bows make a 3-pointer – the marketing team will toss “Our Team, Hawai‘i’s Team” tee shirts into the crowd.
Local residents and visitors can make it a full weekend by booking a stay at OUTRIGGER properties across Waikīkī using promo code UHFANFARE. Learn more at outrigger.com.
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