Hula Bowl in Hawaii Makes a Comeback!

Big news for you sports fans out there! Looks like the Hula Bowl will soon make its way back into the college football rotation – and it will soon find its way to North Carolina and, then, Hawaii!

Jennifer Logan from The Hula Bowl, LLC, recently announced that the company has selected Raleigh, North Carolina as the site where it will celebrate its 72nd anniversary as an independently-administered invitational bowl game. The all-star classic will bring future NFL stars to North Carolina, a hot-bed of collegiate athletics, in January 2018.

“North Carolina is proud to welcome the return of the Hula Bowl,” said The Honorable Pat McCrory, the state’s governor. “Players, coaches and fans will enjoy first-hand the warm Southern hospitality and enthusiasm for college sports that are the hallmarks of our great state.”

Established in 1946 as the Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic, the Hula Bowl has traditionally been played in Hawaii to showcase the top collegiate players and coaches in a time-honored East vs. West all-star gridiron classic. The bowl fell victim to the Great Recession in 2008 and remained dormant until this year when Hula Bowl organizers began to search for opportunities to reintroduce and reimagine the historic bowl game.

Logan said, “In reintroducing the historic Hula Bowl, an East vs. West classic, we decided to name a new East Coast home for the all-star classic. After an extensive search, we discovered that Raleigh and the Triangle region is the natural choice with storied collegiate traditions and enthusiastic fans—eager to welcome the Hula Bowl to its new East Coast home in January 2018. The city and greater Triangle region feature outstanding amenities for visitors, and Carter-Finley Stadium offers a beautiful venue for the action. In addition, the indoor practice facilities at North Carolina State University offer numerous advantages for an event of this scale.”

Following the 2018 North Carolina edition, Hula Bowl organizers expect future bowl games to rotate between Hawaii and North Carolina.

“North Carolina is the sixth most visited destination in the United States,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III. “From the mountains to the sea, to the vibrant Triangle area fans will experience – nothing compares to the many treasures people will discover when they visit our beautiful state.”

The 2018 North Carolina Hula Bowl week is expected to kick off with National Football League player testing and all-star practice sessions and will include opportunities for fans to meet their favorite players, participate in a fan experience, and enter a punt, pass and kick competition in which the winner receives an all-expense paid trip to the 2019 Hula Bowl in Hawaii.

If you’re not lucky enough to win the all-expense paid trip, make sure you make your travel reservations early, as the Hula Bowl in Hawaii is likely to draw quite a crowd. Check-out the great deals and discouts at Hawaii Aloha Travel, and consider booking an All-Inclusive Package, so you can relax in paradise without stressing about the details.

Posted by: Bruce Fisher on Nov 10, 2016