Authentic Maui Brands Come Together to Bring Sun, Surf and Hoops to Basketball Fans Across the World

Maui Jim signs on as title sponsor of the famed Maui Invitational

MAUI, Hawaii, March 11, 2015-- Two of Maui's most iconic brands, Maui Jim Sunglasses and the Maui Invitational, have joined together to bring the aloha spirit to basketball fans across the nation and the world. Maui Jim, the premium polarized sunglasses company founded on the beaches of Lahaina just minutes from the Lahaina Civic Center, has claimed title to the nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament, the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

The aloha spirit permeates every aspect of Maui Jim. Inspired by the beauty and culture of the island, Maui Jim makes sunglasses that enable beauty, color and clarity to be seen at their finest.

The Maui Invitational has been a magnet for the nation's top college basketball programs and fans for the past 31 years. Not only are some of the most exciting early-season basketball games on display, but the limitless Maui sun and beautiful water inspire thousands of basketball fans to visit the island each year.

"When we looked at the Maui Invitational, we saw an incredibly organic partnership," said Jay Black, vice president, global brand marketing at Maui Jim. "Both brands place a premium on quality, and both are inextricably tied to the island of Maui. We intend to leverage the strength of each other's shared history to reach consumers across the globe."

"We welcome Maui Jim into our family as title sponsor of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational and look forward to collectively bringing Maui to life," said Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperLesnik, the tournament's operator. "Whether among the thousands at the Lahaina Civic Center or the millions watching at home, basketball fans know that the best early-season competition happens in Maui. There is no doubt that Maui No Ka 'Oi – Maui is the best."

The 2015 Maui Jim Maui Invitational will take place Nov. 23-25 and will feature four of the winningest programs in college basketball history, including Indiana, Kansas, St. John's and UCLA. The quartet will also be joined by UNLV, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt, along with host Chaminade, for the 32nd annual event at the Lahaina Civic Center. The teams in this year's field have won 20 national championships, made 47 trips to the Final Four and earned 290 NCAA Tournament berths.

All-Tournament Reserved Travel Packages are now on sale at www.mauiinvitational.com/travel or by contacting the Tournament Travel Department at 800-826-3822.

Media Contact: Dan Mihalik, KemperLesnik, 847-480-4864, dan.mihalik@kemperlesnik.com



SOURCE Maui Jim Maui Invitational through PRNewswire by press release © http://www.mauiinvitational.com