Hilo Golf Classic, Tokyo Team Visit Highlight Local Sports News

Upcoming golf tournament, exhibition baseball games, and hole-in-one feats make headlines in Hawaii this week.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The 40th Annual Hilo Golf Classic is set for March 28 at Hilo Municipal Golf Course, with registration open until March 13. Meanwhile, the University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball team will host Chuo University Junko (semi-hardball) Baseball of Tokyo, Japan for a pair of exhibition games this weekend. Additionally, Makani Golf Club in Hawaii has seen three players record hole-in-ones over the past week.

Why it matters

These local sports events and achievements highlight the vibrant athletic community in Hilo and across Hawaii, fostering competition, international exchange, and community pride.

The details

The Hilo Golf Classic offers two registration options - a $300 two-player team package and a $700 hole-sponsor team package. The Vulcans baseball team is hosting the visiting Tokyo squad for the second time, with the teams previously meeting in 2017 before the 2020 matchup was canceled due to COVID-19. At Makani Golf Club, three golfers - Gerry Mendyk, Marius Stensby, and Darolyn Skelton - each recorded a hole-in-one over the past week.

  • The 40th Annual Hilo Golf Classic will be held on March 28, 2026.
  • Registration for the Hilo Golf Classic is open until March 13, 2026.
  • The Vulcans baseball team will host the Tokyo team for exhibition games this weekend (February 28-29, 2026).
  • The hole-in-one feats at Makani Golf Club occurred on various dates this past week.

The players

Hilo Golf Classic

An annual golf tournament held at Hilo Municipal Golf Course in Hilo, Hawaii.

University of Hawaii at Hilo Vulcans

The baseball team of the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Chuo University Junko (semi-hardball) Baseball

A baseball team from Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan that is visiting Hawaii for exhibition games.

Gerry Mendyk

A golfer from Calgary who recorded a hole-in-one at Makani Golf Club.

Marius Stensby

A golfer from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii who recorded a hole-in-one at Makani Golf Club.

Darolyn Skelton

A golfer from Lake Tahoe, California who recorded a hole-in-one at Makani Golf Club.

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What they’re saying

“Baseball has served as a bridge between our cultures. These exhibition games are more than just competition — they're an opportunity for international friendship and a celebration of the game we all love.”

— Garett Yukumoto, Interim Head Coach, Hawaii Hilo Baseball (hawaiitribune-herald.com)

The takeaway

These local sports events and achievements in Hilo and across Hawaii demonstrate the vibrant athletic community and international connections that exist in the region, fostering competition, cultural exchange, and community pride.