HONOLULU — After a one-year absence, the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic is returning to the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team's schedule, November 9 and 11-12, 2012, at the Stan Sheriff Center. Outrigger Hotels has been the tournament's title sponsor since 1995 and will continue to support this action-packed competition.
 
The 48^th edition of the prestigious tournament will kick off the 2012-13 season for the Rainbow Warriors. The complete 2012-13 schedule will be released at a later date.
 
“The Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic is a long-standing tradition in the community,” said David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group. “We're happy to see its return this year and look forward to working with the University of Hawai'i to host an exciting tournament for both the talented student-athletes and spectators.”
 
The teams joining host-Hawai'i in this year's tournament include Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Houston Baptist, and Maryland-Eastern Shore. The game schedule is as follows (times to be announced):
 
Nov.  9            Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Houston Baptist                       
                        Hawai'i vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore                             
 
Nov. 11           Houston Baptist vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore               
                        Hawai'i vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff                                        
 
Nov. 12           Maryland-Eastern Shore vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff         
                        Hawai'i vs. Houston Baptist                                               
 
“As a Hawaii-based company for the last 65 years, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is deeply committed to the betterment of our community,” added Carey. “We're especially proud to support the UH Athletics Department because its staff helps bridge responsibility and leadership with academics, to create a solid base for the youth of Hawai'i.”
 
“We truly appreciate the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts,” said Rainbow Warrior head coach Gib Arnold, “and its steadfast support of the Rainbow Classic and our men's basketball program. We can't wait to start our season and tip it off once again with a tournament that has been such an island tradition.”
 
“Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has been a staunch supporter of UH student-athletes for nearly two decades and continues to go above and beyond with its employee volunteers at games, fantastic prizes for fans and gear for student-athletes,” said Jim Donovan, UH athletics director. “We consider Outrigger Hotels and Resorts as part of our UH 'ohana and are sincerely grateful for its continued aloha and support.”
 
As a Platinum Corporate Partner with UH athletics and proud supporter of Hawai'i's student-athletes for the past 18 years, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts serves as the title sponsor for the following: Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Volleyball Invitational, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Wahine Soccer Tournaments, and the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Baseball Season-Opening Weekend.
 
In addition, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts sponsors the “Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Paddle Cam” at all basketball and volleyball matches in the Stan Sheriff Center, awarding hotel stays or restaurant certificates to UH fans.
 
 
About Outrigger Enterprises Group
Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest growing privately-held leisure lodging and hospitality companies in the Asia Pacific and Oceania regions and continues to expand its presence throughout the area. A family-owned company with 65 years of hospitality experience, Outrigger runs a highly-successful, multi-branded line of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger® Hotels & Resorts, OHANA® Hotels & Resorts, Embassy Suites®, Best Western®, and Wyndham Vacation Ownership®. Currently, Outrigger operates and/or has under development 45 properties with close to 11,000 rooms located in Hawaii; Australia; Guam; Fiji; Bali; Thailand; Vietnam; and Hainan Island, China. Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in Hawaii, the Pacific, and Asia. For on-line information, log on at www.outriggerenterprisesgroup.com and www.outrigger.com.