Kalapaki Beach will host the Duke’s Kauai College Invitational Nov. 20–22, with teams from the University of Hawai‘i, Cal Poly, Florida State and Boise State competing. Admission is free; fans can watch at the courts or stream the matches online.
The invitational also includes community activities, among them a meet-and-greet with local keiki and a lo‘i work project, according to The Garden Island.
Keiki may also sign up for an opportunity to meet players on the invitational’s final day.
Duke's Steps Into the Spotlight
Duke’s Kauai has supported the tournament since it began in 2023, but this is the first year the restaurant’s name is part of the official event title, according to The Garden Island. General Manager Derek Kessler said the restaurant hopes to build on its existing community partnerships through the event.
The invitational also draws on a longstanding partnership with Kauai Beach Volleyball and the annual Kauai Beach Invitational, the outlet reported.
A Beach With Tournament Pedigree
The 2026 invitational follows a separate Kauai Invitational held at Kalapaki Beach in 2025. In its report on that past event, The Garden Island said Hawai‘i, UCLA and Cal Poly competed in Best of 9’s play; the teams were ranked No. 11, No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, at the time. That event was also free to attend.
The 2025 event included a Saturday Keiki Playday, with aspiring young players invited to a meet-and-greet from 8 to 9:30 a.m., The Garden Island reported. Those details describe last year’s event and do not specify the sign-up process for the 2026 invitational.
One Team’s Season Calendar
The Kalapaki event is one point on the teams’ calendars: according to Cal Poly Athletics, Cal Poly’s announced 2026 schedule was set to officially open Feb. 20 at the Third Coast College Classic in Houston.
