The Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play Championship is the last 72-hole elite amateur tournament currently being conducted in Hawaii.

Its roots come from the Atherton Cup, which started in 1928. During this time, the championship was known as the Territory of Hawaii Amateur Medal-Play Championship and was held at Waialae Country Club. This championship brought together the finest amateur golfers in the territory of Hawaii and ran until 1949. There was no amateur stroke-play championship from 1950-1963. In 1964, Arthur “Babe” Carter inaugurated the first Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Waialae Country Club, where it was played until 1986. In 1984, the Hawaii State Golf Association (HSGA) was formed and gained recognition from USGA as the representative body for amateur golf in Hawaii and has since managed the Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

In 1987, the tournament moved to Pearl Country Club to make it possible to accept more players. Since Waialae was a private club, the field for the tournament was limited and the change of venue allowed twice as many to compete. Today, the championship still resides at Pearl Country Club and showcases the top amateurs in the state as well as a few by special exemption from Japan.

All aspects of a player’s game are tested in a PGA Tour-like format of 72 holes with challenging conditions. Players in contention on the weekend will have to endure the pressure being crowned the Hawaii State Amateur Stroke Play Champion and having their name included among the great golfers of Hawaii.

Many past winners have gone on to tournament success nationally and internationally. These include Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame members Larry Stubblefield (1972 & 1984 Winner, PGA Tour member 1972-1975), David Ishii (1978 Winner, 14 wins on the Japan Golf Tour), and Guy Yamamoto (1995 Winner, 1994 U.S. Amateur Public Links Champion).

Other Hawaii State Amateur winners and Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame members include: Paul Spengler Jr. (1964, 1965), Allan Yamamoto (1966, 1970), Hung Soo Ahn (1967), Wendell Kop (1969, 1971), Al Souza (1973), Brandan Kop (1980.1996), and Dan Nishimoto (1981).

Multiple winners include: Damien Jamila (1990, 1991, 1992, 1998), Regan Lee (1997, 1999), Matt Kodama (2004, 2005), and rising college stars Lorens Chan (2009, 2011), John Oda (2012, 2013) and Kyle Suppa (2014, 2016).