Hula Bowl vows to play on in 2021

Despite cancellations by other sports events, the Hula Bowl says it is planning to go ahead with its Jan. 31 game at Aloha Stadium and has sent out its first batch of invitations to players.

“It is an honor to be able to hold this winter classic in Hawaii next year after the unprecedented events of 2020,” Rich Miano, the game’s executive director, said in a release. “Sports fans across the nation now have an exciting event to look forward to after the disappointment of several sporting events being canceled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The game said it will “follow all applicable guidelines on health and safety protocols.”

The all-star game, which was revived and returned to Hawaii in 2020, said it again plans to include players from several levels of the NCAA as well as athletes from Japan, Canada, Australia, and Polynesia in a showcase game for scouts from the NFL and Canadian Football League.

The CBS Sports Network will carry the game, a spokesman said.