Max Holloway launches golf classic to raise funds for Hawai‘i youth

Max Holloway hosted his first-ever golf classic on 19 July 2026 at Turtle Bay Resort on O‘ahu’s North Shore, turning his fight-camp focus toward giving back to Hawai‘i’s next generation.

What happened at the inaugural Max Holloway Golf Classic?

On a sun-baked Friday in mid-July, Max Holloway swapped sparring gloves for a nine-iron and welcomed 128 players to the inaugural Max Holloway Golf Classic at Turtle Bay Resort. The one-day, 18-hole scramble raised money for Hawai‘i youth programs focused on sports, education, and mentorship. Local sponsors and UFC fighters joined Holloway on the links, including lightweight contender Ilia Topuria, who played alongside the event’s namesake.

Why it matters for Max Holloway

Holloway, a native of Waianae, O‘ahu, has long used his platform to spotlight Hawai‘i’s talent pipeline. The classic marks his first major off-field project since his 2023 UFC Featherweight Championship bout against Ilia Topuria in Honolulu. Proceeds from the event will fund scholarships, youth gym upgrades, and free clinics in combat sports and STEM. Organizers say every dollar raised stays in the islands.

Who showed up and what’s next

Beyond Topuria, the field featured UFC veterans like Kai Kara-France and lightweight contenders Alex Pereira and Shavkat Rakhmonov. Holloway’s brother, Moana, served as a co-host, while local chefs provided plate lunches for players. The event capped at 128 golfers and sold out in under 48 hours, a sign of Holloway’s pull in the state.

Holloway hinted the classic could become an annual fixture. “We want this to grow,” he told reporters after sinking a 15-foot putt. “Kids here deserve the same chances I had.” Organizers are already eyeing a 2027 edition with a bigger purse and more celebrity pairings.

How the money will flow

All funds go to the newly formed Max Holloway Foundation, a 501(c)(3) registered in Hawai‘i. The first grants-ranging from $5,000 to $25,000-will be announced in September 2026. Priority goes to programs serving low-income families and Native Hawaiian youth. Holloway matched the first $50,000 raised, doubling the early total.