The Hawaii Pearl Open has grown from its modest beginnings in 1979 to Hawaii’s largest local golf tournament. Each year, approximately half of the Hawaii Pearl Open field comes from Japan's professional golf tour, along with the country's top amateurs. The other half of the field is comprised of top pros and amateurs from Hawaii, as well as the U.S. mainland and elsewhere.

The Hawaii Pearl Open was established in 1979 by
Mr. Soichiro Honda, founder of the Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Mr. Honda purchased the Pearl Country Club in December 1975. Until his passing in 1991 at the age of 84, he imprinted both the Pearl Country Club and Hawaii Pearl Open with his personal beliefs and energy.

Honda's goals of serving local community first, fostering international goodwill, and providing Hawaii golfers with opportunities to experience top-notch competition, remain the event's guiding principles today.