In its latest reincarnation, the Hawaii State Open will return to its royal golf roots.

The Mauna Lani Resort Hawaii State Open will be Dec. 14-16 on the island of Hawaii. The tournament had been at Turtle Bay the past three years. Previously, it had been played at Hawaii Prince, Mauna Kea, Hapuna, Makena, Makaha, Ala Wai and Pali.

And that was just the revival of the original “Hawaiian Open,” which began in 1928 as the Medal Championship of the Territory. It was played predominantly at Waialae and Oahu Country Clubs, but also moved to Maui Country Club (1930, ‘32 and ‘59), Kalakaua (1941) and Hilo Country Club (1951). Jimmy Ukauka won four Hawaiian Open titles over a span of 17 years, all on different courses.

Ukauka was in the first class inducted into the Hawaii Golf Hall of Fame in 1988. So was Francis I‘i Brown, a royal descendant affectionately known as “Mr. Golf” in Hawaii.

Brown’s golf accomplishments were mind-boggling. He set course records at St. Andrew’s and Pebble Beach, regularly played in Bing Crosby’s Clambake and, in one brilliant year, was the amateur champ of Hawaii, Japan and California. Closer to home, Brown won a record nine Manoa Cups.

His history with the State Open goes back to its infancy. The tournament was born — not coincidentally — about the same time Waialae opened, with Brown as a founding member.

Now it will be played on Mauna Lani’s Francis I‘i Brown North and South Courses. Brown bought his Kalahuipua’a retreat, named after its royal fishponds, in 1932 for $3,700. It would become the Mauna Lani Resort. The Territorial legislator and avid sportsman died in 1976, but during his life he would go to Kalahuipua’a to “replenish his Hawaiian soul in the same ways his ancestors did,” said his nephew, Kenneth F. Brown.

When the Turtle Bay contract ended after last year, Aloha Section PGA Executive Director Wes Wailehua “explored every option possible to find a new home for the tournament.” Mauna Lani reached out and on his visit to the resort, Wailehua realized how many ties the site had with Hawaii golf in general and the Hawaii State Open in particular.

“We believe with Mauna Lani as the host and title sponsor it will bring a fresh Hawaiian feel to the tournament,” Wailehua says, “along with its rich history as a championship course in Hawaii.”

Mauna Lani hosted the Senior Skins Game from 1990-2000. Its original 18 holes were built in 1981. The South was constructed on a 16th century Kaniku lava flow and features a pair of spectacular par 3s over the ocean. The North was built on an older pahoehoe lava flow and rolls through kiawe forests. Feral goats regularly crop the grass and the 17th hole is a natural amphitheater with the green at the base of a lava bowl.

Mauna Lani’s interest in hosting the State Open came in large part because it wanted the tournament to become a celebration.

“We’ve always wanted to have events where you bring in a Pro-Am and a party and all that to our resort,” said Tom Sursely, the resort’s director of golf. “There is nothing better for that than having a State Open in the spirit of the Brown family.

“We hope that over the next three years, Wes can build this into something really special.”

The resort has committed to offering “very, very reasonable rates” to contestants and “great venues” for everything from parties to practice facilities. The Pro-Am is planned for Dec. 13 and will benefit Aloha Section PGA Foundation. Registration begins in October.

Mainland pros like Gene Sarazen, Cary Middlecoff and Bob Rosburg were among the champions of the original Hawaiian/State Open, along with local legends like Art Bell, Guinea Kop, Arthur Armstrong, Ted Makalena and Ukauka.

The tournament became Hawaii’s first PGA Tour stop in 1965. A decade later, the Ted Makalena Hawaii State Open was brought back by the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. Its mission remained to find the best golfer in Hawaii. Aloha Section has run it since 1993.

Former champions include tour players Steve Veriato, Scott Simpson, Susie Berning, Michelle Wie, Stephanie Kono, Dean Wilson, Nick Mason, Tadd Fujikawa and defending champion Sam Cyr, along with Hawaii Golf Hall of Famers Dan Nishimoto, Allan Yamamoto, Lance Suzuki, David Ishii, Clyde Rego, Lori Castillo, Greg Meyer, Kevin Hayashi, Wendell Kop, Ken Miyaoka, Chuck Davis, Brandan Kop and Larry Stubblefield.