David Beckham, one of the most popular athletes in the world will soon be in Hawaii and the exposure for the state will be huge. Tourism officials are banking that the superstar's popularity will shine a bright light on state during the inaugural Pan-pacific championship later this month at Aloha Stadium.

"We've had an enormous amount of requests for credentials, said Michael Story, the sports manager for the Hawaii Tourism Authority. “Beckham’s face in general is recognized worldwide so we hope to get a lot of recognition out of it.”

The two day tournament features four professional teams: Gamba Osaka from Japan, Sydney FC from Australia and the Houston Dynamo and L.A. Galaxy of Major League Soccer. The tournament takes place February 20th to the 23rd and is being promoted by Soccer United Marketing, the publicity arm of MLS.

"They have gone ahead and secured agreements for this to be televised in Asia, down in Australia (and) obviously within the U.S. and over in Europe,” said Story, “so it's going to be fantastic."

Beckham, whose first season with the Galaxy last year was plagued by injury, reported to the team’s preseason camp in Carson, California Monday in great shape. Barring any new injuries, Becks as he is known around the world, should play in the Hawaii tournament.

"I think it's great that we're going to be traveling to Hawaii, Beckham said in a recent interview. “I've never been there before so it's going to be a great place for me personally to visit."

The tournament will also be a homecoming for Kamehameha Schools graduate Brian Ching of the Dynamo who honed his soccer skills playing youth leagues in Haleiwa. "It's always been a dream of mine to go back to Hawaii and play an MLS game there," said Ching after the tournament was announced.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority hopes the tournament becomes an annual event, which could be critical to the state’s image as a sporting destination if the Pro Bowl leaves Hawaii; a real possibility after the NFL’s contract with the state expires after next year’s all-star game.

“We would like to make sure that this is an annual event for the state,” said Story, “and I hope that it would be complimentary to the Pro Bowl.”

Gabe Gabor of Soccer United Marketing says the focus for the tournament right now is to build enthusiasm for the event with the goal of building upon any success. “We’re looking at the tournament as a long term project,” said Gabor in a telephone interview with Khon2 from Maui.

Local soccer fans believe an annual event like the Pan Pacific Championship will propel the sport to even greater heights in Hawaii, which has become a hotbed of talent in the past few years with names like Ching and Natasha Kai, a former University of Hawaii player who has become a solid member of the U.S. women’s national team.

“Just the fact that there's going to be a worldwide tournament here will just take it to a new level,” said Bob Picerno, the owner of Soccer Locker on Kapahulu Avenue.

Picerno says the tournament will generate a lot of interest in young players who participate in youth soccer leagues across the state. The fact that Beckham is participating in the inaugural tournament he says, will help build a lot enthusiasm for the most popular sport in the world.

“I think the kids are excited because in they're lifetime they've never seen anybody of that magnitude, so for them yeah it's really good.”

Tournament officials won’t say if Beckham’s wife Victoria, a.k.a. Posh Spice of Spice Girls fame will join her husband in Hawaii with the couple’s three boys, but she often travels with the 33 year old superstar.

“if they do decide to travel with him i would certainly hope that they will be able to enjoy everything that we have to offer here,” said Story. beckham is scheduled to arrive on Oahu February 18th.

Tickets for the tournament range from $10 to $50 for the February 20th matches, and $15 to $60 for the February 23rd matches, when the champion of the tournament will be crowned.

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.

Pan Pacific Championship Website