More than half the tickets for next week's Grand Sumo Tournament in Hawai'i have been sold, including all of the highest end seats for both days, according to promoters.

The two-day (June 9-10) exhibition at Blaisdell Arena, which marks the sport's first appearance here in 14 years, will feature 40 leading sumotori, including newly promoted yokozuna Hakuho.

Tournament officials said "roughly 4,000-plus tickets of the 7,500 available per day had been sold" entering the Memorial Day weekend.

The highest-priced tickets — $330 and $300 per seat — are sold out and "the next highest level — $250 and $200 — are selling well," a spokesman said.

Remaining tickets are priced at $35, $45, $65, $85 and $160.

"We are hopeful of a late surge in ticket sales," said promoter Shigemitsu Inohana. "The promotion of ozeki Hakuho to yokozuna is added incentive for fans to purchase sumo tickets as our Hawai'i Grand Sumo Tournament will be the first time that Hakuho will perform his dohyo iri (entering the ring) ceremony as a yokozuna."

Hakuho, a native of Mongolia, assured promotion to the ancient sport's highest rank with a 15-0 performance in the Summer Grand Tournament that concluded Sunday in Tokyo. It was his second consecutive title, following a 13-2 showing in March in Osaka.

The June 9 matches will begin at 4:30 p.m. and June 10 competition at 12:30 p.m. Promoters said sales of the June 10 tickets have been especially brisk. Promoters attributed the Sunday starting time and championship format as reasons for the greater interest and sales.

Tickets are available at the Blaisdell Center Box Office, Ticketmaster and Times Supermarkets.