&lauren THE LOVE MATCH
honza
INTHISISSUE
Three choices, please
Opposites attract in a life and love match
Lori Tokutomi on the importance of the “split step”
Certified Level 2 Referee
Tracey Bennett answers a reader question
Replacement recommendations for delisted paddles
New feature peeking into a player’s pickleball bag
A wrap-up with a listing of winners and some pics PB friends and their pet companions
Dear Pickleball, My heart skips a beat when I think of you.
February is the month of love, but love isn’t just about romance and chocolate and bubble baths and rose petals.
As Hugh Grant says at the end of “Love Actually”, "If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around "
That’s true, isn’t it?
The courts are full of love...new couples, couples married for decades, parents and grandparents and kids, our hanabata-days friends, our new pickleball friends who we now consider family, and love for a sport that bridges age, gender, nationality, race, occupation, athleticism, social status and cultures.
No matter who you are or where you ’ re from, when you ’ re on a Hawaii pickleball court, you ’ re part of a community built on connection, belonging, and love
So remember to look out for love because when you do, you’ll surely find it. And here’s something simple we can all do...lean into it and pass it on.
Happy Valentine’s Day
#NEVERTOOMANY
Do you have more paddles than I do?
#PBINTHE808
Where are we playing at?
MIXED PLATE
Three choice plate today:
(2) Where we at?*
(3) A pickleball truth.
#TRUTH only for pickleball :)
(1) How many paddles are in your collection? Tell us, we wanna know *
*This cutie-patootie is Honza and Lauren’s daughter with an impressive collection of paddles and we at Keehi Lagoon on Oahu
T H E Y I N A N D Y A N G
HONZA AND LAUREN HROCH
from Czech to hawaii: 7585 miles + a 24-hour flight
After graduating from Stredni Skoha Stavebni School in the Czech Republic, Honza Hroch left for Hawaii on a tennis scholarship to Hawaii Pacific University.
He had no idea what to expect “It was nice and warm, and people were friendly,” he said But there was one major hurdle..he didn’t speak English.
“I had to take English classes, and I failed some of them Grammar was the worst ”
But Honza has an independent streak. In the Czech Republic, figuring things out on your own is just how it’s done. And in addition, he said, “ we don’t like to be second; we like to be first.”
Tennis became his anchor; it helped him find a rhythm in his new life, connecting him to teammates and a sense of purpose
a love story spanning continents, cultures and countless matches
Lauren grew up on Oahu and is a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools.
After high school, she enrolled at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU), where she joined the tennis team on scholarship.
Honza noticed Lauren right away They were both freshmen on the tennis team at HPU, and “she was the only brown one, ” he said, smiling (most of their teammates were from Europe)
Lauren “looked nice”, and because he likes a good challenge, he thought ‘Let me see if I can get that one. Let me see if I can date her.’”
In the early days, Lauren said that Honza was still learning English, so communication wasn’t always easy “I probably did some of his homework,” she said, because “he had a really hard time writing a paragraph ”
Yet, somehow they were able to bridge the communication gap, and they started dating within a few months of meeting on the courts
From Lauren:
I feel like when we started dating, he was with my family a lot, either just hanging out during the day or sometimes staying over
He was hanging out with the people that my family hung out with, because there was a group of aunties and uncles that I grew up with playing tennis, and we would bring him around
So, he really got a sense of the local culture and after many years of being around that, he got to know the cultural values and the things that I value.
For me, one big thing is family, which for him, he liked his family, but I think he hung out a lot with his friends maybe a little bit more than the family.
From Honza:
Definitely, I was very independent and more of a go-getter, but being here I realized I should be more family wise, and that family is important It's not about looking out for myself only, but looking out for others as well
THE EARLY YEARS
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
For Lauren, who grew up in Hawaii’s tight-knit, family-first culture, Honza brought a sense of adventure and independence.
For Honza, Lauren was his guide to understanding the spirit of the islands and finding his place in his adopted home
As Lauren introduced Honza to the local values of ohana, he introduced her to winter sports and travel, as they traveled long distances to see his parents halfway across the world And another thing---he has noticed Lauren becoming more assertive and standing her ground, with him and others
Honza graduated with an undergraduate degree in Tourism in 2009, and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Finance in 2011
They tied the knot in 2013 and today, he’s a luxury watch dealer and Lauren is a Neonatal ICU nurse
Honza and Lauren with both sides of the family
DISCOVERING PICKLEBALL
In 2020, Margie Katras (who they knew from tennis) introduced Honza and Lauren to pickleball.
What they found was that their tennis skills translated well, and they loved the community
What started as a fun way to stay active quickly became something more. Within a year, they transitioned from casual games to competition.
For Lauren, pickleball felt natural because she’s been more of a doubles player all her life, so everything in the kitchen feels comfortable. She said “I’d rather not stay at the baseline, rallying and smacking it hard”, whereas Honza’s game is the opposite.
And then, because their friends knew that they understood the game, they encouraged Honza to begin teaching and giving lessons At first, he refused, but later changed his mind
In the few years that he’s been teaching, Honza has built a reputation in the community as a superb instructor.
FAMILY LIFE
Honza and Lauren’s life is a full one, now that they’re raising two kids. But Honza’s flexible career allows him to spend time with them and still focus on his passions
“I can trade watches and teach or play pickleball,” he said. “It works for us. ”
The Hroch Family: with Dominik (9) and Zoe (6)
The family on their many travels
“WATCH” WHAT’S NEXT
Luxury watches and pickleball may not seem connected, but Honza believes they are.
“I buy luxury watches, have them repaired by a watchmaker, and sell them to customers around the world,” he shares.
The global nature of his business means he can ship items internationally and even travel to different countries to purchase pieces. This allows him to be actively involved in his family’s daily routine teaching pickleball in the mornings while the kids are in school, and then trading watches at night
As to how luxury watches and pickleball intersect: “Many of the business owners I teach lessons to are into watches ”
Maybe the Senior Pro Tour?
But even with a full schedule of work and family, don’t count them out from competition.
When asked what goal(s) they’re working toward, Honza says it “would be nice” to compete in the main draw of major pickleball tours such as the APP or PPA.
While these are big goals, he feels confident, knowing that with consistent practice and preparation, they can progress toward reaching the top levels of competition.
And as for long term goals, he says “Senior Pro Tour? For when the kids might not need us as much ”
Honza with Pro Jaume Martinez Vich
Q&A with honza & Lauren
How do you balance each other's strength and weaknesses?
Lauren: It's kind of weird cause our games are a little bit, I don't wanna say opposite, but he tends to speed up more than I do and obviously he has more power For me, my game is more the soft game setting up points and then he can, put it away, hopefully.
HPM: That's very complementary
Honza: Yes And we learn when not to say anything
HPM: Expand on that.
Honza: I know if I say one thing which might trigger her, you are going down the rabbit hole Then it's just better not to say anything and it took a lot of years to figure out
Okay, so you guys have different games on the court, but you also have what sounds like different personalities. Honza: She is more submissive. I am not submissive. She is more calculated. I'm just like, how I feel. She thinks about things; I just do it and I will adjust on the fly
Are there any rituals or traditions that you developed while playing together?
Honza: Just try to say nice things. Try to get more encouragement.
Is there a moment that you can remember that made you especially proud of playing together?
Lauren: Not yet (Laughs)
HPM: Okay, more to come.
Honza: We played in the APP tournament, it was like a date trip It was just the two of us We just stayed in the hotel, played the tournament, just did things together That made me happy
Do you think playing as a couple gives you any unique perspective or advantage?
Honza: We can be completely transparent like, I'm gonna tell you how I feel, how you played, or how I felt, versus when you play with other people and you don't wanna hurt their feelings You don’t have to carry whatever you feel along and then you move on
If I play with someone that I don't really know, I feel pressure and I feel bad when I don’t play well. Do you feel that when you play with each other?
Honza: Not anymore, because I told her it doesn't matter what I do, just focus on yourself. You can only control yourself It doesn't matter what I do, just be happy when you play good
What advice would you give to other couples considering competing together?
Honza: Try to have fun. Focus on your own strength, because your partner does everything they can to win. Just support them because we don't know what's running through their heads. They might be injured, they might not tell you something happened to them at work If you can do your best and they do their best, in general, you're gonna have fun You're gonna have a good time together
The hawaii pickleball open
HPM: If you could visualize the ultimate highlight of your pickleball journey, what would that look like? Honza: I think it wouldn't be competing, but organizing the best tournament in Hawaii.
For Honza, what matters most isn’t about tournaments or the competition it’s about creating an unforgettable experience and seeing players improve.
“People getting better that makes me happy Winning is fine, but it's temporary if you helps somebody become better, it lasts longer, it's ongoing”, he says.
For tournaments, Honza’s top priority is making sure players have a great time “Transparency and fairness are super important” in executing a large-scale tournament, like the Hawaii Pickleball Open.
But he doesn’t do it alone; Lauren is the steady hand behind the scenes “He takes care of all the logistics, and I make sure everything makes sense, ” she said
Together, they’ve created an annual event that players love. For now, save the date and stay tuned for more deets on the upcoming Hawaii Pickleball Open---it’ll be held on August 15-17, 2025
We’ll have to wait a while to see if the Senior Pro Tour is in the cards for Honza and Lauren, but in the meantime, they’ve got continents to cross, kids to raise, and tournaments to run.
What paddle do you play with?
Lauren: Oneshot Fireshot, which is more for resetting and the soft game
Honza: Oneshot Aero Infinity Shot, which is good for power
Three words a close friend would use to describe you:
Lauren: Caring, helpful, quiet
Honza: Brutally honest, not giving up, transparency
Connect with Honza:
Hawaii Pickleball Open
Hawaii Pickleball Lessons
Honza’s Watches
Q&A: THE SPLIT STEP
TIPS FROM A PRO: LORI TOKUTOMI
Q: How often have you tried running for a ball, you can't stop and now you are out of position, off the court, or worse yet, you've run into the net?
A: Try the split step A split step is a shift in body weight and momentum in a forward direction to the balls of your feet. Both balls of the feet contact the ground at the same time and this gets your body weight off your heels.
It allows you to maintain your balance, helps you stay ready, gets you in a better position to move to the next shot, and minimizes unforced errors because you're able to stop your momentum before hitting the ball. Make sure your paddle is up and out in front of you. You'll find you'll have more agility and can cover the court better.
Q: I’ve heard about and seen the split step. When I tried it, it was awkward and the timing was off. How do you time the split step?
A: Start your split step right before your opponent is about to hit the ball Now you'll be ready to react to the ball with balance and quick movement
Q: Is the split step important because it’s better to be stationary and planted than it is to be running while hitting the ball?
A: Yes
Lori Tokutomi has been helping friends up their pickleball game since she started playing in 2014
She earned her IPTPA Certification in 2020 and has been providing lessons to Hawaii pickleballers since then. She enjoys teaching newbies to 3.5 skill level, and you’ll often find her at the courts with her two fur companions, Lexi and Coco
REFEREE CORNER
Written by:
Level 2
Referee
Tracey Bennett
Cheers, Trace
Q. If my partner calls the ball out when the balls in the air vs. after the ball bounces….
Example: I play the ball after it bounces thinking the ball was in. Does the referee stop play since my partner called it out? Or is the ball still alive since I played it? - Edgar
A. Thanks for this question. This scenario happens in almost every game, doesn’t it? Let’s go straight to the rulebook:
6.C.9. While the ball is in the air, if a player yells “out,” “ no, ” “bounce it,” or any other words to communicate to their partner that the ball may be out, it shall be considered player communication only and not considered a line call.
6.C.10. An “out” call made after the ball bounces is a line call. The ball is dead and play shall stop. If, upon appeal, the referee overrules any type of “out” call, it is a fault against the player or team that made the “out” call
Bottom line:
* An out call before the bounce = partner communication, so play on.
* An out call after the bounce = line call It doesn’t matter if you hit it The ball is dead dead dead Play stops.
6 C 7 All “out” calls must be promptly signaled by voice and/or hand signal (As a referee, I prefer a voice call because my attention might not be on the player who signals.)
Stay with me for one more scenario. Suppose the ball hits close to the sideline, and you chance an ATP But BLAM! You hit the post Unless you called it out at the instant it hit the ground, you, my player friend, are out of luck.
Do you love details, the ins and outs of scenarios like this? Maybe you have the makings of a referee. Read up and get in touch Download your free 2025 rulebook
And send me your questions and court confusions.
TECH SPOTLIGHT
DELISTED PADDLES
Effective date: July 1, 2025
If you haven’t already heard, USA Pickleball will “sunset on July 1, 2025 for sanctioned tournament play only” the following paddles:
• Joola: Perseus 14mm Mod TA-15
• Joola: Perseus 16mm Mod TA-15
• Gearbox: Pro Power Elongated
• ProKennex: Black Ace Ovation
• ProKennex: Black Ace Pro
• ProKennex: Black Ace LG
• ProKennex: Black Ace XF
SO...WE ASKED OUR FRIENDS AT ON POINT SPORTS FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
While it’s unfortunate that the above paddles have been taken off the USAP approved list, here are On Point Sports’ replacement recommendations:
Joola Mod TA-15: For now the best option we have in the shop is the Joola Perseus 3s 14/16mm version. It’ll play similar with a little less power and pop.
For Gearbox Pro Power Elongated: Look at the Ultimate and Hyper versions of the line The Ultimate is a blend between the Power and Control version, while the Hyper is a versatile paddle with good maneuverability due to its quad shape
Moving forward, as pickleball paddles evolve and with rigid standards in place, hopefully we will see less paddles being banned---keeping the integrity of the sport and putting an emphasis on skill and control.
The alternate paddles are all available to demo at the shop! We’re located at 94-1144 Ka Uka Boulevard in Waipio (on Oahu), across from 7-11 (near Costco) and we ’ re now open at Pickles at Forté and here’s what they said:
Joola Perseus 3s & Gearbox Ultimate
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?
Inquiring minds want to know!
We ask players, “What’s in your pickleball bag?” and we thought Hawaii Pro Keven Wong would be the perfect player to kick off this feature!
So, Keven, tell us, what’s in your bag?
What paddle(s) do you use? Why did you choose it?
Engage Pursuit Pro1 I’m sponsored by Engage and it’s a great paddle
What shoes are you playing with?
NikeCourt Zoom Vapor Cage 4
Rafa
Any accessories?
Wilson white over grip, Owala water bottle, and Engage hat
What snacks and drinks keep you energized on the court? Liquid IV.
Any lucky charm or a quirky or sentimental item you carry with you?
None, all business haha.
What’s the one item you can’t live without on the court?
My Theragun to keep me going during long days or tournaments.
Keven’s Engage pickleball bag
5-Minute Courtside Pupu
Gochujang Avo Dip
INGREDIENTS
2 small or 1 large avocado, cubed
1 tbsp gochujang
1 tbsp miso
2 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp honey
Toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish
I asked Chat GPT to analyze this recipe and it provided this nutritional information (for the entire quantity of the recipe): 660 calories, 51 5 grams of fat, 54 grams of carbs, and 6 grams of protein.
In honor of National Heart Month, we feature the wonderful avocado.
Avos are considered a heart-healthy food; they’re packed with monounsaturated fats, which can help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) while increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
Avos also contain potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, and fiber, which supports overall heart health by reducing cholesterol levels and improving digestion. Plus, they’re rich in antioxidants, such as lutein, which can help reduce inflammation and protect against heart disease
But most of all, they’re yummy.
Anyhoo, a few months ago, we took our first trip to Seoul, and my IG feed turned into a steady stream of Korean food
I saw someone on Instagram making a dip that combined gochujang and avocado An unlikely combo, but we tried it and it was soooo good!
The original recipe (as seen on IG) called for Doenjang, or Korean miso. We found it to be too salty, so we subbed in Japanese miso instead.
5-MINUTE
DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients, top with toasted sesame seeds and green onions, and serve with La Panzanella Croccantini, tortilla chips or in a lettuce wrap So easy, so quick, and so yummy!
LUNG FORCE HONOLULU PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
PLAYING FOR A GOOD CAUSE
The American Lung Association in Hawaii held it’s second annual Lung Force Pickleball Tournament at Keehi Lagoon, on Saturday, January 18th.
Turnout was great---100 players!
In some brackets, there were as many as 17 rounds of play. Each player played five games with a partner drawn at random.
Monies raised stay in Hawaii to fund local lung health programs; for example, last year, funds were used to help provide Lahaina with air purifiers
And...this year, the event raised over $30,000!
Congrats to all the participants; many of whom played simply to support a good cause
Bravo!
JP, Anela and Helen
Above: Jay, Jayne and Van; and below: the fine folks from Aloha Care
Above: the view walking up toward the tourney from the parking lot, and below: a group of supporters with my doubles partner, Leo (standing, top left)
Did you know?
That lung cancer is the #1 killer of people in Hawaii? And that Hawaii ranks dead last in early lung cancer screening?
Pedro Haro, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Hawaii, explains that supporting their organization helps advance vital work in our local communities. Here are some examples of this work:
• They’ve embarked on the first-ever lung cancer longitudinal study that’ll track participants for 30 years to understand why some people develop lung cancer while others don’t.
• They fund the state’s only community-based quit-vaping program for youth, and they’ve recently launched an initiative to promote early lung cancer screening
• They’ll continue to support Maui research that follows survivors of the Maui fires to assess the health impacts of the fires...results can help shape solutions to improve their health and the health of others affected by similar fires.
Mahalo to tourney volunteers, spearheaded by Danny Tengan (back left)
The tent with the most action--where you’d find your upcoming games and partners
Shaded viewing area right behind Court #3
Above: student volunteers from La Pietra School and below: friends from Servco
Above: (L) Executive Director Pedro Haro on the mic with Danny Tengan, (R) Pedro with Development Coordinator Angela Petersons, and below: Aoi and Shuko
Lung Force Tournament
Saturday, January 18, 2025
Keehi Lagoon
Written by: yours truly
I’m a rec player and play when I can, so tournaments aren’t really on my radar To clarify, they’re on the radar to attend and meet players, but not to actually play in.
So, when I got a text from a PB friend saying she was hurt and needed a “sub” for the Lung Force Tourney, I went back-and-forth and finally decided to jump in with 24 hours notice!
Checked in at the tourney at around 11:30 a m and it is CROWDED It’s a nice day, sunny but a bit cooler than usual. Perfect weather!
Time for my first game I’m paired up with Jason, a super cool guy repping Aloha Care We notched a win over formidable opponents Tesa and Van
I played back-to-back; Leo and I are paired up for my second game
Tesa and Van
I’m in a beginner’s bracket (2 5) It’s round robin and there’s a mix of players including newbies There’s lots of players in this bracket; there are 17 rounds of play
Across the board, there’s lots of missed balls, whiffs, out balls, chicken wings and laughs But no one cares--there’s no pressure at all Niiiice!
Games are played to 11 or a max time limit of 12 minutes In all of my games, we finished before the time limit was up
Teams switched sides at six points and four out of five of my games were tended to by a referee and timer It was nice to not to have to keep score
There’s a shaded area right outside Court #3, so you had an audience if you played on that court!
When I checked in, there was an option to buy “alibi” tickets These tix allow you to replay the point if you mess up I watched a game where the teams went back and forth, using their alibi tickets and replaying points They never finished their game; time was up
My partners were all really, really nice. My fourth game is with Patrick, who covered the court admirably. Thanks Pat!
The Spectator Tent/Viewing Area
Last game was with Wei Bummers, I forgot to grab a pic with her
Overall, I go 4-1, thanks to my awesome partners.
We wrapped up the tourney at about 5 pm (after the last raffle prizes and awards)
For my very first tournament, it was a pretty good experience
As far as amenities, there were shaded viewing areas, snacks (spam musubi, cuties and granola bars), a chilled water dispenser, we all got a goody bag, and (most importantly!) there was an air conditioned bathroom trailer parked nearby
Parting thoughts about my first tournament experience:
1.
I appreciated that the beginner’s bracket had zero pressure and was designed to have fun and meet new people In all the games I played (and observed), no one got upset if you missed the ball or served the ball way out This may be very different in other skill brackets
2
3.
My mantra for the tourney: control what you can and let go of what you can’t
Definitely register with friends and/or bring support with you; it was really nice to have a bunch of people literally in my corner!
4
5
6
7
Be prepared for a long day, bring chairs and snacks
Hydrate and stretch
Be flexible; things come up and plans change
Remember it’s what you think about your situation that ultimately shapes your experience.
THE 2025 HAWAIIAN CUP
Kailua-Kona, Big Island--The first tournament in the islands for 2025, the Hawaiian Cup, was held at the Holua Racquet and Paddle on January 15-19, 2025.
The tournament drew 338 players, hailing from Alaska, Oregon, Utah, California, Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington, Canada, Maryland, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Idaho, Minnesota, and Wisconsin!
Results
Mens Doubles Pro
Gold: Riley Inn/Keven Wong
Silver: Santhosh Narayanan/Noah Zwiren
Bronze: Andy Lum/Tama Shimabukuro
Mixed Doubles Pro
Gold: Bobbi Oshiro/Keven Wong
Silver: KaSandra Gehrke/Noah Zwiren
Bronze: Sari Kwee/Riley Inn
Womens Doubles Pro
Gold: Kiora Kunimoto/Taryn Ishida
Silver: KaSandra Gehrke/Faith Lee
Bronze: Rachel Gatewood/Sari Kwee
Mens Doubles Senior Pro
Gold: James Rakela/Jim Somerville
Silver: Jemuel Morris/Tony Thompson
Bronze: Anthony Omlin/Scott Lennan
Results
Womens Doubles Senior Pro
Gold: Kari Hock/Loan Bui
Silver: Mary Witthans/Karen Haselden
Bronze: Susan Byron/Carmen Errejon
Mens Doubles Skill: (3.0 To 3.5) Age: (50 To 64)
Gold: Raymond Badayos/Reuben Badayos
Silver: David Moldenhauer/Joseph Abegg
Bronze: Gifford Matsuoka/Randy Ring
Mixed Doubles Senior Pro
Gold: Loan Bui/Jemuel Morris
Silver: Theresa Devere/Kyle Paredes
Bronze: Karen Haselden/James Rakela
Mens Doubles Skill: (3.0 To 3.5) Age: (65 And Above)
Gold: Kevin Salwen/Bryan Kamahoahoa
Silver: Dennis Parent/Thomas Harrison
Bronze: Steven Mitchell/Bob Darling
Results
Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (8 To 49)
Gold: John Kong/Kainalu Leslie
Silver: Mark Moss/Marvin Kawano
Bronze: Kai Vitella/Scotty Hilpert
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (58 And Above)
Gold: Neil Martin/Matt Wessel
Silver: Kevin Inn/James Hasselman
Bronze: Todd Valkenburg/Simon Neigum
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (50 To 57)
Gold: Kirk Dawson/Martin Guelich
Silver: Juan (Tony) Farias/Colin Wildschut
Bronze: Michael Manger/Kevin Orme
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (8 To 49)
Gold: Brant Yamamoto/Stefan Kimura
Silver: Matt Novakovich/Nick Redies
Bronze: Jared Ishida/Riley Young
Results
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.5 And Above)
Age: (35 To 57)
Gold: Brian Tanaka/Tad Fujii
Silver: Nikolas Eastman/Andrew Fleming
Bronze: Brett Lickle/Rick Kepler
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.5 And Above)
Age: (8 To 34)
Gold: Josh Hatori/Phil Hou
Silver: Mike Vo/Matthew Mina
Bronze: Brensten Chan/Nolan Pena
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.5 And Above)
Age: (58 And Above)
Gold: James Rakela/Jim Somerville
Silver: Bill Stride/David Krystal
Bronze: Anthony Omlin/Scott Lennan
Womens Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (58 And Above)
Gold: Kim Shaver-Hood/Michele Blanchard
Silver: Lisa Schnepper/Sue Enquist
Bronze: Lani Larrua/Tracy Tedesco
Results
Womens Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (50 And Above)
Gold: Leigh Hutchins/Liz Mitchell
Silver: Debi Yamamoto/Susan Gordon
Bronze: Susan Wood/Nell Davis
Womens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (50 To 57)
Gold: Amy McDougal/Margit Lister
Silver: Charmaine Lincoln/Julie Cambe
Bronze: Rachelle DeMarchi/Michelle Ayau
Womens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (8 To 49)
Gold: Shaina Yeung/Rebekah Gomez
Silver: Caitlyn Rask/Amanda Shea
Bronze: Janna Beasley/Michelle Carreon
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (58 To 64)
Gold: Mary Rubio/Dan Rubio
Silver: Joan Wada/Glenn Hasen
Bronze: Lisa Schnepper/Ben Sharit
Womens Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (8 To 49)
Gold: Abby Davies/Heidi Davies
Silver: Leilani Noga/Jackie Kamahoahoa
Bronze: Rachelle DeMarchi/Vanessa Cheong
Womens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (58 And Above)
Gold: Erin O'Rourke/Becky Omlin
Silver: susan Byron/Cyndie Gill
Bronze: Darlene Ige/Pom Luxton
Womens Doubles Skill: (4.5 And Above) Age: (35 To 64)
Gold: Mary Witthans/Karen Haselden
Silver: Nancy Hiu/Theresa Devere
Bronze: Deb Loeffler/Aisaga Leupolu
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (65 And Above)
Gold: Sue Enquist/Scott Enquist
Silver: Sharon Berkowitz/Gary Lenowitz
Bronze: Cindy Vaartnou/Peter Vaartnou
Results
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (8 To 57)
Gold: Phyllis Badayos/Reuben Badayos
Silver: Rachel Militello/Joshua Fenimore
Bronze: Tess Moss/Ralph Weisener
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (58 To 64)
Gold: Sophie Beeman/Rod Beeman
Silver: Anne Gibbons/Wes Lai
Bronze: Catherine Wieser/Raymond Wieser
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (8 To 34)
Gold: Kayla Hollister/Stefan Kimura
Silver: Deb Loeffler/Izaiah Estacio
Bronze: Shaina Yeung/Christopher Yeung
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (50 To 57)
Gold: Rachelle DeMarchi/Spencer Baker
Silver: Julie Cambe/Martin Guelich
Bronze: Theresa Devere/James Douglas
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (35 To 57)
Gold: Ying Cao/John Kong
Silver: Becki Wildschut/Colin Wildschut
Bronze: Kirsten Kempe/Mark Moss
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (65 And Above)
Gold: Susan Wood/Michael Hovan
Silver: Cathy Moldenhauer/David Moldenhauer
Bronze: Deb Schweder/Dennis Parent
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (35 To 49)
Gold: Janna Beasley/Matt Novakovich
Silver: Celeste Marks/Anthony Leoffler
Bronze: Jenna Hirning/Rael Hirning
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (58 To 64)
Gold: Becky Omlin/Bill Stride
Silver: Dora Fong/Brian Hunter
Bronze: Shakti Douglas/Henrik Bothe
MAUI PUKABALL TOURNAMENT
Pictured: Maui PB friends Keneke Kukahiko and Nanna Brown Mahalo to Laurie Loney of Pickleball Maui and Nanna Brown for the pics in this feature
MAUI PUKABALL TOURNAMENT
Lahaina, Maui: The Maui Pukaball Tournament was held at the Royal Lahaina Tennis Garden from January 21-26, 2025.
The tournament drew 441 players in total; many from Hawaii Players also hailed from Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, Idaho, Oklahoma, Canada, Antigua, Texas, Maine, Florida, Maryland, Oregon and Connecticut!
Results
FRIDAY Men's Doubles Skill: (3.0/3.5) Age: (55+)
Gold: Drew Ealey/Steven Smolinski
Silver: david Kamalani/Bill Wei
Bronze: David Kuchenbecker/Jeff McKay
FRIDAY Men's Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (50+)
Gold: Ryan Zhu/Glenn Mark
Silver: Allan Holmes/Rick Stelting
Bronze: Paul Machle/David Sipes
FRIDAY Men's Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (30 To 49)
Gold: Brandon Au/Brent Kutara
Silver: Sam Koeppe/Everett Dahlmeier
Bronze: Sam Watson/Connor Mccormack
FRIDAY Men's Doubles Skill: (4.5) Age: (40+)
Gold: Yarek Bartosz/Lamaur Madrid
Silver: Rodger May/Matthew McDonald
Bronze: Scott Nicol/Brad Cook
Results
Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5 And Under) Age: (5 To 54)
Gold: Todd Newman/Paul Causey
Silver: Diego Martinez Griffin/Omar Martinez Barrera
Bronze: Yoshitaka Saito/Corey Garrison
Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5/3.0) Age: (60 To 64)
Gold: Darren Okimoto/Alan Mukai
Silver: Michael Turnlund/Mark Turnlund
Bronze: Wayne Yoshida/David Usborne
Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5/3.0) Age: (50 To 59)
Gold: Paul Causey/Todd Newman
Silver: Chris Weininger/David Sumabat
Bronze: Raven Wells/Daniel Baur
Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5/3.0) Age: (65 To 69)
Gold: Drew Ealey/Steven Smolinski
Silver: Kenneth Tan/Collin Wong
Bronze: Kemp Scott/Russ Willms
Results
Men's Doubles Skill: (3.5/3.0) Age: (70+)
Gold: Romeo Monces/Charles Wassman
Silver: Bob Bauerle/Verl Clark
Bronze: David Kamalani/Bill Wei
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (5 To 29)
Gold: Rockie Chong/Codie Chong
Silver: Chad Williams/Dustin Desalvio
Bronze: Jacob McCoy/Byron Ellis
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (65 To 69)
Gold: Brian Bruinink/Neil Martin
Silver: Brett Lickle/David Fedida
Bronze: Naji Mourad/Robert Loera
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (50 To 59)
Gold: Paul Machle/David Sipes
Silver: Keith Basnett/Mark Resnick
Bronze: Lee Loveall/Paul Ebert
Results
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0+) Age: (60 To 64)
Gold: Rodger May/Matthew McDonald
Silver: Allan Holmes/Rick Stelting
Bronze: Koji Kato/Eric Abe
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.5+) Age: (50+)
Gold: Thomas Dalessandro/Chip Mulkins
Silver: Adam Kahn/Rick Kepler
Bronze: Ben Holz/Jeffrey Giesea
Mens Doubles Skill: (4.5) Age: (5 To 39)
Gold: Sean Sueno/Ryan Wong
Silver: Bill Tanner/Trevor Stackhouse
Bronze: Brandon Chu/Siaosi Ngalu Jr.
Mens Doubles Skill: (5.0 And Above) Age: (Any)
Gold: Andy Lum/Ikona Freitas
Silver: Joseph Baldwin/James Thorp
Bronze: Todd Kawasaki/Patrick Holland
Results
Men's Singles Skill: (3.0)
Gold: Ryan Zhu
Silver: Bill Wei
Bronze: Yoshitaka Saito
Mens Singles Skill: (3.5) Age: (29 And Above)
Gold: Dustin Desalvio
Silver: Xavier Imperial
Bronze: Jorge Godinez
Men's Singles Skill: (3.5) Age: (19+) Age: (5 To 28)
Gold: Javier Martinez Griffin
Silver: Rockie Chong
Bronze: Tanner Mosher
Men's Singles Skill: (3.5) Age: (50+)
Gold: Keith Basnett
Silver: Dan Boyd
Bronze: Liam Krauss
Results
Men's Singles Skill: (4.0) Age: (19+)
Gold: Diego Martinez Griffin
Silver: Jacob McCoy
Bronze: Codie Chong
Men's Singles Skill: (4.0) Age: (65+)
Gold: Brian Bruinink
Silver: Ed Ramos
Bronze: Jay Soleway
Mens Singles Skill: (4.0) Age: (50 To 64)
Gold: Italo Barone
Silver: Daryl Look
Bronze: Allan Holmes
Men's Singles Skill: (4.5/5.0) Age: (19+)
Gold: Andy Lum
Silver: Gabriel Figueroa
Bronze: Aleksandar Bekjarski
Results
Women's Singles Skill: (3.0/3.5) Age: (45+)
Gold: Rebecca Martinez Griffin
Silver: Alethea Crespo
Bronze: Margaret Daniels
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0 To 3.5) Age: (50 To 54)
Gold: Dao Le/Chris Weininger
Silver: Joy Steadman/Keoni Tengan
Bronze: Rhonda Birlew/Lee Loveall
Women's Singles Skill: (4.0+)
Gold: Asako Pastrana
Silver: Doris Woo
Bronze: Lisa Naumu
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0 To 3.5) Age: (55 To 59)
Gold: Cecilia Domingo/Daryl Look
Silver: Becki Wildschut/Colin Wildschut
Bronze: Beth McMahon/Fil Melgar
Results
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0 To 3.5) Age: (70 And Above)
Gold: Annie McKay/Jeff McKay
Silver: Susan Wood/Michael Hovan
Bronze: Debra Lordan/David Kamalani
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (55 To 59)
Gold: Angela McQuatters/John McQuatters
Silver: Maria McCormick/Mark Richardson
Bronze: Trudy Okazaki/Jon Kurashige
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (45 And Above)
Gold: Dao Le/Chris Weininger
Silver: Tara Shupack/Dan Shupack
Bronze: Laura Jones/Gordon Hughes
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (60 To 64)
Gold: Grace Jiang/Wayne Yoshida
Silver: Lynne Thompson/Scott Crockett
Bronze: Lydia Tom/Kenneth Tan
Results
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (65 To 69)
Gold: Sharon Kuchenbecker/David Kuchenbecker
Silver: Diane Schneider/Bill Wei
Bronze: Anne Leong/Collin Wong
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (60 To 64)
Gold: Carol Cabanlet/Alan Mukai
Silver: Terri Murai/Les Wong
Bronze: Martha Mcgrath/Robert Drapiza
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (33 To 53)
Gold: Lauren Lessner/Blake Rudolph
Silver: Kerri Westcott/Michael Winney
Bronze: Marcy Perreira/Aaron Mark
Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (65 To 69)
Gold: Sharman Owings/Drew Ealey
Silver: Deborah Dorenzo/Edwin Sera
Bronze: Mary Critchlow/Steven Smolinski
Results
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (34 To 47)
Gold: Melanie Dierker/Ryan Dierker
Silver: Stefanie Cannon/Jules Cannon
Bronze: Fern Koga/Brenton Kimoto
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (60 To 64)
Gold: Jana Chang/Gary Nakano
Silver: Laurie Loney/Italo Barone
Bronze: Karen Bader/Michael Smith
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (5 To 33)
Gold: Pele Chong/Codie Chong
Silver: Inna Hedden/Juan (Tony) Farias
Bronze: Lisa Isoda/Dustin Desalvio
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (65 And Above)
Gold: Karen Sullivan-Friezner/Liam Krauss
Silver: Sally Kennel/Neil Martin
Bronze: Pat Bauerle/Bob Bauerle
Results
Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.5 To 5.0) Age: (50 To 69)
Gold: Lisa Naumu/Rick Kepler
Silver: Gail Shriner/Thomas Dalessandro
Bronze: Pamela Cooke/Adam Kahn
SATURDAY Mixed Doubles 3.5 Age: (5 To 32)
Gold: Bethany Chan/Tim Chan
Silver: Emalia Fisher/Corey Garrison
Bronze: Rebecca Martinez Griffin/Javier Martinez Griffin
SATURDAY Mixed Doubles 3.0 Age: (5 To 44)
Gold: Gisela Martin Andersen/Travis Graham
Silver: Kiera Delacy/Thomas DeLacy
Bronze: Julianna Hallowell/Bruce Hallowell
SATURDAY Mixed Doubles 3.5 Age: (54 And Above)
Gold: Cecilia Domingo/Daryl Look
Silver: Sharman Owings/Drew Ealey
Bronze: Mary Critchlow/Steven Smolinski
Results
SATURDAY Mixed Doubles 4.0 Age: (46 To 55)
Gold: Margit Lister/Dan Sereno
Silver: Sandi Tamayose/Koji Kato
Bronze: Erin Elliott/Thomas Elliott
SATURDAY Mixed Doubles 4.5/5.0 Age: (38 And Above)
Gold: Maayan Greenboom/Thomas Dalessandro
Silver: Ayumi Shoemaker/Chris Chang
Bronze: Asako Pastrana/Jason Agsalda
SATURDAY Mixed Doubles 4.0 Age: (56 And Above)
Gold: Kim Mark/Glenn Mark
Silver: Sandra Woo/Paul Machle
Bronze: Lisa McIntosh/Yarek Bartosz
SATURDAY Mixed Doubles 4.5/5.0 Age: (5 To 37)
Gold: Jennifer Grady/Brensten Chan
Silver: Matafolau Hafoka/Mario Coluccio
Bronze: Cecilia Tanner/Trevor Stackhouse
Downtown Honolulu PickleballSocial ClubGrand Opening
The former Wal-Mart space (L) before, and (R) on Opening Day
Hawaii’s first indoor pickleball social club in downtown Honolulu, Pickles at Forté, opened its doors to the public on January 20, 2025. The official Grand Opening was held ten days later, on January 30, 2025.
The space that formerly housed Wal-Mart has been transformed into an air-conditioned gathering space, with six courts, Domino’s Pizza, On Point Sports, and lounge areas.
The Grand Opening featured free pizza courtesy of Domino’s and a “Pros vs Joes” competition---an opportunity for “regular Joes” to play pros Prycen and Jamie Haas, Bobbi Oshiro, Milan Rane, Tama Shimabukuro, Jaume Martinez Vich and Keven Wong. After “Pros vs. Joes”, the pros played in exhibition games for the crowd.
In my opinion, the courts played well and felt just like playing on a regular court except there’s no wind and no need for sunscreen! Parking is free for two hours, and the ability to play when it’s storming outside are huge pluses On the minus side, (1) ceilings are lower than what we ’ re used to---hitting the ceiling is an automatic out, and (2) court reservations book up quickly; there were challenges finding open times to reserve courts.
But overall, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for the first-of-its-kind, indoor pickleball social club in Hawaii!
HAWAII PICKLEBALL PET
FRIENDS
Our beloved companions, at home and at the courts
Name: Mike and Lea Carey and Oliver
Breed: Maltipoo
Age: 17 weeks
Fun Fact: Everyone tells us he doesn’t look real...he looks like a stuffed animal!
Name: Brian and Joy Rogers and Cocoa
Breed: Dachshund Terrier
Age: 13 years old
Fun Fact: He loves going to the beach and barking at the fish!
Ollie Cocoa
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