From the Picklehood

We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams--Jeremy Irons

 

April is National Pickleball Month.  For us, here on Kaua’i, April 2025 is also the 10 year anniversary of the official start of pickleball on our island.  Those who attended the first pickleball clinic at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center gym on April 1, 2015, know that we consider that day and date as the kickoff of this wonderful game on our island.  I say official, because I also know the game had been played on Kaua’i—by a few visitors—before that epic April 1.  But public, free, organized drop-in play, with specific days and dates set up by our County Recreation Department, came about after that first clinic.  Fortunately, for us, the County saw the merit.

 

So, here we are ten years later with island wide facilities, a following of more than 250+ regular picklers, veterans who have played since 2015, young and old winning medals in local, statewide and national tournaments and, an estimated 300+ off-island visitors packing their paddles to join us each year.  We’ve come a long way and we are grateful.  If I may, let me create a timeline below.  It will be from memory and “mostly” accurate…..

 

…..The actual ‘unofficial’ first month of drop-in play can be linked to the old, mostly unused tennis courts at Anne Knudsen Park in Koloa.  In mid-January, 2015, A USA pickleball sign was mounted on the chain link fence facing Maluhia Road and the passing cars.  A week later we had enough interest to play doubles with a couple of others waiting.  By mid-march we had two courts going.  We chalked lines and used the existing tennis nets.

 

…..Two weeks later, Fran Graziano and Ted Steinberg contacted us, asking if we would do a clinic for interested persons in the Princeville area.  My wife Stephanie and I did so and Emmalani Park’s basketball courts became the first pickleball facility on the North Shore.  Not long after, the Kilauea gym became a north shore haven for indoor pickleball.  Emmalani is no longer available for play and the Kilauea Gym is closed for roof renovation.

 

…..Our island’s third area facility was officially opened on May 27, 2015 at the Hanapepe Tennis Courts.  It quickly became very popular for our south and westside players. Not long after—August of 2016—a second venue was added to the Kekaha area at Faye Park. A huge thank you to Lucia and Ray Bartels for their stewardship of the game on our westside.  Lucia is Kauai’s longest serving area ambassador.  She’s been at this for nine years.  

 

…..Soon, play at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center became so popular that sessions were split (8:30-10:30 and 10:30-12:30) for “less competitive” and “more competitive” players.  A side note to gym play was that we had a sign-in book for off-island visitors and in 2016 and 2017 the Kalaheo Gym averaged over 200 visitors each year.  A typical day of play saw 20-25 players for each “split” session.  In late 2016, we received permission to start play across the street at Kalawai Park.  This helped relieve the crowded gym conditions.

 

…..Open to the public Poipu Pickleball started in the late summer of 2015 at Kauai Christian Fellowship.  Carol Kolenda and husband Don became our USAPA ambassadors for the area and with the supervisory help of Mike Wellman (one of four founding pastors of KCF), Leona Bryant and many others, this two court facility has seen an average of 20+ players each session.  Creative split sessions and multiple days of play accommodate locals and visitors.  Carol and Don moved to the mainland a few years ago and Mike Wellman was named the new USAPA ambassador for Poipu.  He and wife Susie have been principally involved in the venue’s success since the first day of play in 2015. 

 

…..Our goal was to move pickleball around the island and play was started in Kapaa at the All Saints Gym.  With the help Carol Mackey, Carol Surrat, Diane Treskon and Theresa and David Della Lana, along with newly appointed pickleball ambassador Mario Hendrickson, we introduced the game with a clinic on February 26, 2016.  Play at the gym lasted only a few months as scheduling conflicts prevented a consistent schedule.  Still, it was fun and memorable.

 

…..In late September of 2016, pickleball and tennis representatives met at the Lihue tennis courts (called the Wilcox courts) to discuss shared play for both sports.  After a lengthy meeting and back-and-forth points of view, the County decided that blended pickleball lines could be painted on the courts.  On October 7, 2016, volunteer picklers met to paint lines.  It took us the better part of that morning to complete the painting and for over eight years, the facility has been shared by both pickleball and tennis.  Resurfacing of the courts is long overdue.  I think both communities would agree.

 

…..Did you know we played for over a year at the Kahili Mountain gym?  A fairly long and bumpy drive gave way to a beautiful setting and a more than adequate gym facility.  June of 2017 was our first month of play.  Four courts in the Peter Hew gymnasium saw an average of 20-25 players per session.  Damage to an already leaky roof and flooding in mid 2018 ended our sessions.  Regulars still talk about the fun play.  Visitors still ask about the venue.

 

 

…..Play at Kapaa Town Center tennis courts (now named Baptiste Park Sports Complex) started in July of 2017.  A group of us patched cracks and painted lines and play started a few days later.  Diane Treskon has been the facility supervisor there for over six years and her volunteer involvement, along with the help of many local picklers, has helped make this eastside venue very popular. 

 

…..In October of 2018, the basketball courts at Kalena Park in Lihue were resurfaced with lines added for three pickleball courts.  The venue became an immediate favorite for the intermediate to more advanced players on our island and has been a convenient, centrally located location for play on our island. 

 

…..In closing, we are all saddened by the passing of fellow pickleball player and Princeville resident Ted Steinberg.  Earlier in this month’s column, I wrote about Ted and his interest in starting pickleball on the North Shore.  As Hawaii’s District Ambassador for pickleball, I was tasked with approving our state’s ambassador nominations.  I asked Ted if he would take on the responsibility and he consented.  He was Kauai’s first pickleball ambassador and did an amazing job of promoting the game in Princeville and Kilauea.  Our condolences to wife Betty and their family members.  

 

This completes our pre-Covid (2020) history of public pickleball venues here on Kaua’i.  More recent history will be covered next month.  As I wrote earlier…..”from memory and mostly accurate.”

 

Thank you for reading,

 

Jack Hodges

Hawaii District Pickleball Ambassador

Kaua’i Resident