DIS AND DAT​

Many times, the hardest thing about writing a monthly article is deciding what to write about.  Sometimes, I come up with a title and write an article about it.  Other times I write an article and get the title from it.  This month, its about various things happening in Pickle World, so it’s title first. 

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Tournaments coming up.  Top billing goes to our own third annual PAK Open 2025 in August at Kauai Community College.  Details are on the attached flyer and registration is now open.  Please note the deadlines (remember last month’s article?) for early discounts, and an absolute deadline for registration.  In November Eddie and Mark will host a Child & Family Benefit Tournament at KCC.  When the flyer is out we will publish it on this website.  Jules Cannon asked us to let Kauai know about the PKOLL tournament in Maui in September, so the flyer is attached.  PKOLL is a local paddle brand making a big splash in pickleball.  I am currently playing with a PKOLL paddle and loving it…smaller, faster, lighter and I find I am winning more games with it. 

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Don’t forget our free PAK Member Appreciation Day at Kalena Park on June 21 (flyer attached).  We will be having clinics, vendors, and our famous Uncle Aaron’s chicken hekka to thank our members for their loyalty.  Members are encouraged to sign up for the clinics, and to bring their old paddles for a paddle swap or donation.  Bring one, take one. Just a reminder that member dues of $20 must be current for 2025 and will be happily accepted that day. 

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Our latest PAK shirts are out.  This Rumi Masumura design is already a big hit and can be ordered on our website or will be available at our Member Appreciation Day and PAK Open.  Lori Uyeda is our store manager, and she will be discounting older stock and slightly blemished items at bargain prices.  Sorry, but no other model was available for the job, but you can also see my PKOLL paddle!

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Kauai has seen its first pickleball fatality.  A player at Kalena Park happily played a game, then sat down to await his next turn.  When it came, he appeared to be sleeping, and it was discovered that he had passed on peacefully.  Other players tried resuscitation and next-door firemen were called, but to no avail.  We wish his family our condolences, but many players have said that is the way they would want to go when their time comes. 

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The Lihue Pickleball Ohana recently celebrated two of its players’ retirements.  Sheri Amimoto retired from Kauai Community College and Nancy McMahon retired from the Parks Dept. at the County of Kauai.  Both long-time picklers have helped PAK and hopefully will continue to do so.  Sheri helped us get a foothold at the KCC courts where we are having our tournament, and Nancy was an advocate for pickleball court building with the County.  We wish them a happy retirement and ask them to consider being on our board (next item).

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Our PAK board has been intact since December 2021.  Our current plan is to double our board members so a succession strategy can be implemented.  If anyone is interested in serving, please contact me at nolanahn@gmail.com.  Hello?  Don’t be shy.  We weren’t.

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Until next time,

Nolan