REGIONAL
matters
THE ALOHA STATE IS GEARING UP
FOR PACIFIC RIM TOURNAMENT
U
nquestionably, Hawaii
is one of the world’s
leading destinations.
So, it’s no surprise
that representatives from two
of the state’s leading pickleball
clubs—Hawaii Pickleball Oahu and
Oahu Pickleball Association, both
nonprofit entities—are staging the
Hawaii Pacific Rim Pickleball Cup.
The inaugural event is scheduled
to be played July 9-12 at the Don
Andrews Tennis Center, which lies
50
at the foot of Diamond Head in
Waikiki.
Four-hundred players are
expected to participate, about half
from mainland USA, the others
from Pacific Rim countries, namely
New Zealand, Japan and Australia.
“This tournament will help advance
the sport in Hawaii with the primary
focus of building a dedicated
pickleball complex that will help
promote local, national and global
tournaments benefiting the health
TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM
and economy of our community,”
said Heifara Ortas, Tournament
Director, USAPA member, and
President of Hawaii Pickleball Oahu.
“Thanks to its notoriety as a
premier travel destination and its
geographic location, Hawaii is a
perfect world stage for players from
the U.S. and Pacific Rim nations
to compete and for other future
tournaments to be held, while also
providing the greater community
and tourists with a place to learn
and play the game,” said Terry
Olival, USAPA member. “The
Hawaii Pacific Rim Pickleball
Cup will positively impact the
state’s economy, more specifically
grow sports and tourism while
benefiting Hawaii’s communities
in other ways, such as providing
a venue for this family-friendly
activity with more and more schools
in Hawaii teaching pickleball.”
Pickleball made its presence
felt to Roger Knox in Maui by a
visitor from the sport’s birthplace—
Bainbridge Island, outside of
Seattle. Bob O’Brien and Knox hit
the ball around and quickly Knox
was captivated, giving the sport
a localized name, “Puka Ball,” the
Hawaiian word for hole—a distinct
characteristic of the wiffleball.
For player registration for the
Hawaii Pacific Rim Pickleball Cup,
visit pickleballtournaments.com. •