VIDEO: Resort Investment Visible at Makena Tennis Club Grand Re-Opening

Left to right: Laura Greenwood, Makena Resort, Frank Salvador, Club Director, Michaela Picmanova, Pro Shop Attendant, and kumu Kimokea Kapahulehua. Photo by Sonia Isotov.

By Sonia Isotov

More than 50 people gathered around six newly renovated plexi-path tennis courts to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Makena Tennis Club Saturday afternoon.

Makena Golf and Beach Resort Director of Operations Declan McCarthy gave remarks confirming the resorts long-term commitment to the club and to the Makena community.

“Makena Tennis club is the first part of the resort that’s receiving a huge investment and this is the result of it. We do want to reaffirm our basic long-term goal to keep the tennis club here in Makena and to make it a part of Makena for the long term. There have been a few questions over the last few years where tennis is going to be here in Makena, is it going to be long term, are they going to put money back into the courts, where is it going, and we want to make sure that signal is clear to everybody. Yes, Makena tennis is here and it is here for the long-term.”

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5nP35T09Sc /]

The event was also honored by the presence and remarks of Makena kupuna Ed Chang and his wife, as well as a blessing from Hawaiian cultural advisor and kumu Kimokea Kapahulehua and his halau. The blessing included a procession through all six courts.

Laura Greenwood, the resort’s new Leadership and Development Director, emceed the event and spoke about the important of honoring the past, cleansing and preparing the way for the future; as symbolized in the untying of the ti leaf and the salt water blessing.

Makena Tennis Club Grand Re-Opening Feb 20, 2011 featured 6 newly paved plexi courts, a blessing, remarks, and a social round robin. Photo by Sonia Isotov.

The newly hired tennis club director and USPTA teaching professional Frank Salvador introduced his staff and noted that “all the courts, the fencing, the landscaping, the pro shop have been renovated…the courts were plexi-paved, but it was more than just paving, it was a long-term solution to deal with all the crack problems we had in the past. You can’t really solve a crack problem, but with the help of All Island Courts, we have come up with a solution that will hide all those cracks for a very long time.”

He also mentioned that with the help of a professional retail buyer, the pro shop will soon feature products from Wilson and other national brands and feature pricing matching with Tennis Warehouse. “So you can actually save money by shopping with us,” said Frank Salvador.

Ceremonies were followed by a champagne toast hosted by Makena Golf and Tennis Resort and a round robin for the guests.

Left to right: Long time club member Sandy Frewer, Pro Shop Attendant Michaela Picmanova, and Kelley Holman, also a long time member, enjoyed the celebration and round robin event. Photo by Sonia Isotov.