Maui Pickleball Tournament & Clinics Set at Wailea Tennis Club

Pickleball Maui President Laurie Loney and Maui County Parks & Recreation Staffmember Todd Richter. PC: Todd Kawasaki

Maui’s 2018 Pukaball Tournament and clinics are set for Thursday through Monday, Dec. 6 to 10 at the Wailea Tennis Club.

Pickleball, also known as pukaball on Maui, is a paddle sport created for all ages and skill levels. The rules are simple and the game is easy for beginners to learn, but can develop into a quick, fast-paced, competitive game for experienced players.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to play in a large tournament, join a clinic, or just come check out this amazing game called Pickleball,” said Laurie Loney, president of PickleballMaui.com. “It is a sport that is not only super-fun and great exercise, but also very social. I consider the Maui Pickleball Group to be my new friends and family. As a USAPA Pickleball Ambassador for Maui, my job is to introduce, teach and grow the sport. It’s wonderful to see the joy this game brings to people.”

Loney, and avid competitor, took the state women’s doubles championship in 2015 with partner Megan Crouse. She was also a gold medalist at the USAPA pacific NW regionals in 2018.

The tournament is a Round Robin format, non-sanctioned tournament.

Each skill division will have a 14-team capacity—two groups of seven teams.

“Legacy” USAPA ratings will be used for this tournament, not the USAPA Tournament Player Rating (UTPR). For more information on rating, go online.

Maui Pickleball Group: Todd Kawasaki (L) and Dennis Holland (R). PC: Sharina Asato Husted

The early registration deadline is Nov. 16; the final deadline is Nov. 30. All deadlines are 23:59 Hawai‘i Standard Time on the specified date.

The tournament event times will be set approximately a week in advance to best utilize the courts.

Sharina Asato Husted and Patrick Holland. PC: Todd Kawasaki

The complete price for one or two tournament events for Hawai‘i residents—the kama‘āina rate—(with a Hawai‘i Drivers License) is $50.

The fee is $65 for all others.

After the early registration deadline expires on Nov. 16 (at 23:59 HST), a $25 fee will be added to the price.

Sign up for the tournament at pickleballtournaments.com.

Lisa Naumu is a pickleball and tennis pro. Website photo.

Lisa Naumu will conduct pickleball clinics on the same days the tournament will be held, also at the Wailea Tennis Club. Naumu is a pickleball and tennis pro. In addition to playing pickleball on a professional level, Naumu is also a certified IPTPA professional pickleball coach.

Clinic Fees
8 students max per instructor

• 4-hour session: $175
• 2-hour session: $100
• Private lessons: $125 for 90 minutes

Clinic Schedule
Four-hour clinics are scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon. Two-hour clinics will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Private Lessons can be scheduled as needed.

• Thursday, Dec. 6: 4-hour Clinic & Private Lessons
• Friday, Dec. 7: Womens’ Doubles & 2-hour Clinic
• Saturday, Dec. 8: Mixed Doubles & 2-hour Clinic
• Sunday, Dec. 9: Mens’ Doubles & 2-hour Clinic
• Monday, Dec. 10: 4-hour Clinic & Private Lessons

Maui Pickleball Group: Ed Horstman (L) and Dennis Vandevelde (R). PC: Todd Kawasaki

Sponsors for Maui’s first-ever pickleball tournament include:

• Wailea Tennis Center
• Head Pickleball
• Selkirk Sports
• Onix
• Pickleball Maui
• Pickleball Central
• Paddletek
• Gear Box
• Kula True Value

The tournament, the first of its kind (with player ratings and multiple events) in a series of annual events planned for the future, has been organized by Pickleball Is Great.

For more information about the tournament or pickleball on Maui, email Loney.

To download sponsorship information, click here.