The Hawaiʻi Convention Center recently transformed into the state’s largest, indoor pickleball event, with 38 air-conditioned courts during the Hawaiʻi Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open tournament.
Photo Essay: Picking Up Pickleball
The Hawaiʻi Convention Center recently transformed into the state’s largest, indoor pickleball event, with 38 air-conditioned courts during the Hawaiʻi Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open tournament.
“Learn to Play Pickleball” participants watch Oʻahu Pickleball Association Vice President Kevin Ching demonstrate a serve at the Hawai‘i Pacific Health Honolulu Open. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Hitting the ball might have been the easy part for some “Learn to Play Pickleball” participants during the Hawai‘i Pacific Health Honolulu Open, where players of all levels mixed with elite and professional pickleball athletes.
Some top-ranked players took time out of their tour to teach a beginner’s class. The rules about who serves, score keeping, where to stand, where not to stand and even why it’s called “the kitchen” came out like a firehose of information during the short class.
Mark Miyamoto of Mililani keeps his eyes on the ball. His focus pays off and he hits it with the paddle’s sweet spot during a “Learn to Play Pickleball” class. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Normally, the paddle of the No. 1-ranked singles senior Professional Pickleball Association player Josh Cooperman of Scottsdale, Ariz., does the talking. But while teaching a “Learn to Play Pickleball” class, it takes a back seat. “You’ll pick it up over time,” Cooperman repeatedly told the foursome while teaching who serves and from what section of the court. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Cathy Remigio, left, of ʻAiea, and Ciara Keamo, of Wahiawā, try to figure out who should return the ball during a “Learn to Play Pickleball” class. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Kelly Miyamoto, left, keeps the rally going after returning to Cathy Remigio, while Mark Miyamoto and Ciara Keamo participate on the court during a “Learn to Play Pickleball” class. Their instructor, Josh Cooperman of Scottsdale, Arizona, offers encouragement from the sidelines. Cooperman is currently the No. 1 men’s single senior professional. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)Pickleballs wait in a basket during a “Learn to Play Pickleball” class. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Pickleballs are slightly larger and heavier than the Wiffle balls originally used in the game, which was invented decades ago as a backyard children’s game. As the sport and player proficiency grew, the design of the balls evolved to be more durable.
Ciara Keamo’s tennis background shows in her overhead slam, which Mark Miyamoto wasn’t able to return. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
Kelly and Mark Miyamoto of Mililani laugh after a ball gets past them. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
With the rise in popularity of pickleball — a Sports and Fitness Industry Association report released last year found that the sport had grown more than 200% over three years in the United States — complaints of the noise it creates also grew. But in this beginner class, the sound of laughter and joy drowned out the “pok, pok, pok” of the balls hitting the paddles.
Oʻahu Pickleball Association Vice President Kevin Ching watches a professional demonstration. The association was a tournament partner of the Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Honolulu Open. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2025)
The game can be leisurely, fast-paced or highly competitive depending on who you play with and how you play. Ching invited the beginners to come by the tennis center at Diamond Head, where players of all levels can show up for drop-in play, he said, and you don’t even need to bring a paddle.
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