I play tennis 3-4 times a week. I realize that pickleball is a growing sport on Maui & needs to have their own courts; not the conversion of the tennis courts. This is because they have different measurements of their lines & nets. It is hard to play after they've been there because they leave their line markings & net is changed. When their plastic ball hits the paddle it is a much noisier sport, and pickleball seems to have much more people on the court whereas we have 4 at the most for doubles. Barbara of Kula
I am a frequent tennis player at the Kula Community Center courts. I also help maintain the courts and surrounding area. I support pickle ball court construction and oppose the conversion of tennis and basketball courts to pickle ball use. Laying permanent pickle ball lines atop tennis and basketball lines creates an unplayable court. Waiting for regular tennis players to finish so that I and my friends can get on the court is getting longer and longer. Many times players have arrived at the court only to turn around and leave when they see the long line of players hoping to get on. The wait time is made worse because pickle ball players do not honor any court time limits. Leaving tennis and basketball courts untouched and constructing pickle ball specific courts would reduce wait times and the tension between the respective players. Chuck Horsman, Kula.
I oppose converting tennis courts into pickle ball courts - the two are incompatible. Pickle ball is noisy and totally against the spirit of tennis which requires concentration and rhythm. The pickle ball tat-tat-tat loud noise is very intrusive, and the multiple lines on the court are a nightmare for tennis players. There are not enough tennis courts especially during peak times. Recently my group had to wait over an hour for a tennis court at the Kula Community Center. When my daughter was on the high school tennis team, their team had difficulty finding available courts to practice! Here you have young people wanting to play, and then not having the availability - or the grass infested Eddie Tam courts which are unplayable. Build pickleball courts away from the tennis courts; do not try to "band-aid" the situation with a short-term all-inclusive court use approach. No one wins in the multi-use approach: this can actually create animosity between tennis and pickle ball players, which is completely against the spirit of "community" that is Maui. Mahalo, Catherine Westerberg
Aloha Committee-members. My name is Debbie Brint-Woessner, and I’m a Haiku resident. I’ve played pickleball regularly for about 2.5 years at Haiku Fieldhouse, the War Memorial courts and before it closed, Eddie Tam Gym. No need to debate the merits of exercise, but pickleball is fun and healthy and enjoyed by people of all ages. As you know, the sport’s popularity is growing exponentially across the country. It’s imperative that Maui County recognize that fact, and act now to help ease overcrowding on our courts.
I wholeheartedly support using my tax dollars to build dedicated pickleball courts. Since the court is smaller, pickleball takes up less space than a tennis court. Until that happens, I would like to see underutilized tennis courts upgraded and restriped with permanent lines to accommodate pickleball. Currently the pickleball community often must use tape or chalk to mark the courts, as well as provide their own nets. I also support creating specific times when existing courts are reserved for one sport or the other. Tennis and pickleball can co-exist. Mahalo for your consideration.
I appreciate being given the opportunity for input regarding the pickleball situation and how it affects the tennis player community on Maui.
I teach community tennis classes at War Memorial Tennis courts (we haven't been for the last 19 months due to COVID), and I am also a tennis player. That being said, pickleball at that time was a nuisance to us. Not only is it loud in itself, typically players are also quite loud while they play, have music playing, so it is a distraction. In addition, they tape down the lines on the tennis courts, and when my students and I arrived the next day, the tape was strewn all over the courts and we had to clean it up. I have pictures if you would like to see them. I talked to some of them and asked to please remove the tape after they finished playing, but it didn't stop. Garbage on the courts, empty bottles and containers was also an issue. The county responded by putting down lines on the courts which are very confusing when you play a match as a tennis player. When we have junior tournaments or league play, these courts cannot be used for play because of those lines.
In addition, they will occupy the courts for hours, having no intention to respect the rules. In tennis, we vacate the courts after 45 min. if playing singles or after 60 min. if playing doubles if people are waiting. No so for pickleball players. They seem to have no regard for those rules, more importantly the courtesy of asking.
We do not have enough tennis courts to be sharing them with pickleball. I believe they need to build their own courts, or they could ask the gyms with basketball courts to share their indoor courts with them? Just a suggestion.
Aloha Maui Council,
I oppose converting existing tennis courts or basketball courts into pickle ball courts; instead I support the creation of new pickle ball courts where no courts currently exist (e.g., Maui Sunset Park or the new big park on Liloa in Kihei).
It is neither feasible nor practical to have pickle ball court lines overlapping on the same court as a tennis court. It's too confusing and not safe. It's akin trying to paint an airport taxiway on a state highway and deciding at various times of the day for which purpose the space will be used and trying to 'ignore' the other lines. Doesn't work.
I am a lifelong tennis player. But, please let's stop being so elitist!!! Every other type of field must be used for multiple purposes - soccer, softball, hockey, track & field. Can we not find a solution to share? Isn't that what we learned in kindergarten? And, please stop whining about the sound of pickleball, seriously compare that to the grunting..... Mark the courts for multipurpose, this is shared taxpayer space.
DATELINE: Waipuilani Pickleball Courts, Kihei. October 20,2021
Today was a typical morning at the Waipuilani County Park pickleball courts in Kihei.
The four county built pickleball courts and the one multiuse tennis/pickleball court constitute the only five public pickleball courts in South Maui.
On this sunny mid-October morning open play began at 7:00 a.m. The number of players began to overwhelm the available courts by 7:30 a.m. Fortunately, a group of local volunteers bring over three portable pickleball nets and position them on the multiuse court. This makes for a total of seven (7) playable courts.
By 8:30 a.m. there were fifty (50) participants vying for court time. The 7 courts can accommodate a maximum of 28 players, if doubles pickleball is played on every court. 50 participants mean there are almost as many players sitting out as playing.
Of the 50 participants today, I estimate that around 50% were Maui residents. Tourists coming to the island are looking for places to play just like residents. Pickleball is a very welcoming pastime and a great way for residents to demonstrate our Aloha spirit to visitors.
Permanent pickleball facilities need to be established and expanded all over Maui County, due to the sport’s insane popularity. But expansion, with additional repairs, is especially true at the Kihei venue. The County could and should do more to accommodate residents and visitors here. We sincerely need more permanent pickleball courts at Waipuilani to handle the ever-increasing demand.
Aloha Committee Members,
We are frequent visitors to Maui, particularly the Kaanapali Beach area. We are from California and avid players of picleball. We live in a lovely gate community with pickleball courts that are very busy and active. We travel frequently and we always research areas for pickleball courts where we can play, and often plan are reservations in mind. We have enjoyed playing at the courts at Lahaina Civic Center this week, and although the courts are in rough shape, we are still willing to play because pickleball is so fun, great exercise and easy to be safe and socially distant from others at this time. Bottom line is when we travel we pack out pickleball gear and look forward to all the places we are able to play around the states and the world.
Aloha,
The Cooks
Penn Valley, California
3yrs. ago, for many months i had heard about pickleball, after giving it a try I quickly realized that everything I heard about it was true, on top of being a social and fun activity for everyone of almost any age 70-80+ down to 8-10yr olds, kids to kupuna and everyone in between can do this activity at the same time and have a blast, even people different mobility levels can still enjoy this activity with younger and more able people.
PICKLEBALL is the definition of ALOHA! Inclusive, friendly, inviting but, can be seriously intense and very competitive with a high skill set if that's what you want out of it.
Unlike Tennis, with almost 150 years legacy.. that, from its inception through the years has always been snobby, exclusive, regimented, stodgy, intolerant, inflexible, slow to accept or tolerate any change: from women and other races entering the sport, to proper attire, proper colors etc etc. All these things at one point or another were big threats to this activity but, always ended up growing and increase it's popularity 🤪 the numbers don't lie it's been stagnant for a long time particularly in the US, it's been circling the drain... And now they feel threatened by Pickleball?? ... Our relatively short legacy is it complete opposite of theirs, We are democratic, fully inclusive, celebrating and inviting everyone to join, irrelevant of race, gender or social status ...it's all good!!! we're here together to have fun, be social and enjoy life together.
A few years back another legacy activity was facing the same dilemma... Skiing was threatened by Snowboarding, and just like Tennis, its participation had been declining for years, the sport was stagnant, resorts reported less and less ridership every year... Snowboarding was viewed as this huge threat, unraveling their regimented stodgy snobby rules n behavior... in the long run, it boosted the Ski industry dramatically! changing the shape of skis, the ease of use, the style of clothing.... skiing was completely transformed by this so called threat!!!
BTW, Tennis courts throughout Maui county don't belong to Tennis players, we all pay taxes so, they belong to all of us!!! You have no exclusive rights to them.
Many abandoned and /or disrepared courts throughout the island got like that because of lack of use, they built too many and did not maintain them cuz only the "squeaky wheel gets the oil"
They focused resources on the ones currently in good shape because of use and demand.
Don't blame Pickleball for trying to appropriate abandoned or disrepared courts.
Much easier to resurface repair existing courts then build new ones from scratch, we all should have our own venues (I oppose adding more lines to any Courts) Tennis can keep their strongholds in Kahului KCC, Wells.
War Memorial upper Tennis courts should be converted to four dedicated Pickleball courts....and if Tennis players on the lower courts can't handle the traumatizing and insidious sound of pickleball and people having fun then those should be also converted to Pickleball courts.
I play both pickleball and tennis, so I would like to see both groups accommodated equitably.
Kula courts: I play doubles tennis there at various times throughout the week (weekdays and weekends) during the day. Tennis matches usually last an hour-and-a-half. On Sundays, I sometimes join a regular group that has been playing doubles there in the morning for years. They use about four courts. On Monday mornings, I sometimes play with a group that has played there for many years as well. They usually take two courts. When I play doubles tennis on Tuesday or Thursday morning (using one court), I sometimes join the pickleball group from 10 to noon.
War Memorial/KCC: I have played with a regular tennis doubles group at 4:30 p.m. on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. If these courts are full, we go to KCC instead (and visa versa, if we meet at KCC first), but those are often full due to school practices and what looks like kids’ group lessons. Pickleballers also set up and play at War Memorial both on the area by the wall and on two of the courts above the wall. They seem to arrive at around 5 or 5:30 and play until the lights go out. We have also seen pickleballers at KCC, some of whom set up a ball machine and hit solo. We utilize the lights at both courts when they can be turned on. Matches usually last an hour-and-a-half.
Kalama Park: Occasionally, I practice doubles with USTA league team members Kalama at about 430 on a weekday. Matches usually last an hour-and-a-half. The courts are very busy and noisy, with a baseball field adjacent to the courts. I have never seen pickleballers there, but I have seen kids playing (not tennis or pickleball) on the courts, sometimes with a dog, and have even seen what looked like a father and son playing hockey on the tennis court.
Wells Park: I know of many groups that meet there seven days a week, all day and all night long. The courts are also used regularly for USTA league tennis, mostly on weekends during the day, but also throughout the week at various times, including evenings. League matches use three or fours courts, usually. Night matches require the use of lights. The basketball court adjacent to three of the tennis courts seems to get a fair bit of use. Unfortunately, most of the basketball players are very loud (it is the nature of the game), and often they bring along with them a boom box and even a barking dog or two with no regard for tennis players and the concentration needed to play a quality match.
Pukalani court near Tavares Community Center: Although the court is in very rough shape, with weeds growing out of the many cracks on the court, I practice there a couple times a week (various days), usually in the morning from 8 to 9:30 or so. Occasionally, pickleball players are using the court or show up while we are playing tennis and ask us when we will be done. There is a newly resurfaced basketball court at the park, far enough away from the tennis court so that noise is not a factor.
Makawao courts at Eddie Tam Park: I have in the past used either of these two courts to practice serving, but now that the wind screens are gone, it is impossible to do even to that. It is way too windy for any ball sport if there are no wind screens. I see kids rollerblading, biking and skateboarding on the courts. There is already a nearby basketball court, but I only see occasional use. If the wind screens are not replaced and the surface is not repaved, the courts are unusable for tennis.
Eddie Tam Gym: Before the pandemic, a Saturday morning group of pickleballers would play from about 8 to noon. It is a wonderful facility for that sport. I believe there is also a gym in downtown Kula that could accommodate pickleball. Since pickleball is very effected by wind, more sheltered places like this indoor facility would be ideal. If outdoors, the pickleball courts need wind screens and/or need to be put in a location where there is little or no wind. It is difficult to play tennis in the wind, but impossible to play pickleball when it is windy.
Hali‘imaile court: Like Pukalani’s court, this remote tennis court is very neglected. Wind screens are missing, the gate doesn’t close and weeds are growing from big cracks in the court. The net is in disrepair, as are most of the nets in most of the courts except Kula and Wells. Still, it is ok for a practice court or for serving practice. I go there occasionally on various days during the week and rarely see anyone else using it.
Summary: Firstly, I would like to see better maintenance of our existing parks that have multiple courts — Kula, Kahului Community Center, Wells and War. These are precious facilities. If our very neglected courts, such as Hali‘imaile, Makawao and Pukalani, were repaved and wind screens were installed, they could be used for tennis, taking pressure off of some of the busier courts, and in some cases, where there is not too much wind, they could be used for pickleball, as well. Another option would be to turn these neglected courts into dedicated pickleball courts. As far as basketball goes, I do not play the sport and am not aware of what is needed.
Pickleball/tennis/basketball culture: I think it is important that before any money is spent on this endeavor, the county should be aware of the different cultures, natures and noise levels of these sports before they are asked to co-exist. Tennis is a quiet sport that requires concentration to play it well. Tennis rules and codes even include this factor, and if unnecessary noise occurs during a match, a hinderance is called and the score is affected. Likewise, noise from pickleball and basketball players can be very disruptive to tennis players. So, I suggest as much separation as possible — but also education. Enthusiastic pickleball players should be aware that to some tennis players, just the clunking of the ball being hit by a pickleball paddle is more than most tennis players can bear. The excitement of pickleball often elicits screams and shrieks of joy (or disappointment), again, equivalent to fingernails on a chalkboard for most tennis players. I can’t even imagine considering taking away tennis courts to make basketball courts; the two sports should not be played adjacent to each other, again, because of the noise factor.
In a perfect world... The best option from the standpoint of a player of both pickleball and tennis would be to build a new, dedicated pickleball court complex in a windless, central area (or one for each area of Maui). Pickleball is becoming more popular with baby boomers/seniors, so making Maui the Pickleball Capital of the Pacific would surely draw in regular visitors who are addicted to the game — and there are many of them! Most of these senior players are retired and have money, so this investment would bring in visitor dollars to the island’s economy across the board.
(Attachment of this document has also been submitted.)
Sincerely and with much appreciation,
Debra Lordan
808-280-9667
debra.lordan@gmail.com
Please this has got to stop! Why must pickelball player have to tape their courts when using at the Kula community center. It absolutely unacceptable! Do tennis players tape their courts. There is plenty of room for all. Let get this done Maui Parks/Recreations. We are way behind the ball on getting this done.
Dear Maui County,
I am a tennis and pickleball player and am opposed to converting more tennis courts into pickleball courts. I support public funding for adding dedicated pickleball courts to our county park facilities.
I'm totally opposed turning tennis courts into multi-use.
Pickleball must have their own courts
Please do not let Pickle Ball take over the tennis courts. Pickle ball is loud and should be played away from any tennis courts. The lines also interfere with tennis court lines making it impossible to tell which is which.
If there is a demand for Pickle Ball courts. Build more pickle ball courts. There in not enough tennis courts already.
I am writing this testimony in support of expanding the sport of Pickleball on Maui, as it is a fun, easy to learn sport for all ages and backgrounds. In the past few years, there has been an explosion of interest in the sport! My Pickleball friends and I ask that you please build dedicated Pickleball courts in Wailuku, Haiku, Kihei, and Lahaina. We ask that they are built with roofs and one wall, modeled after the Haiku Field house. We also ask that Pickleball leagues be created, similar to tennis leagues! We know these requests make take time, so in the interim we ask that you at least give us permission to paint Pickleball lines on the upper tennis courts at War Memorial and at the Field house in Haiku. We also ask that you give us permission to purchase trunks with locks to be left at the upper courts at War Memorial and the Haiku Field House to store Pickleball nets in, just as you gave permission for people to do this at the Waipuilani Courts in Kihei. We also want you to know that we are not trying to take courts away from tennis or basketball players. As my Pickleball friends can attest to, there are rarely more than 4 people playing tennis at the War Memorial courts on any given night. In fact, this past week, the lower tennis court was empty by at least 6pm on two of the nights we were there. Also let it be noted that there are many Pickleball players who also play tennis!! As far as basketball goes at the Haiku Field House, we rarely run into basketball players on Saturday mornings. Please Maui County council members, help grow this sport and come in and join the fun!! Finally, can someone please put new light bulbs in the bathrooms at War Memorial tennis courts, and can there be lamps lighting the way on the sidewalk from the courts to the parking lot? These are safety issues and I get very scared going to the bathroom or my car at night in the dark. I would not like to see the county sued either. Aloha!!!!
Aloha and mahalo for listening to both sides of the Pickleball and Tennis communities needs. I never played Tennis and seriously love Pickleball. It would be great to have more public Pickleball facilities. It is a popular sport which doesn’t need too much room. Kelly Lau
I am an avid Pickleball player and we are in dire need of access to more Pickleball friendly areas. As an upcountry resident, I play at kula community center every Tuesday and Thursday and every time we play we have to tape each court out. That is 432 rolls of tape every single year. This is not sustainable. We either need lined courts or we can get new Pickleball specific courts. This would be a win win situation. No conflict with tennis players and we will not be wasting tape. I am 21 years old and I see Pickleball as a sport that I will play the rest of my life.
My name is Kelson Lau, being native hawaiian and born and raised here on Maui I grew up surfing and playing any sport I could. I started playing pickleball 3 years ago and fell in love with the sport. Since I have started playing I have been constantly introducing pickleball to all my friends. Just about everyone I introduce the sport to loves it. Being 23 I am younger than the average pickleball players some of the only problems I have run into while playing is that we do not have enough courts to support all the new players. Unfortunately the shortage of courts and long waits has deterred some of my friends from playing who could have been great players and developed a new awesome healthy hobby. We have been using my home courts in Kula which lots of the time we go are empty, which is awesome but we have to waste a roll of tape every time and someone has to bring a net. I have seen pickleball explode to three or four times what is was. We have NO designated pickleball courts is the central/ upcountry area with a significant and growing number of players I believe this needs to change. Whether it’s transforming these unused tennis courts or building new courts this needs to change.
Pickleball is the future and tennis is the past!
Imua pickleball!
Turning tennis courts into multi-use, multi-sport courts pretty much translates into more complaints, more calls to Park Rangers, and more conflicts and issues with permitting, not to mention a lot of stink an side eye on da tennis court. Whoa…so hum bug.
For monies saved in the present (by forcing sports to share one facility) we also get da bonus of acrimony for decades, the pitting of passionate citizens against each other, and by extension, sport against sport. Awe. Why do we go down the multi-use court pathway? Is it worth the penny saved? Hmm.
And who wants to get good at being oppositional to another's passion, their dreams and the needs of their sport? No, I no like dat. So mahalo, Councilwoman Kama, for calling a meeting. Thank you in advance for asking citizens to consider our kuleana and say something. I hope that, while we citizens express our desires to have places to gather where we may thrive, that the County goes WITH our vitality, our energy, (beyond officiating and enforcement) and set a course for BUILDING community by building diverse, and dedicated facilities. Mahalo.
I play tennis 3-4 times a week. I realize that pickleball is a growing sport on Maui & needs to have their own courts; not the conversion of the tennis courts. This is because they have different measurements of their lines & nets. It is hard to play after they've been there because they leave their line markings & net is changed. When their plastic ball hits the paddle it is a much noisier sport, and pickleball seems to have much more people on the court whereas we have 4 at the most for doubles. Barbara of Kula
I am a frequent tennis player at the Kula Community Center courts. I also help maintain the courts and surrounding area. I support pickle ball court construction and oppose the conversion of tennis and basketball courts to pickle ball use. Laying permanent pickle ball lines atop tennis and basketball lines creates an unplayable court. Waiting for regular tennis players to finish so that I and my friends can get on the court is getting longer and longer. Many times players have arrived at the court only to turn around and leave when they see the long line of players hoping to get on. The wait time is made worse because pickle ball players do not honor any court time limits. Leaving tennis and basketball courts untouched and constructing pickle ball specific courts would reduce wait times and the tension between the respective players. Chuck Horsman, Kula.
I oppose converting tennis courts into pickle ball courts - the two are incompatible. Pickle ball is noisy and totally against the spirit of tennis which requires concentration and rhythm. The pickle ball tat-tat-tat loud noise is very intrusive, and the multiple lines on the court are a nightmare for tennis players. There are not enough tennis courts especially during peak times. Recently my group had to wait over an hour for a tennis court at the Kula Community Center. When my daughter was on the high school tennis team, their team had difficulty finding available courts to practice! Here you have young people wanting to play, and then not having the availability - or the grass infested Eddie Tam courts which are unplayable. Build pickleball courts away from the tennis courts; do not try to "band-aid" the situation with a short-term all-inclusive court use approach. No one wins in the multi-use approach: this can actually create animosity between tennis and pickle ball players, which is completely against the spirit of "community" that is Maui. Mahalo, Catherine Westerberg
Aloha Committee-members. My name is Debbie Brint-Woessner, and I’m a Haiku resident. I’ve played pickleball regularly for about 2.5 years at Haiku Fieldhouse, the War Memorial courts and before it closed, Eddie Tam Gym. No need to debate the merits of exercise, but pickleball is fun and healthy and enjoyed by people of all ages. As you know, the sport’s popularity is growing exponentially across the country. It’s imperative that Maui County recognize that fact, and act now to help ease overcrowding on our courts.
I wholeheartedly support using my tax dollars to build dedicated pickleball courts. Since the court is smaller, pickleball takes up less space than a tennis court. Until that happens, I would like to see underutilized tennis courts upgraded and restriped with permanent lines to accommodate pickleball. Currently the pickleball community often must use tape or chalk to mark the courts, as well as provide their own nets. I also support creating specific times when existing courts are reserved for one sport or the other. Tennis and pickleball can co-exist. Mahalo for your consideration.
Aloha Maui County Council Committee Members,
I appreciate being given the opportunity for input regarding the pickleball situation and how it affects the tennis player community on Maui.
I teach community tennis classes at War Memorial Tennis courts (we haven't been for the last 19 months due to COVID), and I am also a tennis player. That being said, pickleball at that time was a nuisance to us. Not only is it loud in itself, typically players are also quite loud while they play, have music playing, so it is a distraction. In addition, they tape down the lines on the tennis courts, and when my students and I arrived the next day, the tape was strewn all over the courts and we had to clean it up. I have pictures if you would like to see them. I talked to some of them and asked to please remove the tape after they finished playing, but it didn't stop. Garbage on the courts, empty bottles and containers was also an issue. The county responded by putting down lines on the courts which are very confusing when you play a match as a tennis player. When we have junior tournaments or league play, these courts cannot be used for play because of those lines.
In addition, they will occupy the courts for hours, having no intention to respect the rules. In tennis, we vacate the courts after 45 min. if playing singles or after 60 min. if playing doubles if people are waiting. No so for pickleball players. They seem to have no regard for those rules, more importantly the courtesy of asking.
We do not have enough tennis courts to be sharing them with pickleball. I believe they need to build their own courts, or they could ask the gyms with basketball courts to share their indoor courts with them? Just a suggestion.
Regards,
Petra DuPont
USPTA certified Coach
Aloha Maui Council,
I oppose converting existing tennis courts or basketball courts into pickle ball courts; instead I support the creation of new pickle ball courts where no courts currently exist (e.g., Maui Sunset Park or the new big park on Liloa in Kihei).
It is neither feasible nor practical to have pickle ball court lines overlapping on the same court as a tennis court. It's too confusing and not safe. It's akin trying to paint an airport taxiway on a state highway and deciding at various times of the day for which purpose the space will be used and trying to 'ignore' the other lines. Doesn't work.
Aloha
I am a lifelong tennis player. But, please let's stop being so elitist!!! Every other type of field must be used for multiple purposes - soccer, softball, hockey, track & field. Can we not find a solution to share? Isn't that what we learned in kindergarten? And, please stop whining about the sound of pickleball, seriously compare that to the grunting..... Mark the courts for multipurpose, this is shared taxpayer space.
DATELINE: Waipuilani Pickleball Courts, Kihei. October 20,2021
Today was a typical morning at the Waipuilani County Park pickleball courts in Kihei.
The four county built pickleball courts and the one multiuse tennis/pickleball court constitute the only five public pickleball courts in South Maui.
On this sunny mid-October morning open play began at 7:00 a.m. The number of players began to overwhelm the available courts by 7:30 a.m. Fortunately, a group of local volunteers bring over three portable pickleball nets and position them on the multiuse court. This makes for a total of seven (7) playable courts.
By 8:30 a.m. there were fifty (50) participants vying for court time. The 7 courts can accommodate a maximum of 28 players, if doubles pickleball is played on every court. 50 participants mean there are almost as many players sitting out as playing.
Of the 50 participants today, I estimate that around 50% were Maui residents. Tourists coming to the island are looking for places to play just like residents. Pickleball is a very welcoming pastime and a great way for residents to demonstrate our Aloha spirit to visitors.
Permanent pickleball facilities need to be established and expanded all over Maui County, due to the sport’s insane popularity. But expansion, with additional repairs, is especially true at the Kihei venue. The County could and should do more to accommodate residents and visitors here. We sincerely need more permanent pickleball courts at Waipuilani to handle the ever-increasing demand.
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Mark
Kihei resident
Aloha Committee Members,
We are frequent visitors to Maui, particularly the Kaanapali Beach area. We are from California and avid players of picleball. We live in a lovely gate community with pickleball courts that are very busy and active. We travel frequently and we always research areas for pickleball courts where we can play, and often plan are reservations in mind. We have enjoyed playing at the courts at Lahaina Civic Center this week, and although the courts are in rough shape, we are still willing to play because pickleball is so fun, great exercise and easy to be safe and socially distant from others at this time. Bottom line is when we travel we pack out pickleball gear and look forward to all the places we are able to play around the states and the world.
Aloha,
The Cooks
Penn Valley, California
Aloha everyone,
3yrs. ago, for many months i had heard about pickleball, after giving it a try I quickly realized that everything I heard about it was true, on top of being a social and fun activity for everyone of almost any age 70-80+ down to 8-10yr olds, kids to kupuna and everyone in between can do this activity at the same time and have a blast, even people different mobility levels can still enjoy this activity with younger and more able people.
PICKLEBALL is the definition of ALOHA! Inclusive, friendly, inviting but, can be seriously intense and very competitive with a high skill set if that's what you want out of it.
Unlike Tennis, with almost 150 years legacy.. that, from its inception through the years has always been snobby, exclusive, regimented, stodgy, intolerant, inflexible, slow to accept or tolerate any change: from women and other races entering the sport, to proper attire, proper colors etc etc. All these things at one point or another were big threats to this activity but, always ended up growing and increase it's popularity 🤪 the numbers don't lie it's been stagnant for a long time particularly in the US, it's been circling the drain... And now they feel threatened by Pickleball?? ... Our relatively short legacy is it complete opposite of theirs, We are democratic, fully inclusive, celebrating and inviting everyone to join, irrelevant of race, gender or social status ...it's all good!!! we're here together to have fun, be social and enjoy life together.
A few years back another legacy activity was facing the same dilemma... Skiing was threatened by Snowboarding, and just like Tennis, its participation had been declining for years, the sport was stagnant, resorts reported less and less ridership every year... Snowboarding was viewed as this huge threat, unraveling their regimented stodgy snobby rules n behavior... in the long run, it boosted the Ski industry dramatically! changing the shape of skis, the ease of use, the style of clothing.... skiing was completely transformed by this so called threat!!!
BTW, Tennis courts throughout Maui county don't belong to Tennis players, we all pay taxes so, they belong to all of us!!! You have no exclusive rights to them.
Many abandoned and /or disrepared courts throughout the island got like that because of lack of use, they built too many and did not maintain them cuz only the "squeaky wheel gets the oil"
They focused resources on the ones currently in good shape because of use and demand.
Don't blame Pickleball for trying to appropriate abandoned or disrepared courts.
Much easier to resurface repair existing courts then build new ones from scratch, we all should have our own venues (I oppose adding more lines to any Courts) Tennis can keep their strongholds in Kahului KCC, Wells.
War Memorial upper Tennis courts should be converted to four dedicated Pickleball courts....and if Tennis players on the lower courts can't handle the traumatizing and insidious sound of pickleball and people having fun then those should be also converted to Pickleball courts.
Mahalo,
Alex
Oct. 15, 2021
Dear Maui County Officials,
I play both pickleball and tennis, so I would like to see both groups accommodated equitably.
Kula courts: I play doubles tennis there at various times throughout the week (weekdays and weekends) during the day. Tennis matches usually last an hour-and-a-half. On Sundays, I sometimes join a regular group that has been playing doubles there in the morning for years. They use about four courts. On Monday mornings, I sometimes play with a group that has played there for many years as well. They usually take two courts. When I play doubles tennis on Tuesday or Thursday morning (using one court), I sometimes join the pickleball group from 10 to noon.
War Memorial/KCC: I have played with a regular tennis doubles group at 4:30 p.m. on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. If these courts are full, we go to KCC instead (and visa versa, if we meet at KCC first), but those are often full due to school practices and what looks like kids’ group lessons. Pickleballers also set up and play at War Memorial both on the area by the wall and on two of the courts above the wall. They seem to arrive at around 5 or 5:30 and play until the lights go out. We have also seen pickleballers at KCC, some of whom set up a ball machine and hit solo. We utilize the lights at both courts when they can be turned on. Matches usually last an hour-and-a-half.
Kalama Park: Occasionally, I practice doubles with USTA league team members Kalama at about 430 on a weekday. Matches usually last an hour-and-a-half. The courts are very busy and noisy, with a baseball field adjacent to the courts. I have never seen pickleballers there, but I have seen kids playing (not tennis or pickleball) on the courts, sometimes with a dog, and have even seen what looked like a father and son playing hockey on the tennis court.
Wells Park: I know of many groups that meet there seven days a week, all day and all night long. The courts are also used regularly for USTA league tennis, mostly on weekends during the day, but also throughout the week at various times, including evenings. League matches use three or fours courts, usually. Night matches require the use of lights. The basketball court adjacent to three of the tennis courts seems to get a fair bit of use. Unfortunately, most of the basketball players are very loud (it is the nature of the game), and often they bring along with them a boom box and even a barking dog or two with no regard for tennis players and the concentration needed to play a quality match.
Pukalani court near Tavares Community Center: Although the court is in very rough shape, with weeds growing out of the many cracks on the court, I practice there a couple times a week (various days), usually in the morning from 8 to 9:30 or so. Occasionally, pickleball players are using the court or show up while we are playing tennis and ask us when we will be done. There is a newly resurfaced basketball court at the park, far enough away from the tennis court so that noise is not a factor.
Makawao courts at Eddie Tam Park: I have in the past used either of these two courts to practice serving, but now that the wind screens are gone, it is impossible to do even to that. It is way too windy for any ball sport if there are no wind screens. I see kids rollerblading, biking and skateboarding on the courts. There is already a nearby basketball court, but I only see occasional use. If the wind screens are not replaced and the surface is not repaved, the courts are unusable for tennis.
Eddie Tam Gym: Before the pandemic, a Saturday morning group of pickleballers would play from about 8 to noon. It is a wonderful facility for that sport. I believe there is also a gym in downtown Kula that could accommodate pickleball. Since pickleball is very effected by wind, more sheltered places like this indoor facility would be ideal. If outdoors, the pickleball courts need wind screens and/or need to be put in a location where there is little or no wind. It is difficult to play tennis in the wind, but impossible to play pickleball when it is windy.
Hali‘imaile court: Like Pukalani’s court, this remote tennis court is very neglected. Wind screens are missing, the gate doesn’t close and weeds are growing from big cracks in the court. The net is in disrepair, as are most of the nets in most of the courts except Kula and Wells. Still, it is ok for a practice court or for serving practice. I go there occasionally on various days during the week and rarely see anyone else using it.
Summary: Firstly, I would like to see better maintenance of our existing parks that have multiple courts — Kula, Kahului Community Center, Wells and War. These are precious facilities. If our very neglected courts, such as Hali‘imaile, Makawao and Pukalani, were repaved and wind screens were installed, they could be used for tennis, taking pressure off of some of the busier courts, and in some cases, where there is not too much wind, they could be used for pickleball, as well. Another option would be to turn these neglected courts into dedicated pickleball courts. As far as basketball goes, I do not play the sport and am not aware of what is needed.
Pickleball/tennis/basketball culture: I think it is important that before any money is spent on this endeavor, the county should be aware of the different cultures, natures and noise levels of these sports before they are asked to co-exist. Tennis is a quiet sport that requires concentration to play it well. Tennis rules and codes even include this factor, and if unnecessary noise occurs during a match, a hinderance is called and the score is affected. Likewise, noise from pickleball and basketball players can be very disruptive to tennis players. So, I suggest as much separation as possible — but also education. Enthusiastic pickleball players should be aware that to some tennis players, just the clunking of the ball being hit by a pickleball paddle is more than most tennis players can bear. The excitement of pickleball often elicits screams and shrieks of joy (or disappointment), again, equivalent to fingernails on a chalkboard for most tennis players. I can’t even imagine considering taking away tennis courts to make basketball courts; the two sports should not be played adjacent to each other, again, because of the noise factor.
In a perfect world... The best option from the standpoint of a player of both pickleball and tennis would be to build a new, dedicated pickleball court complex in a windless, central area (or one for each area of Maui). Pickleball is becoming more popular with baby boomers/seniors, so making Maui the Pickleball Capital of the Pacific would surely draw in regular visitors who are addicted to the game — and there are many of them! Most of these senior players are retired and have money, so this investment would bring in visitor dollars to the island’s economy across the board.
(Attachment of this document has also been submitted.)
Sincerely and with much appreciation,
Debra Lordan
808-280-9667
debra.lordan@gmail.com
Please this has got to stop! Why must pickelball player have to tape their courts when using at the Kula community center. It absolutely unacceptable! Do tennis players tape their courts. There is plenty of room for all. Let get this done Maui Parks/Recreations. We are way behind the ball on getting this done.
Dear Maui County,
I am a tennis and pickleball player and am opposed to converting more tennis courts into pickleball courts. I support public funding for adding dedicated pickleball courts to our county park facilities.
I'm totally opposed turning tennis courts into multi-use.
Pickleball must have their own courts
Please do not let Pickle Ball take over the tennis courts. Pickle ball is loud and should be played away from any tennis courts. The lines also interfere with tennis court lines making it impossible to tell which is which.
If there is a demand for Pickle Ball courts. Build more pickle ball courts. There in not enough tennis courts already.
Dear Maui County,
I am writing this testimony in support of expanding the sport of Pickleball on Maui, as it is a fun, easy to learn sport for all ages and backgrounds. In the past few years, there has been an explosion of interest in the sport! My Pickleball friends and I ask that you please build dedicated Pickleball courts in Wailuku, Haiku, Kihei, and Lahaina. We ask that they are built with roofs and one wall, modeled after the Haiku Field house. We also ask that Pickleball leagues be created, similar to tennis leagues! We know these requests make take time, so in the interim we ask that you at least give us permission to paint Pickleball lines on the upper tennis courts at War Memorial and at the Field house in Haiku. We also ask that you give us permission to purchase trunks with locks to be left at the upper courts at War Memorial and the Haiku Field House to store Pickleball nets in, just as you gave permission for people to do this at the Waipuilani Courts in Kihei. We also want you to know that we are not trying to take courts away from tennis or basketball players. As my Pickleball friends can attest to, there are rarely more than 4 people playing tennis at the War Memorial courts on any given night. In fact, this past week, the lower tennis court was empty by at least 6pm on two of the nights we were there. Also let it be noted that there are many Pickleball players who also play tennis!! As far as basketball goes at the Haiku Field House, we rarely run into basketball players on Saturday mornings. Please Maui County council members, help grow this sport and come in and join the fun!! Finally, can someone please put new light bulbs in the bathrooms at War Memorial tennis courts, and can there be lamps lighting the way on the sidewalk from the courts to the parking lot? These are safety issues and I get very scared going to the bathroom or my car at night in the dark. I would not like to see the county sued either. Aloha!!!!
Aloha and mahalo for listening to both sides of the Pickleball and Tennis communities needs. I never played Tennis and seriously love Pickleball. It would be great to have more public Pickleball facilities. It is a popular sport which doesn’t need too much room. Kelly Lau
I am an avid Pickleball player and we are in dire need of access to more Pickleball friendly areas. As an upcountry resident, I play at kula community center every Tuesday and Thursday and every time we play we have to tape each court out. That is 432 rolls of tape every single year. This is not sustainable. We either need lined courts or we can get new Pickleball specific courts. This would be a win win situation. No conflict with tennis players and we will not be wasting tape. I am 21 years old and I see Pickleball as a sport that I will play the rest of my life.
I'm totally opposed turning tennis courts into multi-use.
Pickleball must have their own courts
My name is Kelson Lau, being native hawaiian and born and raised here on Maui I grew up surfing and playing any sport I could. I started playing pickleball 3 years ago and fell in love with the sport. Since I have started playing I have been constantly introducing pickleball to all my friends. Just about everyone I introduce the sport to loves it. Being 23 I am younger than the average pickleball players some of the only problems I have run into while playing is that we do not have enough courts to support all the new players. Unfortunately the shortage of courts and long waits has deterred some of my friends from playing who could have been great players and developed a new awesome healthy hobby. We have been using my home courts in Kula which lots of the time we go are empty, which is awesome but we have to waste a roll of tape every time and someone has to bring a net. I have seen pickleball explode to three or four times what is was. We have NO designated pickleball courts is the central/ upcountry area with a significant and growing number of players I believe this needs to change. Whether it’s transforming these unused tennis courts or building new courts this needs to change.
Pickleball is the future and tennis is the past!
Imua pickleball!
Turning tennis courts into multi-use, multi-sport courts pretty much translates into more complaints, more calls to Park Rangers, and more conflicts and issues with permitting, not to mention a lot of stink an side eye on da tennis court. Whoa…so hum bug.
For monies saved in the present (by forcing sports to share one facility) we also get da bonus of acrimony for decades, the pitting of passionate citizens against each other, and by extension, sport against sport. Awe. Why do we go down the multi-use court pathway? Is it worth the penny saved? Hmm.
And who wants to get good at being oppositional to another's passion, their dreams and the needs of their sport? No, I no like dat. So mahalo, Councilwoman Kama, for calling a meeting. Thank you in advance for asking citizens to consider our kuleana and say something. I hope that, while we citizens express our desires to have places to gather where we may thrive, that the County goes WITH our vitality, our energy, (beyond officiating and enforcement) and set a course for BUILDING community by building diverse, and dedicated facilities. Mahalo.