ESPN Honolulu Open Pickleball Tournament: More than 1,000 pickleball players filled the Hawaii Convention Center last week for the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open, the largest event of its kind in the state. The tournament featured over 38 courts, with players from Hawaii, the mainland, and abroad competing in various divisions.
Biggest Tournament in Hawaii History
The event, hosted in two large halls at the center, welcomed professional and amateur players. Around 800 competed in the main tournament, while over 200 more took part in a corporate challenge. About $10,000 in prize money was awarded to top men’s and women’s professional teams.
“It was great working with AIO, the owners of ESPN (Honolulu), and it was fantastic with their leadership to pull together the different organizations to host the largest ever pickleball tournament in Hawaii,” said Michael Hoxie, tournament manager of Pickleball is Great.
Throughout the week, the courts buzzed with games and spectators. Clinics for players of all ages and a senior competition took place earlier in the week before the open divisions closed out the weekend.
Local and Global Competition Highlights
Keven Wong and teenager Tama Shimabukuro, a first-time team, won the open men’s doubles title, defeating Kento Tamaki and Callan Dawson in a close final match, 12-10, 13-15.
“Thanks to Keven for playing with me. Super fun event.” Shimabukuro told KHON2. He also shared his goal of going pro and joining the Professional Pickleball Association tour.
In women’s doubles, Oahu’s Jamie Haas, known as the “Lefty Hawaiian,” teamed up with Canada’s Christina Chin to win the title over Dana Raugust and Xiao Yi Wang Beckvall, 11-7, 11-9.
“Thank you for putting this event together,” Haas told KHON2. “It’s allowed our families to come together, some I haven’t seen in years.” Players from 26 countries, including Russia, Canada, Taiwan, and Japan, participated alongside others from the mainland.
Looking Ahead to Next Year
Pickleball is Great, the group behind the event, plans to bring the tournament back. Hawaii is one of 35 states where the organization is hosting over 150 local tournaments this year.
“We’re certainly planning on having this again next year. We’re looking for dates. We know the convention center has some remodeling (planned), so we want to make sure that we choose the right dates to bring back the fun, because it was a huge success with a lot of compliments.” – (Hoxie)
The event showed just how much pickleball has grown in Hawaii and how strong the community is—locally and internationally.
News in Brief: ESPN Honolulu Open Pickleball Tournament
More than 1,000 players joined the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open, Hawaii’s largest pickleball tournament to date. Held at the Hawaii Convention Center, the event featured 38 courts, global competitors, clinics, and $10,000 in prizes. Organizers plan to bring the tournament back next year after its major success.
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