Pickleball tournament brings 800 players to Hawaii Convention Center
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The ESPN Honolulu Open, presented by Hawaii Pacific Health, is bringing around 800 pickleball players to the Hawaii Convention Center, as organizers and state officials look to use the venue for more sporting events throughout the year.
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The tournament is among events such as volleyball and basketball competitions that can help fill the large convention space during otherwise quieter periods.
Jimmy Tokioka, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said the convention center has invested in flooring to accommodate a range of sports.
The tournament also draws local players and gives young athletes a chance to see high-level collegiate competition, Tokioka said. Teams from California, Virginia, Indiana and the University of Hawaii are expected to compete.
“When you have an event like this, you have local people that come here and play, and they get excited,” Tokioka said. “They can see the best collegiate athletes that are going to come here for this tournament.”
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Pickleball has also gained traction among Hawaii residents. Tokioka said counties have added pickleball courts to tennis facilities – a change that has drawn some objections from tennis players but reflects the sport’s growing appeal.
“You can see how many people get involved with pickleball,” he said. For seniors, he added, “it’s a lot smaller court, so it’s less movement.”
However, the sport can still lead to injuries. Hawaii Pacific Health is the tournament’s title sponsor and will be providing medical tents at the venue.
The event is inspiring young people to become active and attend competitions in person.
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