NAWILIWILI — Team Pa‘i finished with a 7-1 record to earn gold when the county’s Senior Pickleball League (SPL) wrapped up its inaugural season on May 8 at the Hokuala pickleball court.
R Out finished 4-4 for the silver medal, followed by Dinkasaurs at 3-5 for the bronze medal.
“We started out playing at Kalena Park on Wednesdays,” said Melanie Okamoto of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “But as the season neared the end, we had to work around the construction and installation of the play structure and other park improvements. We were lucky enough to finish the league at the new pickleball court at Hokuala.”
According to Chad Koga of Parks and Recreation, the SPL included four teams competing in a double round-robin format from March 20. Under league terms, each team plays against each other twice and matches are played to 21 points with the team winning three of four games taking the match.
Koga said there was a turnout of 24 players of various ages from all over the island, including Princeville.
The season that started in March included 12 regular season matches and four playoff games over eight weeks.
“The matches were very competitive with a lot of matches coming down to just one point,” Koga said.
Parks and Recreation said the motivation for starting the SPL was to provide a competitive and enjoyable environment for senior players to engage in friendly competition, improve their pickleball skills and foster camaraderie among participants.
Through organized matches and regular play, the SPL aims to promote the physical and mental well-being of its membership while maintaining a spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.
“The Senior Pickleball League on Kaua‘i has been an overall success,” Koga said. “With each match, players have showcased their skills, determination, and sportsmanship, creating memorable moments on the court.”
Koga said the SPL has not only provided a platform for friendly competition, but also a space for camaraderie, bringing together players from opposite ends of the island.
Parks and Recreation said, “As the league moves forward, it continues to embody the spirit of active aging, showing that age is no barrier to staying active, competitive, and engaged in the sport they love.”
