The Kauai Gateball Club is hosting the annual Invitational/Goodwill Tournament. The two-day event begins Friday, June 5 at Hanapepe Stadium’s football field. “It’s a combination of croquet, golf and billiards. The difference between croquet and this game is that croquet
The Kauai Gateball Club is hosting the annual Invitational/Goodwill Tournament. The two-day event begins Friday, June 5 at Hanapepe Stadium’s football field.
“It’s a combination of croquet, golf and billiards. The difference between croquet and this game is that croquet is an individual sport and gateball is a team sport,” said club president Ron Aceret in a phone interview Wednesday.
The object of gateball is to score more points than the opposing team within the 30-minute time limit. Points are acquired by hitting the ball through numbered gates in order or getting the ball to hit the goal pole in the center of the field.
Seven teams from Kauai, Oahu and Maui will compete this year. The event is held yearly from island to island.
“About 35 players will be participating. We have two players from Japan. They always go to Oahu. This will be their first time playing on Kauai,” Aceret said.
The club president added this year marks 30 years since gateball was introduced to Kauai. It was introduced in Honolulu three years prior to it being established on Kauai.
“I found out from a player that has been playing longer than I have,” Aceret said.
The game was invented in Japan during the 1940s.
There is no charge to watch the games. Play will begin at 9 a.m. on both days. The first day will probably end about 3:30 p.m. The second day is double-elimination for the championship. It should end around 1 p.m.
“If there is anybody interested in gateball or want to see what we’re doing, they can stop by and take a look,” Aceret said.
