Latest news with #HawaiiPacificHealthESPNHonoluluOpen
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pro gives tips on how to play Pickleball
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open presented by HMSA kicked off on Friday, April 10 and will last through the weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center. Hawaii pickleball lovers: Plan your weekend at the Honolulu Open The event is open to the public to come down and experience. Professional pickleball player, Morgan Evans, showed KHON2 a few tricks of the trade. Evans showed KHON2's Kamaka Pili the 'dink shot,' a shot designed to land inside the kitchen. 'What we are going to do is get you behind the kitchen line right here. Nice and close, within a few inches and facing the net. Now, let's get down to a nice, low stance. I like that you have worn some incredibly athletic shoes today. Dress for the job. So what we are going to do is a small shot. Simple, you are going to try and get the ball up, over the net to land on my half of the kitchen. We are going to go for 10 shots in a row,' explained Evans. Friday's event featured lots of kupuna playing the rapidly growing game. Evans said it helps them stay active. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'When I am doing this, it's very hard for you to attack me. If I play a good enough dink, something soft inside the kitchen, then it's difficult for you to attack. But if you manage to hit it a little too high or too far, then I'll show you what is going to happen, someone will attack you. So, it pays dividends to keep the ball low, nice and soft, move your opponents around, it's a delicate touch. Not easy but you are going to get it. You're on the right track.' And of course, pickleball is for everybody! Even though the tournament is already sold out, the public can still come down and check it out throughout the weekend, free of charge. Attendees can participate in clinics, and products and explore more than 30 courts. Check out more news from around Hawaii So if you have time this weekend, head down to the Hawaii Convention Center through Sunday, April 13. Tournaments begin at 8:30 a.m. and last until 8 p.m. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Local ukulele player strums 'Pickleball Jam'
HONOLULU (KHON2) — We're just a few days away from the first serve of Hawaii's premier pickleball tournament in the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open. Fun-filled weekend coming with Hawaii's premier pickleball event KHON2 will broadcast the finals live from the Hawaii Convention Center on Sunday. Among the thousands of participants at the event will be famous local ukulele player Jody Kamisato. 'Well, it definitely allows me flexibility with my schedule! But because I play ukulele and also compose music, pickleball inspired me to write a pickleball song! I was able to put my two passions together.' Kamisato said. DOGE cuts hit Native Hawaiian programs He plays in Hawaii Kai at Kamiloiki Park, which has become a hot spot for the sport after the City and County of Honolulu recently renovated basketball courts into pickleball.'I've been playing pickleball for years and started with my brother. And now his son picked up the sport too, so it's become a real family affair for us,' Kamisato said. 'We spend our weekends playing together, and now we all get to compete with and against each other sometimes too. And with the pickleball community, with an event this large, word just spread quickly, and the tournament sold out quickly.' 10 easy meals to make in your air fryer: Hawaiʻi eats The tournament is a testament to how popular the sport has become in the islands, but so is the packed courts all over the state. House Reps., Native Hawaiians prepare for battle over midwifery 'For me, it's so addicting and fun,' Kamisato said. 'But the best part about Hawaii is we have so many outdoor courts, and you can play year round. We'll sometimes play at the new Pickles at Forte in downtown, just so we have a place that guarantees our spot since it can be hard to find time at public courts. Because that's how popular it is!' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news You can catch the event live on Sunday at 1 p.m. on KHON2, KHII, and the KHON2 YouTube channel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hawaii's biggest pickleball tournament coming to Hawaii Convention Center
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open will take place from April 10-13 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Over 1,000 players are set to compete in men's, mixed, and women's doubles, with events catering to both seniors and players of all ages. Fun-filled weekend coming with Hawaii's premier pickleball event The first two days of the tournament will focus on players 50 and older, while the final two days will feature competitors of all ages. With 38 indoor courts, this event will host the largest pickleball setup ever in Hawaii. Best of all, the tournament is free and open to the public. 'We're thrilled to bring this major event to Honolulu, especially with how quickly pickleball is growing in popularity,' said Matt Apana, General Manager of ESPN Honolulu. 'The tournament sold out fast, and we expect locals and visitors alike to come down, watch the matches, participate in free workshops, and explore the expo.'The tournament is sponsored by Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH), which will also host a health expo on April 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the event. The expo will feature free skin cancer screenings and booths offering information on bone and joint health, cancer care, heart health, and women's health. More than 100 HPH volunteers will staff the expo and medical tents throughout the event. 'Pickleball is a fun way for people of all ages to stay active, improve their health, and boost their overall well-being,' said Ray Vara, president and CEO of Hawai'i Pacific Health. 'We're proud to support this tournament and provide opportunities for people to engage in physical activity.' Celebrating Pickleball month at Ewa Mahiko In addition to the tournament, the event will feature free pickleball workshops for newcomers to the sport, exhibition matches, and performances. Notable pros like Morgan Evans, Max Freeman, and Jessie Irvine will host private clinics where attendees can learn from the best in the game. HMSA will also have a booth offering health and wellness resources for members. The event will also include the Honolulu Open Corporate Cup, where 55 teams from 22 local companies will compete for the championship title on Thursday and Friday. The event will be broadcasted on KHON and KHII, with live streaming available on KHON's website and YouTube from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A portion of the tournament's proceeds will benefit Hui Mahi'ai 'Āina, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life for those in need, particularly the homeless population in Waimānalo. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news For more details on the tournament and the schedule of events, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fun-filled weekend coming with Hawaii's premier pickleball event
HONOLULU (KHON2) — This weekend, KHON2 is partnering to bring Hawaii's premier pickleball tournament by broadcasting the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open live from the Hawaii Convention Center. Celebrating Pickleball month at Ewa Mahiko The event will feature over 33 indoor courts, pro exhibitions, a competitive ProAm tournament with prize money, expansive product expo, corporate team challenges and more. 7 things to know about today's hearing to increase shipping in Hawaiʻi by 20-76% 'Well, pickleball is so popular now. Every park you go to, you see people playing the sport. We wanted to create a world-class pickleball event for both participants, spectators, and the community to enjoy and take part in. We're also fortunate to have Hawaii Pacific Health and HMSA as our presenting and title sponsors,' said ESPN Honolulu's Cole Mausolf. 7 things to know about Hawaiʻi's new 210 sq. ft. homes Participation in the tournament is full, but there are still some opportunities to take part.'The tournament itself is sold out. But people can come down for free and check out the matches, the expo, clinics for kids and families, live music, and more. It's a great opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about pickleball. You can check out our website at for the full schedule of events.' Another event is the Corporate Cup which is happening on Thursday and Friday. 'Yes, the Corporate Cup will be a lot of fun! We have more than 50 teams from over 20 companies that will go head-to-head against each other. Our team has 3 teams, and I'll be playing with my teammate on Thursday. And I just started learning pickleball. It's a fun and easy sport to pick up for any age.' Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news You can catch the event live on Sunday at 1 p.m. on KHON2, KHII, and the KHON2 YouTube channel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artist paints Hawaii's tallest mural in Halawa
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A local artist is beautifying the city and breaking records. A neighborhood in Halawa will soon be growing with some impressive news sights right in their backyard. Kamea Hadar started drawing even before he could remember. When other kids stopped, he never did. Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open brings pickleball fever to the islands 'My main goal is just to leave the world a more beautiful place than I found it,' Hadar said. 'So, when I can cover an enormous canvas with beautiful, bright colors that hopefully brighten some of the community's day, it makes me feel really happy inside.' Chances are you know his work. He's painted the mural of Duke Kahanamoku and Carissa Moore on the corner of South King and Pensacola Streets. Now, he's found a new canvas in Halawa that's over 25 stories high at 220 feet tall on the side of Naulu Tower, a new affordable housing project between the city, state and Pacific Development Group, which is costing 168 million dollars.'It's going to be Hawaii's new record-breaking tallest mural. Affordable housing for over 300 families in Hawaii, that just kind of makes it doubly special for me,' Hadar said. According to PDG, the project is the biggest the state's tax credit program has seen, costing $168 million. 'The county is under-sourced by over 10,000 units of affordable [housing],' stated Joe Michael, PDG president. 'But it barely makes a dent into what's needed for the state.' Hadar said it took months planning the mural, but only four days of painting it to completion. 'I thought that the Iwa bird would be a perfect fit for that because it was used by sailors to navigate,' Hadar said. 'When they're out at sea, you know that the water and weather is calm, and that's why they're flying out there. So, they're kind of like one of the oceans telltale signs of land, weather, rain… et cetera.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
