* 1 hour wins with 71% favor.

* If the C&C rule, as it is, were widely known that time begins on a public tennis court when players take

possession, then it is highly likely that even more people than 71% would vote for 1 h.

* Here it is: Tennis Court Rules for City and County of Honolulu: The limit of play is 45 minutes from the

time of possession for singles and doubles, including warm-up, and excluding time lost due to wet courts.

Thanks mucho to all who participated in the survey! It's great to have a dialogue with you. More fun with

tennis coming soon.

Aloha, Leilani
Leilani Magee
Council Member
Honolulu Tennis Advisory Council

Aloha HIT Members, welcome to the home of tennis maps in Hawaii!

The Hawaiian Isles Tennis Team has created a comprehensive islands-wide tennis location resource featuring tennis courts, clubs, schools, businesses, and links to photo albums of tennis. Visit the HIT Maps for Kauai, Oahu, Maui (including Molokai and Lanai), and The Big Island (Hawaii Island) at the Hawaii Maps site at www.HITennis.net/profile/HawaiiMaps.

HIT Members are the first to explore this visual tennis adventure that will help you find, get general info and directions to most facility locations. In many cases there are photos, description of the courts, contact numbers and links to google maps that will help you get right to it for a HIT. The maps will be made public soon, but the Hawaii Maps page on HIT is the one stop shop for links to the four island maps. So no excuse now, no get lost! Get your tennis friends and ohana join our community on HIT so they have easy access and support.

The maps can be explored through the list of links on the sidebar or zoomed in on visually as you "hover" over the island from and "height" and level of detail you find useful. Selecting a marker will pop up a window with the summary info, links and pictures to guide your tennis plans. If you are exploring a place for the first time or it is your "backyard" court, share your impressions, ideas and experiences about it on The Hawaii Maps site or on your own "My Page" blog. If it's really entertaining perhaps Leilani will feature it on the main HIT page.

The project will grow stronger and bigger in time with the help of everyone who can add, correct or update information to the site pop up markers. If you see a marker without a picture, feel free to sent the Hawaii Maps "Cartographer" the image for inclusion. You can reach him at hawaiicartographer@gmail.com. If you know of a facility that is not yet included, gather the info, address and links and send it over. Private home courts are welcome to get on the map as well.

HIT Organizational Members can add your club, resort, league, business or private court to the maps. For details contact Leilani at hawaiianislestennis@gmail.com. The Hawaii Tennis HIT Maps are another great tennis community service of Hawaiian Isles Tennis (HIT) at www.HITennis.net. Advancing Community Through Tennis... With Aloha!

Hawaii Tennis HIT Maps ©®2009 Hawaiian Isles Tennis

Rick Kepler

Note from Leilani:

My first interview with Rick took place while he was running his first event at his new job as Director of Tennis at the Maui Country Club. Here's what he had to say in response to "How's your first event and second day going?"

Rick Kepler:

"I've been in NorCal for long time, and coming to Hawaii over 25 years. I always wanted to figure out a way to live here and earning a living. It's (Maui Country Club) is one of the best clubs in the world. It's my 2nd day here and we have a 24 person (maxed out) round robin going. Tomorrow, I've got a golf and tennis event, I love combining the two.

I did so much in NorCal all except coach college tennis. I see a lot of potential for the club and for Maui too. I'm really looking forward to establishing contacts throughout the islands. In the Monterey-Santa Cruz area I thought kids had a lot of activities to choose from. On Maui, however, I can see these kids have A LOT of choices! I have to get them early, before they try kite surfing!"

And here's what Maui Country Club, General Manager, Russell Goshi added:

"If people have an interest in meeting Rick, just come by and say hello. I am at the courts now and the the place is full of tennis players. I think Rick will revitalize tennis at the Club."

You can read more about Rick Kepler here:

PRESS RELEASES

Spreckelsville, Maui, Hawaii December 29, 2011

Maui Country Club’s new Director of Tennis is Rick Kepler. A member of the USPTA, Rick is a P1 Certified Tennis Professional and nationally top-ranked player. Rick has relocated to Maui from Northern California where he has been the Tennis Director of Seascape Sports Club since 1993.

Kepler’s plan is to revitalize the Club’s tennis program for members and guests of all ages; and expand it to being one of the top clubs in Hawaii. In his first week of work, he organized two tournaments, one in combination with an afternoon of golf on the Club’s course. Club General Manager Russell Goshi said, “Without question, the addition of Rick Kepler to our staff positions Maui Country Club to have the finest adult and junior tennis programs on the island.”

Members may join daily clinics and lessons and the junior program kicks off in January with after school lessons geared toward specific ages and abilities.

As Tennis Director at Seascape Sports Club, Rick ran over 20 USTA tournaments a year with an emphasis on junior tournaments. Seascape’s junior program runs year-round and Kepler managed junior teams that travel and play. He has been involved in coaching the Aptos High School Girls' Varsity and Junior Varsity teams where he implemented a 'No-Cut' policy; and founded programs at two other high schools. He has been the Coordinator for the USTA Santa Cruz Junior Team Tennis League, and directed the USTA Norcal 14s Sectionals for over 10 years.

As a player, Rick:

• Won 12 national doubles senior championships since 1994
• Ranked No.1 in the nation in Men's 35 and 40s doubles individually for six years consecutively from 2002-2007
• 2008-2010 he and his partner finished #2 nationally and #6 in singles (2010)
• 2009: Selected to represent the US in the World Team Championships placing 2nd
• With son Jordan, reached the finals of the 69 team field at the National Father/Son Hardcourt Championships at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club (2008)
• 2011: Expected to finish 1st Nationally in his last year in the 40s

Committed to introducing people in the community to the game of tennis, Rick is a Director of the USTA Board in Northern California where he founded a non-profit association to present tennis to elementary age kids with a follow-up program at their school. Kepler states, “My passion is helping people of all ages and abilities improve at the game of tennis.”

About Maui Country Club

Maui Country Club is located in Hawaii and is an icon on the North Shore of Maui at Spreckelsville. The 66-acre non-profit private club was founded in 1925 by H.W. Rice and F. F. Baldwin, together with the 46 member Maui Golf Association. The Club offers members a golf course and Pro Shop, six tennis courts, fitness center, private beach access, a swimming pool and pavilion. The new clubhouse has men’s & women’s locker rooms, a bar, lounge and restaurant, a ballroom for private functions, as well as a snack bar and outdoor lanai for dining. A variety of actvities, lessons, and social events geared toward members of all ages complete the package that makes this the place where friends and family come to play.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/12/prweb9067147.htm

It was a sight to see...All the courts were full and people were waiting patiently to play seated on the cement walkway bench at the Kula public tennis courts.

When I testified along with the rest of the Steve Sutrov Kula Courts supporters, to the Maui Council for the building of four additional courts several years ago, I imagined the day would come when the facility would be the centerpiece of a happy, healthy, social tennis community, but it was just a vision, something that existed in our minds.

Now, we may not yet have six courts, we have a total of four, however, a big part of the dream has been realized. Tennis is a huge part of our Upcountry community, and these four courts are real. And, more people are enjoying the benefits of a healthy lifestyle at one of the most beautiful public courts in the world.

On this particular day, people drove up from Wells Park in Wailuku and the Maui Country Club in Sprecklesville where I suppose it had been raining. Together with the regulars and the seasonal visitors, the place was hopping and full of diversity.

I know, many want to keep this place a secret, but I say, it's more fun when we share. And when it does become too popular, well, that's just more reason to return to the master plan and complete the dream for a six court facility.

Aloha to all who came to play that day, the day we took turns playing in paradise.

Aloha to all and a Happy New Year!

Join the HIT network at www.hitennis.net for more tennis.

Christel Yount presenting the donation checque for Play Tennis! after school program equipment

Educator, tennis and paddle tennis player, Christel Yount, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset, presents a $500 donation to HIT in support of the Play Tennis! no-cost keiki tennis program for underserved youth. The presentation was made at The Pacific Club during the Fall Invitational Awards Banquet a couple of months after the Club's Queens of the Court Women's Tournament, also at The Pacific Club, where $1,700 had been donated by Club Members and guests in support of HIT's after school programs.

With Christel Yount, PP Gloria Chen Lao, Jim Hoban, and Johnny Sanchez

In December, two months after the presentation of the Rotary Club donation, I met Honolulu Sunset's members in person and gave a presentation at their end of the year and 16th Anniversary meeting. The venue was the Waikiki Yacht Club, an idyllic setting for good times and to make good things happen.

With Paul Jurcsak, President of Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset and a signed book for Jefferson Elementary School

Thanks to tech savvy PP Chuck Harris, we saw the story in photos

The marina front dining room lends nicely to dining and presentations

Local lawyer and volunteer Instructor, Bosko Petricevic surrounded by Washington players

PJ Moore, competitive tennis and paddle tennis player and volunteer Instructor at the Palolo program

Dan McManus, freelance photographer leading the Play Tennis! program at Dole Middle School in Kalihi

Michelle Martinez, leads Play Tennis! at Kapaa Middle School on Kauai

Maui Play Tennis! summer program keiki and coaches

Play Tennis! on Maui with the Boys & Girls Club

Speaking with Marco Schlesser who shares a similar fondness for his childhood tennis experience, only his was in Luxembourg. PP Win Schoneman in yellow.

Signing the children's book

Christel Yount, my Rotary Club sponsor and friend to the HIT Hawaii tennis community

In 2011, $16,000 and hundreds of volunteer hours were given to HIT for Play Tennis!. I am deeply appreciative for and strengthened by the support of individuals, mentors, leaders, followers, supporters, partners, groups, schools, associations, businesses and clubs for the end goal of "Advancing Community Through Tennis". Here's to more great community tennis in 2012! Aloha.

Sunset Rotary Club photos provided through the generosity of Al Dixon.