If you play tennis- recreational users, adult and youth league, teach or take lessons - JTT, USTA, private pro, high school coach, at any public court, these public hearings will affect you.

Attendance at these public hearings by the tennis playing and teaching public is important and critical. The meetings are for all commercial activities at public parks. This is an opportunity for the tennis community of competitive and recreational players, teams, groups and organizations to show that they value and care about public tennis courts and their highest use.

WHAT

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will hold four public hearings on Oahu (see schedule of locations) to consider public testimony and comments in determining whether certain commercial activities should be allowed in City parks.

And, the Department will consider public testimony and comments in the development of rules and regulations to govern approved commercial activities.

WHO

All tennis players who play at public parks and the over 150 teaching pros and coaches who do not teach at private clubs.

WHY

Numerous critical issues are at stake, including processes and structures with regard to usage, permits, and teaching.  Many voices are needed to call for a focus on community tennis issues and a better public park experience for all.

ACTION

Share the notice with friends, team mates, and attend at least one if not several hearings.  Take the time to review the important issues and testify.

WHEN

5-7 PM this week, Monday through Thursday. See the public hearing notices below for locations and complete details:

Sept 17    Kilauea District Park (all parks from Ala Moana to Sandy Beach)

Sept 18    Waialua District Park (all parks from Makapuu to Mokuleia)

Sept 19    Kaneohe District Park (all parks from Lanikai to Kaneohe)

Sept 20    WaianaeDistrict Park (all parks from Ewa Beach to Keaau)

This summer, Jeanne Guanzon, USPTA P-3 pro and Sharon Heintzman a league competitor, experienced school teacher and HIT Instructor conducted the Play Tennis! program for one special day on Maui and here's a bit of their story plus a brief look back in photos at Play Tennis! on Maui:

2012

HIT is the 2nd generation of  its progenitor, Upcountry Tennis.

Here's a synopsis from HIT Coach, Sharon Heintzman who along with HIT Pro, Jeanne Guanzon, led the 2012 summer Play Tennis! program on a warm summer day in July in Makawao. She writes:

Their ages ranged from eight to around fifteen. Out of the twenty or so that showed up a few had tennis shoes and all were beginners.

Jeanne's wonderful variety of quick moving drills that was fun for the kids...She has such a lively personality that the kids instantly adhered to her.

We exposed them to, court etiquette, fair play, good sportsmanship, working together as a team, forehand, backhand, and volleys. At the end of the clinic the each got the chance to be queen or king of the court by maintaining a rally. Some of them did pretty well; building self-esteem.

Jeanne is awesome. I would do it again with her in a heartbeat. It was a very successful afternoon.

Leilani you had the vision…we just carried it out. Good job everyone!

Just love kids,

Sharon Heintzman

2011

2010

2009

Interview with Tennis Sister and bright light on Kauai, Michelle Martinez of Kapaa.

1. What's happening with you?  

Well, this past school year I had the pleasure of helping bring the Play Tennis! Program to Kapaa Middle School on Kauai.  The kids loved it, and I had a blast! When I'm not on the court or at the beach, I work on community projects that are providing greater access to locally grown produce and healthy food. This is a challenge on our small island, but the ultimate goal of the work I do is to make living healthier easier for everyone.

2. What are you focused on in tennis this summer and perhaps next Fall?

I just finished competing in the USTA 9.0 Mixed Sectionals on the Big Island.  This summer I'll be training hard because in September I go to Las Vegas with the Hawaii Women's Open team to participate in the National Team Championships. I couldn't be more excited about representing Hawaii and competing against some big time players! 

Tammie Quinlan (R) chats with Masako Magee after Kauai's triumphant finish at Sr. Sectionals

In-Sinc, a team of women tennis players from Kauai won 4.5 Senior Section Championships in May on Maui at the Royal Lahaina Tennis Ranch. In-Sinc defeated the top team from Maui and the dominant team from Oahu. As a result, the Kauai women represent the best of Hawaii in their age and division at the USTA 4.5 Senior Women's Nationals October 19-21, 2012.

Our team "In-Sinc" was named after Sinclair Bill, our dear friend.  She was our inspiration through the tournament.  We were ecstatic when we secured it after our third match win against Maui.

Ms. Quinlan is a 4.5 senior league player, a volunteer junior tennis coach and an all around long time supporter and builder of the Kauai tennis community.

Read more in The Garden Island: Kaua‘i senior tennis team wins Sectionals, off to Nationals

Members of In-Sinc

1. Sue Anderson
2. Judy Mince
3. Tammie Quinlan
4. Valerie Rekward
5. Carol Surratt, Captain
6. Diane Treskon
7. Loutoa Zoller

My high school tennis coach, college practice partner to Wayne Bryan, and life long Hospice counselor, Wendy Milovina would repeat to me time and again, "Tennis is a microcosm of life". On the tennis court, during match play, we experience a representation of it all…What it is to take the lead, to fall behind, to lose our cool and to prevail under pressure, to come back from near defeat and close out the match. We learn to lose, to be beaten, and to win and we do all we can to meet each of these with grace, knowing that some of the sweetest lessons are delivered along with loss. 

If you like, if you choose to see it that way,  much of life in all its glory, its devastation, ups and downs can be experienced on court and, we get to choose how we handle all of these moments, opportunities. When playing tournaments, it is our opponent who reflects reality, exposes our true nature. To them, especially the ones that get our goats, I am grateful. 

This said, the below excerpt from the writer, Anath Raghavan discusses the difference between the top players dominating men's tennis and the swath of women somewhere near the top of the ladies. The exercise of comparison is fun and helpful, however, I think that the day society focuses less on "competing" against men, and when we give our attentions to improving self, that is when the real and satisfying growth and sense of liberation set in. 

Aloha, Leilani

"It seems to me the WTA unpredictability is not all that unpredictable. The women seem to play a much more go-for-broke style than the men. They hit the ball a lot flatter and also try to hit every ball at 95 percent of their capacity. The men play with much more spin and their average ball is usually a 75 percent shot. They usually go for the kill only after setting up a point. Given the style women play it's not that surprising that they can go completely off the boil much more frequently than the men.

HPA students and Big Island community having an enjoyable summer tennis experience

Teaching Pros, Colleen Patton (front R) and Steve Campbell (back L) host 22 keiki in their 2012 summer tennis program. 

Rutgers Tennis Center at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on the Big Island boasts four lighted courts. It is one of only two indoor tennis facilities in Hawaii, such a precious resource to have and one Hawaii needs more of, especially concerning our relationship with skin cancer.

The other facility that is impervious to rain is a public one, the Edith Kanakaole Tennis Center (3 courts?) is also on the Big Island, Hilo side. E. Kanakaole's is more of a covered facility rather than indoor and the surface is a spongy gymnasium flooring. Experiencing tennis on different surfaces and protected from the sun is so much fun; go check it out!

If you know of other indoor facilities, please leave a comment and update our community knowledge. Aloha.

April 28, 2012 was another momentous day for Palolo District Park as Hawaiian Isles Tennis (HIT) and its powerhouse network converged on the park grounds for HIT's Community Revitalization program. Major partners including the Department of Parks and Recreation, Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset, Costco, The Forward Foundation, Babolat, and HEAD partnered with HIT to clean up the park. The clean sweep covered areas such as the tennis courts, grassy fields and parking lots.

Gary Cabato, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation

Special guest Gary Cabato, Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation gave a speech that recognized the importance of public/private partnerships. Cabato stayed to assist with the work and connect with numerous volunteers as they participated in a variety of activities, including racquet re-gripping, shoe repair, litter clean up and management of the tennis equipment and apparel drop off point.

The tennis courts are the center piece of Palolo Park. HIT's after school Play Tennis! program takes place here. With programming, grafitti is almost nil, trash still blows through the Valley, but the over all environment is cleaning up beautifully.

Al Dixon, Rotary photographer, wearing the Work t-shirt. April 28 was a Day of Work for all Rotary Clubs across the nation.

Costco employee, and Honolulu Sunset Rotary Club Past President-Chuck Harris sorting tennis apparel donations.

Rotarian-Rick Zeglar, Debbie Ching of Ching Consulting, Rotarian and Program Chair-Dianne Ward, Leilani Magee-Principal of HIT, Costco employee, and Costco Health & Wellness Manager-Johnny Sanchez re-grip rackets.

Palolo Crush Football coach joins the Clean Up team, helps with shoe repair.

Al Dixon-Rotary Photographer, Joe Yasutake-Palolo Park Director, Nui-Palolo Crush Football Head Coach, Paul Jurcsak-Rotary President, Gary Cabato-Director of DPR

Leilani Magee-HIT Principal, Marco Schlesser-Rotary Club Membership Chair, Layla-volunteer, and Leilani Schlesser-HIT Community Day participant.

Honolulu Sunset Rotary President-Paul Jurcsak with Dept. of Parks and Recreation Director-Gary Cabato discuss partnership and plans for on going HIT Programing and Rotary support for Palolo.

Marco Schlesser rallies with Johnny Sanchez in the pau hana tennis clinic

Costco employee looking active, fit and happy, and guided by Debbie Ching, Volunteer.

Rich Zegar hits a forehand and uses his opposite hand as a guide while rallying with Jim Hoban in the pau hana tennis clinic. Marco Schlesser is above Rich.

In addition to Bert Fishman and Joe Yasutake, Palolo gets a new Palolo Park Director in Dan, shown here with Leilani.

Gary Cabato of the DPR with Johnny Sanchez of Costco and Leilani Magee of HIT

Gary Cabato, DPR Director with Leilani Magee, HIT Principal

Afterwards, with the park looking fabulous and clean, volunteers gathered to eat food that was generously provided by Costco Health and Wellness Manager Johnny Sanchez. The morning of productivity ended with a free tennis clinic where there was plenty of action, competition and healthy interaction. The event was marked by beautiful weather, meaningful work, synergy between groups, activity and fun.

This was the third time that HIT's Community Revitalization program was implemented at Palolo Valley District Park. HIT wishes to thank the many partnering organizations and volunteers who made such a great day possible.

Leilani with "Uncle" Joe Yasutake, community kupuna and one of three Park Directors at Palolo

ABOUT HIT

The mission of Hawaiian Isles Tennis (HIT) is to advance community through tennis.  HIT’s multifaceted tennis programs address underserved communities in Hawaii by providing at risk, underserved youth with opportunities for play, competition, and character building life lessons.

HIT leverages a variety of community resources - professional educators, government, businesses, tennis professionals, high school and college standouts and volunteers in a multi-tiered network that supports and solidifies a child's place in community.

HIT serves the community through four synergistic core programs – Play Tennis!, Tennis Sisters, Community Revitalization, and Apparel and Equipment Recycling.

Jill Miyagi, widow of Brian Miyagi, donates her husband's tennis equipment and apparel to the Equipment and Apparel Recycling Program conducted by HIT.

The equipment is used by students of public middle schools playing at public parks, in gyms and blacktops. Equipment also goes to a youth correctional facility.

"I think Brian is smiling down on us now and that he'd be happy to know his gear is going to help others."

Juanita Jacobsen (R), Honolulu Tennis League (HTL) Women's A Division Representative, with Chickadee Moniz, Captain of the Women's A Champion team, Hawaii Pono. HTL Playoffs were played at the Keehi Lagoon public tennis courts on March 25, 2012.

"It's been a good season. I've witnessed demonstrations of sportsmanship, seen the spirit of aloha flow amongst the players, watched many a warm embrace, followed by hard fought matches. We see the younger players with the older ones, on the same team, on the same side of the net, and against each other. Yes, it's been a good season." - Juanita Jacobsen, HTL Women's A Representative

Results in brief:

1st place: Hawaii Pono

2nd place: Watanabe MD

3rd place: Kaneohe

4th place: The Oahu Club

Complete Results