EARNING YOUR MEMBERSHIP

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The most frequent question I am asked is “When and how do I pay my membership dues?”  Many of our 400+ members have only paid once since we started our organization in 2021.  In 2022, the board elected to suspend renewal dues until we provided more value in exchange.  That time is now.  With our many events throughout the year, and our tireless efforts to fulfill our mission, we will again accept renewals starting in 2025.  Many have voluntarily renewed already.  Your membership will extend one year from the time you last paid.  Please let me remind you of the benefits of membership:

1. $20 discount off our annual PAK Open.

2. $10 discount off our Kalena Park Tournament.

3. Free admission to our annual Membership Appreciation Day.

4. Free admission to PAK sponsored clinics ($20 for non-members).

5. As part of our organization, you will receive updates and notices of events not available to non-members.

 

In other news, we are pleased with the progress the County of Kauai has made in making more pickleball court venues available.  I have had the pleasure of meeting Parks and Recreation Planner Kylan Dela Cruz, and I am impressed with his commitment and resolve in serving our ever-growing population of picklers.  In the works there are brand new courts at Nawiliwili Park, Hanapepe Park, and Wailua Houselots Park.  The State is also recognizing the need for courts and may be funding court renovations at the Lihue Courts soon.  There may be renovations for courts in Kekaha and Waimea as well.  The Kauai Police Activity League will be renovating and using the old basketball courts next to Chiefess Kamakahelei School for pickleball, adding another four courts to the Lihue area.  PAK continues to look for a place to build our covered facility.  Heavens knows, we need the additional courts and maintenance of existing ones. 

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The trend on the mainland has been increasing numbers of private facilities, particularly indoor or covered facilities.  Franchises like Chicken and Pickle, PickleMall, Ace Pickleball, Pickleball Kingdom, The Picklr are sprouting new branches constantly.  The story is the same for each one…if you build it they will come.  Most facilities reach maximum capacity within a few months of opening.  Will there be one in Hawaii, or Kauai?  In my humble opinion, not soon.  Here in Hawaii, we have two things that make it difficult to run a pickleball facility as a business.  One is the high cost of land.  The other is the high cost of construction.  When coupled together, it makes the acquisition costs and construction costs very difficult to recoup through operations.  No one wants to invest so much money only to project losses.  We are a non-profit, and as such do not need to be profitable, but still would not be able to handle land acquisition AND construction.  There is a right fit for us somewhere, but it would have to be where the land is donated or leased at a favorable rate, or the construction costs are foregone.  We continue to look for those opportunities.

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This month, we sadly mark the closing of Picklers Paradise, a retail store that was just not able to survive.  We thank the owners, including Rose Fernandez for their support of our sport while they were here.  Perhaps, a store that is attached to a permanent facility would do better, as it appears a stand-alone store was just too hard to keep the doors open. 

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PAK would also like to thank Larry Feinstein, marketing director of Kauai Beer Company as he moves on to a position with the County.  Larry has been a cheerleader for PAK and pickleball, and a faithful contributor to the “beer bracket” at our tournaments.  His support and belief in the wave of pickleball has been encouraging and uplifting, and we wish him well in his new direction.

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Congratulations to Lucia Bartels, our Vice-President, who stepped up to the plate in running the October Rice Street Business Association/PAK Pickleball tournament at Kalena Park.  With the confines of only three courts, we limited registration to 36 players.  51 signed up and somehow, Lucia and her crew were able to accommodate them all!  Here are some pictures from the event. 

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