Hawai‘i has become a hotbed for pickleball, producing numerous rising talents from the islands. One of the latest breakout stars in the pro scene is 17-year-old Kiora Kunimoto, who hails from the Big Island of Hawai‘i.
Despite just graduating from high school, Kunimoto’s racquet sports accomplishments are impressive. In May 2025, she captured the title of Hawai‘i State High School Singles Champion, becoming only the third female from the Big Island to achieve this feat.
With guidance from her dad, a pickleball coach, Kunimoto began playing pickleball in January 2025. Just five months later, she entered her first professional event. Since making her debut, she has experienced a meteoric rise in the sport. At the Fairfield PPA Challenger event, Kunimoto earned a first-place finish in mixed doubles and placed fourth in both singles and women’s doubles. In her first tournament as a Selkirk player, she notched a major victory over five-time PPA medalist Mari Humberg before bowing out in three games to No. 2 Brooke Buckner at the PPA Vintage Open.
With less than a year of pickleball experience and proven results, Kiora is definitely one to watch on tour! Catch her in action this week at the Virginia Beach Cup!
