On the rise: 17-year-old Kiora Kunimoto
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...
Boomstiks to wooden paddles: Team Selkirk takes on the Sacramento Vintage Open
The Sacramento Vintage Open pays homage to the origins of pickleball, with pro and amateur players swapping their regular paddles for wooden ones. Pro players will return to pickleball’s roots starting Wednesday, September 24, competing with wooden paddles on an even playing field for ranking points and prize money. Despite some noticeable absences, including Catherine Parenteau and Rachel Rohrabacher, Team Selkirk’s Jack Sock, Marshall...
Tama Shimabukuro: The 14-year-old shaking up pro pickleball
In the heart of Kakaʻako, Hawaiʻi, you’ll find Tama Shimabukuro practicing at his local courts. No formal training. No coach. Just the guidance of his family—and a determination to excel beyond his years. Tama was an avid skateboarder before turning to pickleball. He had sponsorships and competed across the country. In 2023, while at a skateboarding event in California, he and his family discovered...
