By Melissa Pampulov

USTA Hawaii Pacific Section conducted an unprecedented, highly social day of tennis at Honolulu Mayor, Mufi Hannemann’s office, “Honolulu Hale” (“House of Honolulu” in Hawaiian). Honolulu Hale is the official seat of government of the city and county, site of the chambers of the Mayor of Honolulu and the Honolulu City Council. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with the United States Department of Interior.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Skyler Tateishi

The historic and grand city building turned from a diplomatic venue and place of work into a lively centre court when 2007 High School Tennis State Singles Champions, Kristin Lim and Skyler Tateishi challenged the Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Director of Honolulu Parks and Recreation, Lester Chang, to an exhibition match that rallied two stories of crowds in the famous Honolulu Hale courtyard!

Throughout the day, over 125 members of the city’s government and influential business leaders came through and spent part of their ‘Aloha Friday’ playing tennis in the famous courtyard of Honolulu Hale. The crowd consisted of tennis enthusiasts new and longstanding and included USTA volunteers, recreational coaches, Board of Director members, a visiting delegation of business people from Guielin, China, government employees, and the leadership of Honolulu county government. Participants played on a modified tennis court using mini nets, modified rackets and a variety of balls. Teaching pros and special guests offered games and instruction for participants of all ages and abilities.

This collaboration with the City & County of Honolulu has resulted in two extremely successful tennis programs at over 20 local public parks and school playgrounds in Honolulu. Both programs, the USTA Hawaii Pacific Section After School Tennis (offers low to no cost after school tennis activity & care) and the USTA Hawaii Pacific Section Play to Learn Tennis Lesson Program (grassroots tennis lesson program at public parks), provides the community with a proactive solution to childhood obesity, teenage pregnancy, gangs and drug abuse.