Aloha Pickleballer You Should Know: Laurie Loney
Laurie Loney, the OG of Hawai’i pickleball
Kula, Maui: Did you know that pickleball has a long history and deep roots in Maui? In the 1960’s the founders of pickleball (from Bainbridge Island, Washington) traveled to Maui where they stayed in a house a few doors down from Laurie Loney’s home.
The actual founders introduced Laurie’s family to pickleball, and it’s been part of her life since then. Her Dad built their very own court in their driveway in the 1970’s, and he made their paddles out of plywood. Sometimes he would put rope around the grip—those were their “fancy” paddles!
Laurie has been playing pickleball in Maui for 50 years and has built a business around her love of the sport. I think it’s safe to say that Laurie Loney is the OG of pickleball in Hawai’i, and an Aloha Pickleballer that you absolutely should know!
Let’s start out with the “Hawaii” question…where did you grow up and what high school did you go to?
I grew up on Keawakapu Beach, in Kihei, went to Kihei Elementary School, and Seabury Hall for middle school and high school.
How did Pickleball Maui come to be?
In 2016, my friend Megan and I, my neighbor, who learned at the same time as me, we said “there’s a tournament now for Pickleball!!!” It was on the Big Island and it was on my bucket list, so Megan and I went over. It was called the Aloha State Senior Games, and we almost died from the heat and playing so many more games than we normally do, but Megan and I got a Gold medal!
And then I decided, I have a court, and this game is getting more and more popular…I think maybe I should offer it up somehow, to make it a job for me, since I had recently become unemployed.
I was laid off from my job of 20 years, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I was a little sad, and lost, and I thought maybe I could make a few bucks just doing this—giving lessons and renting out my court.
It started very slowly, it was mostly tourists that would call me ….they would come out and play, even though I live in the boondocks. And it just started growing and growing, and then when COVID hit, everyone did nothing for a month or two, and then I started letting people play on my court. They were grateful because all the public courts were closed.
And after COVID hit, I started offering COVID rates pretty cheap, and local people started playing. And it just got bigger and bigger and bigger, and now I have almost all local players coming to have lessons and rent the court, and very few tourists.
What do you do like to do outside of pickleball?
Well, I’m pretty obsessed with pickleball these days, but when I had more time, during COVID, I liked to paint. I’m an acrylic paint user and artist—I like to do landscapes and I would sell them occasionally. That was one of my passions, art…I just don’t have time right now.
Also, I have 5 1/2 grandchildren, which keep me very busy.
Did you say 5 and-a-half?
One is on the way, which is the half. (Laughs)
I’m also volunteering at this hub called Upcountry Strong, where they receive donations and the fire victims can come, everything is free—everything from venison to diapers and food, and it’s run by volunteers and everything is donated.
(L) Laurie on her Kula property before her Court was built, and (R) one of her favorite pictures of her current Court with her grandkids and husband playing PB
Laurie joined me on camera to chat about her place in the pickleball history books (literally), what she loves about pickleball, how the game has changed over time, and how the Maui pickleball community is doing in the aftermath of the fires. Without further ado, please enjoy the video conversation with Laurie!
Connect with Laurie: www.pickleballmaui.com
Donate to help Maui Wildfire Victims: www.kokku.org
