Pickleballer in the 808: Gary Nakano

Pickleballer in the 808 Gary Nakano, far left, with Sally, Randon, and Claire, at the MLP format tournament at Ewa Mahiko Park

Honolulu—I was told about this guy a while ago—people told me he was doing good things for the pickleball community, quietly, over in Niu Valley.

When we met, an hour flew by as we chatted about our mutual love for pickleball, how insanely amazing (and talented) our Hawai’i pickleball community is, and how he got the idea to start a pickleball club.

A former baseball player, Coach, and now pickleball contender and club organizer, Gary Nakano is driven to make a difference in young people’s lives; to help and to see them succeed.

Clearly, he’s doing his life’s work, as you’ll learn about in our interview.

Without further ado, please meet Pickleballer in the 808 Gary Nakano!

Gary (center/left), after winning Gold at the Las Vegas PPA Tournament in October of 2023 (with his partner John Gravener)

Currently residing in: Currently living in Hawaii Kai.

Where did you grow up and what high school did you go to?

I grew up in Palolo and Kapahulu, I graduated from Kaimuki High School in 1982.

How did you discover pickleball and when did you start playing?

Randon Ho introduced me to pickleball about 4 years ago and we did not know the game or the strategy. In fact, we only played singles against each other and thought pickleball was fun but it was so tiring until we found out about doubles…then it became really fun. 

Gary, center/standing in blue, at the Chillaxin’ Tournament in July of 2023, with (L-R) Lisa, Sandra, Jackie, John, and Charlie (front, kneeling)

What do you do outside of pickleball?

I'm kind of semi-retired from the airlines. I'm currently working at Niu Valley Middle School, I play in the makule fastpitch softball league on Sundays, however, my focus is pickleball. 

Gary, far left, with his partner, Jana, at the Maui Pukaball Tournament in January 2024

I hear that you run the Pickleball Club out at Niu Valley Middle School.  How did that come about?  

I started the Niu Valley Pickleball Club about two years ago to introduce the kids to the sport.

We had old wooden paddles and white pickleballs which the school had as part of the physical education department sports equipment but no one played. I found the equipment hidden, not being used, so this is when the idea started to begin a pickleball club.

We started out with about 20 kids and during the year it grew to about 30 kids.

This year we started with about 35 kids and it continues to grow. 

The paddles and balls Gary found in a storage closet at school that sparked the idea for the Pickleball Club

Please tell us about the Pickleball Club!

The club currently has about 37 kids.

We have competed in tournaments held by King Intermediate. They have such a great group and the facilities—Kat and Barry do a great job with the kids on the windward side.

The King Intermediate tournament has been held twice a year and participants from Waianae Intermediate, Puohala Intermediate as well as King Intermediate have competed and it's such a great event to have Intermediate schools compete against each other. However, pickleball is so fun that is has never felt like a challenge—rather more like festive and the kids love it.

We also have entered the Niu Valley kids in the Oahu Pickleball Association’s Junior Pickleball tournaments at Diamond Head Tennis Center hosted by Elaina Paredes and Donna Ching. They also provide a great opportunity for the younger generation to get tournament experience.

How many other middle school Pickleball Clubs are there (in Hawai’i)?

Besides Waianae, King and Puohala, I don't know of any other intermediate schools having a pickleball club/team however I am sure this will grow.

King Intermediate is the pioneer to have started a school vs school type of tournament.

I’m very sure that pickleball will be a high school sport and Olympic sport soon. Universities already have a championship type of pickleball competition which means "scholarships" for the kids in the future.

Gary, far left, with the Niu Valley Middle School Pickleball Club

What do you love most about pickleball?

I compare pickleball to softball, meaning everyone is able to play softball but not everyone is able to play baseball. Likewise, everyone is able to play pickleball but not everyone is able to play tennis.

To me, that is the greatest thing about pickleball—everyone is able to play.

It's easy to learn, great exercise, games are fast, meet all kinds of people, it's gender neutral—girls are just as good as the guys.

What paddle are you currently playing with?

I am currently playing with the Revenant from PikNinja Sports...but I still love my Joola...however the Selkirk Luxx feels so good...and my Yobi is solid...what do i do?

How often do you play?

Currently I play about 3 times a week, however I used to play 6 times a week until my body and mind said "NO"...........you need to rest your legs.

Eat more mustard.

Anything else on your mind that you’d like to share? 

The state of Hawai’i needs to act quicker like other states and create more pickleball courts/venues (indoor and out). Like the mainland, pickleball is really growing in Hawai’i (every Island).

Hawai’i can be a really great destination for traveling pickleball players, it's something new. Maui has a great tournament which hosts many people from the mainland and the world.

Venues like the convention center can be a place to hold a major pickleball tournament.

Kona has the upcoming Pac Rim tournament which all of Hawai’i is gearing up for...that venue is fabulous.

Pickleball is just beginning in Asia and I'm sure they would love to visit Hawai’i and play pickleball.

Pickleball can be a win-win situation for Hawaii.

You mentioned that generous pickleballers have donated paddles and equipment to help out the program. If any of our readers would like to donate equipment, how can they reach out to you?

My email is supmon33@gmail.com

We take any type of pickleball equipment but we need everyone's help to get the pickleball lines painted on the public tennis courts which is only one minute away from Niu Valley Middle School. That's the biggest problem for Niu Valley Middle School, we have no "real" courts to play at.

Currently, we practice in the cafeteria of the school.

Middle schoolers playing at King Intermediate

Thank you Gary, for sharing your story, and for bringing pickleball to middle-schoolers and their families!