Pickleballer in the 808: “Girlie” Kauahikaua

Hawai'i Pickleball NewsO'ahu Pickleball Players

Aug 20

Pickleballer in the 808: Girlie Kauahikaua

Honolulu—Generally, pickleballers are a nice bunch of peeps. So, it’s a special honor to be nominated by an already great bunch of people as an even-specialler-pickleballer in their midst.

Marianette Kauahikaua, aka “Girlie”, lives a full and active lifestyle and keeps a very packed schedule. Despite her busy-ness, she’s built a reputation at the courts as Mrs. Aloha, and was nominated as a “Pickleballer in the 808” by members of her MW community.

Without further ado, please meet Girlie Kauahikaua!

Girlie, with pro Riley Newman, at MW

Currently residing in: Kaka’ako, 200 steps from my home pickleball court at Mother Waldron (MW)

Where did you grow up?  All over Oahu - Kalihi, Moiliili, Waianae, Wahiawa   

What high school did you go to?  Leilehua High School

How did you discover pickleball?

I can’t remember exactly how pickleball appeared on my radar; I either read about it somewhere or through social media.  

When did you start playing? 

I started playing in 2018.

I took a “Learn To Play Pickleball In An Hour” class at Kaimuki Community Park from Donna and Kevin Ching of Oahu Pickleball Association and haven’t stopped playing since.

During COVID we used painters’ tape to create pickleball courts on neighborhood basketball and tennis courts. I even used my condo garage wall to hit balls and feed my pickleball addiction.

The days of triathlons and marathons are over for this aging body. In addition to my yoga and swim workouts, pickleball compliments my athletic side quite nicely.   

Congratulations, you were nominated as a “Pickleballer in the 808” because: "Girlie's our Mother Waldron "queen bee" who fills the pickleball courts with aloha, grace, charisma, and enthusiasm”. What does it mean to you to have been nominated and how do you embody the aloha spirit at the Courts?  

I’m humbled to be nominated. I’m just being me - playing and having fun.

Small kid time, PE was my favorite class. I excelled at Dodgeball and was Shambattle Queen at Kaewai Elementary. I want others to play and have fun too.

You can’t play pickleball alone, you need others. It’s a social game. Welcoming others comes easy for me—I think that comes from my 20 years in the tourist industry…more aloha, more tips.

I’ve met a lot of nice people at Mother Waldron and have become good friends. I enjoy picking up trash, trimming bushes and keeping the MW pickleball court looking clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy. It feels good to serve my community in a positive and healthy way by sharing pickleball.  

I embody the aloha spirit by role modeling “Aloha Play.” Being nice and including others goes a long way. I don’t want people leaving MW or any pickleball court with negative feelings. That’s not in the spirit of the sport. Not when I’m there anyway!

Like in surfing, we all want to catch a wave. Pickleball is the same, we all want to play. Just treating others how I would want to be treated.

I always remember Maya Angelou's quote, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel".   

What do you love most about PB? 

That it’s like yoga - checks the 3 boxes of mind, body and spirit. Keeping score challenges your mind, movement is medicine for the body and being surrounded and supported with like-minded individuals makes for a kind and happy spirit.     

Girlie, doing “POGA”, pickleball-yoga

What do you do outside of pickleball?  

I retired in the fall of 2019 from Hawaii Department of Education as a high school counselor.

I currently teach Chair Yoga at Nu’uanu YMCA, substitute at I’olani School, dance Hula, take ukulele lessons, swim, travel and audition for Hawaii TV series, commercials and print work. Voice and Japanese language lessons are on the horizon.

I’m kinda retired ha!! 

Girlie with her husband, Russell Motter at Diamond Head Courts (not their dogs)

What paddle are you playing with? 

6.0 Double Black Diamond  

How often do you play? 

I play 2-3 times a week and drill once a week.  

Anything else on your mind? 

Pickleball is a fantastic journey to be on. It provides not only self-reflection but also connection with others from all over the world. I’ve played pickleball in Florida, Georgia, Japan, Mexico (cruise), Nevada, Norway (cruise) South Carolina, Washington DC and in the pickleball motherland of Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Don’t forget to pack your paddle and make new friends.

Have paddle, will travel!