We don’t always know what’s missing until it shows up in our lives. For these three women, that “something” was a game called “pickleball.”
For Lori Tokutomi, the discovery came in her late 50s. “Someone mentioned it at a gym, so I just showed up,” she says. “They told me to get on the court, explained the rules as we went—and that was it. I was addicted.”
After that first day, she played every day she could, even driving 30 minutes across the Bay Area to find games. Now in her 60s, she still plays regularly and calls it her go-to for fun, fitness and stress relief. “It’s the perfect sport for any age. Easy to start and you don’t have to be the best to enjoy it.”
At 61, Susan Seki discovered pickleball with her husband just before the pandemic. “We borrowed paddles at the rec center, played once—and immediately bought our own.”
The couple now plays four to five times a week. “Pickleball is everything now. We drop everything to go play.” She didn’t expect to fall in love with the sport—or the friendships. “We’ve made so many new friends and I’m going to know these people for a long time.”
A colon cancer survivor, Susan also credits pickleball with helping her stay healthy. “At my last cardiology appointment, I kept going and going on the treadmill. The nurse finally told me to stop—and the doctor accused me of showing off!” she laughs.
Rachel Haili discovered pickleball in her 70s, soon after retiring from her Hawaiian
catering and entertainment business of over 40 years. She found herself missing the daily interactions with staff and customers. Pickleball filled that gap—combining movement with social connection. “You meet new people from all over and all different parts of the island,” she says. She plays several times a week and complements it with yoga, tai chi and weight training. Her advice: “I say, just go out and try.”
Each woman picked up a paddle at a different stage in life. What they found wasn’t just a game—it was movement, meaning and community in one beautiful surprise.
Personal growth is always within reach. It’s never too late to discover something new and realize it’s exactly what you’ve been missing.
HAWAII PICKLEBALL MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 61514, Honolulu, HI 96839
jen@hawaiipickleballmagazine.com
hawaiipickleballmagazine.com
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