Capacity Crowd at Blue Moon KRC MND
Is it the exciting tennis? Is it the quiet windward location, the delicious grinds or the balmy night air and evening schedule? The sponsors certainly enable with donations, services and prizes and the tasty Blue Moon Belgian wheat on never ending tap is sweet... But what makes this the best annual tennis tournament in the islands?
Men's Night Doubles has hit an apex level of attendance and all round quality of event. The tennis has always been solid, so we figure it comes down to two additional factors: Aloha and Lokahi.
Aloha starts with the positive attitude, openness and love that Bruce & Beverly Nagel, Judy Weitz and the KRC Staff, Board of Directors and all the volunteers extend to the whole tennis ohana. The sincere welcome and commitment to a great tennis experience and good vibe translate into a sincere welcome that is not missed by anyone who attends any single night. You want to go back and bring friends.
That sets up the second part of the over the top equation – togetherness. This year, the qualifying draw had the largest ever numbers of entrants (56) all vying for eight slots in the main draw. Teams were comprised of every combination of age and decent skill level. Fathers and sons, young players and fathers of their friends, new young pairs and veterans of past MND battles all giving it their best. But it seemed as if the fun and experience of it was the real goal for many.
One family, the Hatori ohana had members on three different teams. Brad Lum-Tucker came from Kauai and played with the father (John) of his former partner Jesse Paer. Each team is a story in their own right. What makes all this remarkable is that each pairing brought choke family and friends to enjoy the spectacle. The support and camaraderie were over the top from the first night to the last.
So goes the cycle of Aloha and togetherness, spiraling upward into the main draw as the tennis competition intensifies, reaching a crescendo. By semi-finals and finals nights there were over 700 people packing the stands and grounds. The oohs, ahhs and ohs like a single voice with each great winner, near miss or dramatic exchange. Yes, the occasional humorous or motivating outburst from someone in the gallery as well. Its like the best local tennis, yes, but sitting in the backyard with friends at a party too.
The feeling of community is why the smiles are universal when it all comes to a close with handshakes, hugs and pictures galore. The tournament is a reunion. Where no one holds back, everyone is appreciated and the true spirit of ohana is achieved. It is only two weeks of tennis. But is has become so much more.
Let's let the pictures tell the rest of the story. See everyone next year.
For a blow by blow, check out Blue Moon MND Final: Tight Thriller for Titans of Tennis
Beverly and Bruce Nagel
J-Block
Hatori Ohana
Judy Weitz (R) and friends
Maatta, Blezard, Tribler
Jay Grollman and the best fans
Brett Krueger, Evan Loya
Muka and Frank Godinet
Full on interview in pidgin
Spencer Mendoza and Derek Morrison
Dave Andrews and Jared Spiker
Mangal Sriram, Laurent Colombo #8
Carstenn Clan
Daniel Llarenas and Jeff Fitch #6
Vietnamese Tennis Association with Su, Le and Thomas So of Pearl Kai Tennis Shop
Stefan Pampulov
Family friendly affair
This is the gathering place for Hawaii's tennis players at the end of every summer
Sponsors' Service Game
Blake Mosely and Alex Aybar break through qualies and win in the first round main draw
Thomas So and Family with Wei-Yu, Minh and Rie. Pearl Kai Tennis Shop sponsored Minh Le for the tourney.
Mahalo Sponsors: Mike Bianci of Boston's Pizza, Mano Nguyen and Sanjay Mirchandani of Talent HR Solutions
Sujin Lee, Andrea Neal and friend spending scrip
From the players point of view there's nothin' like playing in front of a home crowd
Happiness is sponsoring something to benefit a community/b>
Ikaika comments that when he was a kid, he always looked up to Wei-Yu. Wei-Yu has played in about a decade of MNDs so far.
Nat Nishida writes the winning entry of the HIT Blog Contest
Brian Naff, Tennis Hut owner
Stephanie and Chef David Kaminsky are Kaminsky Café
Bill Aldenderfer, MND Committee Co-Chairman
Thanks to Charlie and Assistant for Maintaining the grounds with aloha
Noriko Tamamoto, Ball Kids Coordinator
Bill Liston and the officials
Su & Le
Maui Jim Sunglasses
Finals night crowd
Mika and Jan offered up awesome play a fourth year in a row
Out of a draw of 56 teams, Ikaika and Dennis emerge the 2009 BM KRC MND Champions
Ikaika thanks the ball kids
Debbie Story wins the Tom Dier painting
The Lajola Family
The Ikaika Ohana ( Missing: Mom, Chickadee Moniz was busy winning a gold medal in the Sr. Olympics on the same day as her son)
Chickadee Moniz and Eric Katter
