(Photos courtesy of Kento Tamaki)
Maui’s Kento Tamaki may not be a household name entering the 2024 pickleball season, but that is due to change in the coming months as the former NCAA talent hits the courts for the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) season.
Born and raised on Maui, professional pickleball is the latest endeavour Tamaki has added to an already impressive portfolio of sport pursuits and business ventures. A former NCAA tennis player at Pepperdine University from 2011-15, Tamaki grew up competing in a variety of sports, including basketball, golf and surfing. Encouraged to try pickleball by a local at Maui Country Club, Takami eventually conceded and picked up a racquet.
“His name is Henry Spencer–great guy,” said Tamaki. “He’s an amazing athlete. He’s in his seventies and he plays amazing pickleball. He said, ‘You know, you’d be a professional right away, you should start playing.’ So, I started playing with them. The first time I played, they were smoking me. It was pretty funny.”
Over the coming months, Tamaki continued to hit the pickleball courts and train with friend and fellow Maui local, Kelson Lau, as well as touring pros that would visit the island. Last November, he found himself competing in singles during his first tournament in Newport, where he spent downtime with friends and familiar faces from the pro scene—the Johnson brothers—among others.
“Following that initial tournament, I was like, you know what? Maybe I could do this,” added Tamaki. “I kind of thought that I might have a chance to keep this going.”
While entering the pro pickleball circuit full time is top of mind, Tamaki also remains committed to his ventures outside of pickleball, including the Villa Group, which he launched in 2020. The real estate business now features six agents and staff. Tamaki’s second business, Plexus Capital Partners, has raised seven figures since launch.
“We’ve got a great marketing coordinator and admin staff, so I’ve got some help,” explained Tamaki. “I’ve been able to play pickleball because my team has been so great, which is awesome.”
Tamaki is also involved with the Maki Foundation, a non-profit charity focused on rebuilding Maui after last August’s wildfires. Comprised of local families, businesses, and leaders in Maui County, the group has continued to rally support around the tight-knit community’s recovery efforts. You can learn more about the Makai Foundation by visiting makai.org.
“We’re trying to bring as much awareness as we can and and raise funds for the local people to hopefully bridge that shortfall of insurance,” said Tamaki. “Keep Lahaina the way it was before the fires and in the people’s hands of Lahina.”