Open Play: An Overview
If you’re a pickleball enthusiast visiting Oahu or a local player looking to meet new friends, you’re in luck! Hawaii offers a variety of open play sessions where you can enjoy this popular sport. Open play games are typically scheduled throughout the week, providing flexible options for players of all skill levels to participate. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting, these sessions are designed to help you enjoy the game.
Check Out the Schedule
Open play dates and times vary across different parks and recreation centers on Oahu. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of popular venues known for their active pickleball communities and games. Visit our shared Google Map, which pinpoints each location along with the corresponding open play times near you. Our calendar also provides a general overview of games available by day of the week. This way, you can easily find a place to play that suits your schedule, no matter where you are on the island.
Where to Go: Parks, Rec Centers, Private Courts
Whether you’ve rented a car or take an Uber, make sure to check on the parking and access situation before hand. Be aware of your surroundings when parking in a public space or private lot. Follow all designated street signs and laws to ensure you’ll have a safe trip to and from your destination. Hawaii is just like any other populous urban city with threats of theft, especially for unattended vehicles and items. While we strive to preserve the Aloha Spirit, be cautious of where you leave your personal belongings at all times.
When to Go: General Open Play Times
While you might be on vacation and have lots of time to jump in a game a lot of the local community play outside of normal working hours. Keep that in mind when looking for open play times near you. Majority of game time will be after 6:00PM following a regular work day for those 9-5 local pickleball players. An open play might get busy around that time as well since everyone will be done with work. If you play in the mid-morning hours or afternoons you might get an older or retired crowd of Aunties and Uncles.
What to bring besides your A-Game
Pickleball open play games on Oahu are 95% outdoors. You’ll need to bring your own sitting arrangements; meaning portable chairs or mats. Lots of local players will have with them foldable chairs or wagons for their kids and families. While there are usually bathrooms, sometimes they are out of order or just really far. Plan accordingly to bring lots of water and a chair. Some parks will have benches available, but most are first come first serve. Check out our recommended amazon products for lightweight things to bring to your next game! Linked products are through our amazon affililate program which gives us a commission to help run this website and get you the most accurate information we can.