Question: What are the rules for how much time a group can use a public pickleball court? If our group starts playing at 8 o’clock, for example, and another group of players shows up after that, does our group need to give up the court after a certain amount of time has gone by?
Answer: Technically, no, because the city hasn’t finalized administrative rules for outdoor courts that it has been working on since at least 2023 after gathering public input via two community surveys. So while administrative rules limit playing time on Oahu’s public tennis courts to 45 minutes, if other players are waiting, there are only “kokua guidelines” for dedicated pickleball courts that ask players to relinquish the court when they finish a game if others are waiting.
Administrative rules for public tennis courts were in place before pickleball took off several years ago. The effort to craft cohesive rules for multiple types of public outdoor play courts aims to balance casual recreational use with fee-based tennis and pickleball lessons and other permitted activities, according to the city (808ne.ws/4uQ1U8f).
We shared your questions with Nathan Serota, spokesperson for Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and asked whether the city has finished its new rules. Here’s his emailed response:
“No, we have not yet promulgated the Outdoor Court Rules, so the existing Tennis Court Rules are the most relevant. The new rules are in a final draft and will be undergoing legal review soon, after some delays due to staffing turnover. We want to make sure these rules are crafted and implemented with as much due diligence as possible. Having consistent staffing to oversee them through the whole process is very important, especially as they would impact the 767 outdoor play courts we oversee around O‘ahu.
“Pickleball courts continue to operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is no set rule on how long a person or group can use them other than the park’s hours of operation. The same is true for our other park amenities, other than tennis courts, which are open to the public unless someone has a permit reserving their use. So, their availability relies on park users being considerate of one another, and sharing these public facilities.
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“We are testing out some methods to help organize the public usage of pickleball courts, as the sport continues to grow in popularity. One of those methods are signs detailing ‘Kokua Guidelines for Dedicated Pickleball Courts’ at some park locations. … These guidelines are intended to encourage courteous behavior at these park facilities, and to enable the community to self-regulate by providing a common, public standard.”
The signs tell waiting players how to place their pickleball paddle outside a court to join the “paddle queue;” that when a group completes a game (to 11, win by 2) they should relinquish the court to a waiting group; and how to integrate players if fewer than four are waiting at a time. Players should not hold a court while waiting for the rest of their group if others are waiting, they say.
By contrast, on Oahu’s public tennis courts, administrative rules dictate that “the limit of play is 45 minutes from the time of possession for singles and doubles, including warmup, and excluding time lost due to wet courts” and that “players may not play two consecutive time periods if waiting players wish to use the court.” Courts may be reserved “only by written permit issued by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Signed permit must be displayed.”
Read the full rules at 808ne.ws/4eVvDrP.
Q: Will the Manoa pool reopen in time for Summer Fun?
A: Yes, it’s scheduled to reopen to the public Monday, according to Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
The Harry Mamizuka Swimming Complex at Manoa Valley District Park has been closed on and off since September 2024 for repairs and improvements, including to its 50-meter pool, training pool and bathrooms and showers, a DPR news release said.
“This popular pool facility was closed in late November 2025 to allow for these improvement projects, and experienced delays due to back-to-back Kona low storms. The pool complex was previously closed from September 2024 until early June 2025 to address chipping paint on the pool surface and bleachers. This most recent second phase addressed unresolved issues from the first phase, including paint which did not properly adhere to the pool and bleachers,” it said.
Summer Fun, the city’s recreational childcare program, is scheduled to run June 8 through July 24; registration began last week. For details, go to www.honolulu.gov/dpr/summer-fun/.
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813; call 808-529-4773; or email [email protected].