Extended Learning
Co-Curricular Programs

Tennis School

Contact

Tennis School Office
Dillingham Tennis Complex
tennisschool@punahou.edu
808.944.5835 Tel
Hours: M – F, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Tennis School provides a comprehensive pathway of progressive instructional programs for students of all ages and skill levels while encouraging them to adopt tennis as a fun lifetime sport.

Tennis is a safe and challenging sport that provides many physical, mental, and social benefits. Our tennis classes are designed as part of a developmental pathway where the size of the court and the equipment are both age and skill appropriate. As students progress through our programs, they learn technical fundamentals, situational tactics, and creative problem solving skills. 
 
When students join our Junior Team Tennis and ILH Tennis teams, they learn to work together toward common goals and embrace a positive team mindset. Many of our alumni go on to play college tennis and others continue to play “the sport for a lifetime” long after high school graduation. From K – 12, the program emphasis is on athletic development, character building, and sportsmanship.

Our Programs

Punahou has one of the largest and most successful tennis programs in the nation. Various instructional, developmental and competitive programs are offered during the school year as well as during the summer. Beginning levels are designed for students with little or no prior playing experience. Intermediate levels are designed for students that have several years of playing experience and moderate Junior Team Tennis or tournament competition. Advanced level programs are intended for our more committed students with significant Junior Team Tennis or tournament competition and enrollment is by invitation only.  

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  • Group Lessons

    Open to the community, grades 1 – 8 
    Group lessons emphasize a fun learning environment and instruction that focuses on developing fundamental tennis skills, reinforcing positive character traits and encouraging good sportsmanship. Students advance to different levels according to individual progress, sometimes remaining within the same program for more than a year. Group lessons are a terrific way to learn the basics of the game in a group atmosphere. Students may select up to two days of classes per week.
     
    ProgramGradesDays
    Tennis ExplorersGrade 1 Tue/Thu
    Young StarsGrade 2Mon/Wed/Fri
    Young StarsGrades 3 and 4Mon/Sat
    Rising StarsGrades 5 – 8
    with 0 – 3 years
    experience
    Mon/Tue/Thur
     
    For those students who are more serious about their tennis game and seek more competitive play, additional information is provided below under “Invitational Programs.”
  • Private and Semi-Private Lessons

    Open to the community, grades 2 – 12
    Private and Semi-Private lessons offer one-on-one or one-on-two instruction to students who are becoming more serious about the game and desire more personal attention. Individualized stroke mechanics, footwork, and other student-specific skills are emphasized.

    Registration
    Register your child for group or private lessons through Punahou’s Co-Curricular and Summer School programs. Priority is given to continuing spring students.
  • Invitational Programs

    Offered by coaches’ invitation only, grades 1 – 8
    Invitational programs provide advanced development of physical, technical, tactical, and mental skills. These programs also prepare students for more competitive play by offering them an opportunity to compete within a team environment.
     
    Invitations are emailed to families in the early summer for the upcoming school year.
     
    ProgramGradesDays
    Future Aces3 – 4Wed/Fri
    Slamming Aces5 – 8Wed/Fri
    ACE Program5 – 8Tues/Thu
    Play Days3 – 8Sat

    If your child is new to Punahou tennis and would like to be considered for an invitational program, call the Tennis Office at 808.944.5835 to schedule an on-court player assessment.
  • Junior Excellence Training (JET) Program

    Open to the community, grades 9 – 12
    The Junior Excellence Training (JET) program is for high school students that want to continue taking their game to the next level.  JET is design to develop students physically and mentally – with a focus on preparing them for increased competition. Selection to this program is by invitation only.

    JET I
    JET I is a high-performance program for students in grades 9 – 12 that develops students physically and mentally for advanced competition in sectional/national events. Class time includes situational drilling, modified matchplay, and fitness. Students are expected to play tournaments and compete on a regular basis. Selection criteria is based on USTA ranking, UTR rating and ILH team experience.

    Program sessions are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (when ILH Tennis is not in session, practice sessions will run earlier from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.)


    JET II
    JET II is a performance program for students in grades 9 – 12 and is designed for students with limited tournament experience and/or students preparing for future competitive events, such as the Junior Varsity tennis season or for those who just enjoy tennis and want to continue training and playing. Selection criteria is based on USTA Sectional rankings, UTR rating, and ILH.

    Program sessions are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from  5:30 – 7:15 p.m. (when ILH Tennis is not in session, practice sessions will run earlier from 4:30 – 6:15 p.m.).

    JET Play Day
    JET Play Days are designed to compliment the weekday training sessions with matchplay opportunities. Competition is an essential component to overall student development and Play Days accelerate learning by allowing students to consistently compete in a non-elimination format where they learn how to effectively develop points, implement strategy, and problem solve. Coaches have the ability to provide valuable real-time feedback in between points during competition.       
     
    Eligibility: Must be enrolled in the weekday JET program (Grades 9 – 12)

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  • ILH Athletics Teams

    Punahou also offers Intermediate (grades 7 – 8), Junior Varsity (grades 9 – 11) and Varsity (grades 9 – 12) level ILH Athletics teams. Participation on ILH Tennis teams is limited to Punahou students only.

    Note: Participation in Tennis School classes does not guarantee a spot on an ILH Tennis team.

Tournaments

Punahou hosts, organizes and coordinates tennis tournaments open to the community. These tournaments provide opportunities for Punahou and non-Punahou students to participate and compete. Punahou works closely with the USTA, UTR, ILH, HHSAA, and other organizations to conduct these events for the community.

Junior Tennis Championships

Every October (during Discoverers Day weekend) Punahou organizes, hosts, and coordinates the annual Mike MacKinnon Punahou Jr. Challenger & Open Championships. The tournament is open to the public and is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring young players to begin or continue their competitive tennis experience.
 
Punahou typically offers 12U, 14U, and 16U divisions for boys and girls with both singles and doubles opportunities.

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  • Facilities

    The Dillingham Tennis Complex consists of six courts and a central building that houses the Tennis Office, restrooms, and other student facilities. Originally built in 1949, the complex was renovated in 2013.

    The Wo Family Tennis Courts, completed in summer 2010, consists of two courts on Rocky Hill above Wilcox Hall and provide additional court space for various tennis programs. The Nancy Spalding Complex (three upper tennis courts) closed in 2009 for construction of the Omidyar K – 1 Neighborhood. 

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  • Program Dates 2022 – 2023

    Fall Semester: Aug. 22 – Dec. 17, 2022
    Spring Semester: Jan. 9 – May 13, 2023
     
     

Additional Information

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  • Days, Times and Fees

    Group lessons are offered up to three times per week. Play Days are offered on Saturdays and Team Tennis opportunities are offered on both Saturdays and Sundays. Private lessons are available on weekdays, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. See the course catalog for specific times and fees.
  • Escorting

    Parents enrolling grades 1 – 5 students should review the information about escorting.
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