
Tournament Overview

Event Date
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Check-in starts at 8:30 AM

Participants
Capacity: 200 players
Eligibility details below

Entry Fee
USD 50
(JPY 6,500)
Eligibility:
Participants from Japan must be individual members of PJF. Anyone residing, working, or studying in Honolulu's sister cities, or who has ties to those cities (such as having family there), is welcome to participate.
Participation Fee:
$50 (¥6,500)
About PJF Individual Membership Fees:
🔵Participants from Japan
Those not yet registered as PJF individual members must pay an additional ¥2,500 (valid for one year) in addition to the above fee. Existing members do not need to pay the membership fee.
🔵 Participants residing overseas/USA
PJF individual membership registration is NOT required.
Match Format:
This event aims to foster player exchanges between sister cities. It will be held in a round-robin format, grouped by skill level, with an 11-point (gold, silver, and bronze medals determined by wins/losses and point differential). Participants will be paired with different partners each time, so individuals may join alone. Depending on registration numbers, we may consider gender-specific or mixed teams. Please note that the match format may change after registration.
Skill Level:
-
Pro 4.5+
-
Intermediate&Advanced 3.5~4.5
*Depending on the number of applicants, the intermediate&advanced may be divided into two levels. -
Beginner 3.0~3.5
-
Newbie 2.5+
The match schedule (draw) will be notified via email several days prior to the event.
Application Period:
December 15, 2025, 9:00 AM to February 14, 2026
Applications will close once capacity is reached.
Registration Steps:
STEP1) Register as a PJF Individual Member
Participants from Japan who are not yet registered as PJF Individual Members must register and pay via the PJF Individual Membership page. Existing members and overseas/USA residents may start STEP2.
STEP2) Pay Participation Fee
Please pay the $50 fee via this link.
STEP3) Submit Application Form
Please enter the required information and submit the form via the application button below.
Cancellation Policy:
Until January 31, 2026, refunds will be issued minus card processing fees and any foreign exchange rate differences.
After February 1, 2026, no refunds will be issued.
*Please arrange and cover your own travel and accommodation expenses.
Purpose of the Tournament
The State of Hawaii and the City of Honolulu maintain sister-city and friendship-city relationships with 34 cities across Japan.
As interest grows in strengthening these connections even further, we have organized a new exchange event centered around pickleball—an increasingly popular sport in Japan.
We are pleased to announce that the City of Honolulu has officially approved the launch of this event as the “1st Honolulu Mayor’s Cup.”

We will promote ongoing sister-city exchange through pickleball and strengthen the connection between Honolulu and cities across Japan.
In addition, participants will visit Honolulu’s first dedicated indoor pickleball facility and its club community, helping support the sport’s further development in each sister city.
Program (One-Day Festival Format)
Tournament Day:
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Pickles at Forté (Downtown)
Tournament Format:
-
Team matches divided into Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced levels
-
Inter-city exchange matches
8:30
Check-in & Warm-up
9:00
Opening Remarks (Representatives from the City of Honolulu, JHPA, PJF, and Forte)
9:15
Exchange Mixer & Pro Clinic
11:30
Sister City Challenge
(Round-robin format / skill-based divisions / individual matches / 8–10 players per group)
*Match format may be subject to change depending on the applicants.
14:30
Sister City Challenge
(Round-robin format / skill-based divisions / individual matches / 8–10 players per group)
*Match format may be subject to change depending on the applicants.
16:00
Award Ceremony & Aloha Social
16:30
Community Gathering & Group Photos
18:00
Closing
Venue

Address:
1032 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813
🌐 https://www.picklesatforte.com
Contact:
(808) 758-4683 | pickles@fortedoho.com
Number of Courts:
14 indoor pickleball courts
Venue Highlights:
Forté is Honolulu’s first dedicated indoor pickleball club, offering a high-quality playing environment unaffected by weather, along with a unique club community that aligns perfectly with the spirit of cultural exchange.
The club also provides strong support for tournament operations and has a solid structure in place to welcome participants from sister cities on an ongoing basis.
Key Contacts:
Hawaii:
Rika Riordan (President, JHPA) — rika@pickleball-japan.org
Toshihiro Shoji (Hawai’i Navigation Center of Japan ) — ts@m81.co
Japan:
Yuki Tanaka (PJF Executive Board Member / Secretary General) — yuki@pickleball-japan.org
Tournament Executive Committee:
Representatives from each participating Honolulu sister city
For Inquiries Regarding the Tournament: customer@pickleball-japan.org













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