From Picklebrunch to Pickleball Ambassador: Meet Wailea’s Carol Wallack
Pickleball Spotlight: Carol Wallack with Edie
How a former chef turned Maui resident found joy, community, and purpose on the courts.
Wailea—When a friend first invited Carol Wallack to try pickleball, she brushed it off—the name sounded too silly. But when Covid left her searching for something new, she finally took a lesson. One game was all it took. She was hooked.
Today, the Wailea resident plays four to five times a week and has built a lifestyle around the sport. A retired chef, she combines her love of food and friendship through “picklebrunch,” a weekend gathering that fills the courts with good play, great food, and even better company.
But her passion for pickleball doesn’t stop at the kitchen—or the kitchen line. She’s medaled at Bainbridge Island, is training to become a referee with USA Pickleball, and was recently named the South Maui Ambassador, working with the county to improve local courts.
Without further ado, please meet Carol Wallack!
Currently residing in: Wailea, Maui
Where did you grow up, and what high school did you go to?
Grew up in Los Angeles. Surfing in Malibu, went to Montclair College Prep.
How did you discover pickleball, and when did you start playing?
A friend begged me to come take a lesson. I kept putting it off because of the silly name. Finally, due to Covid, and looking for something to do, I agreed to go take a lesson…and never looked back.
What do you love most about pickleball?
I love the physical, competitive and social aspect of the sport. I put my culinary skills to use creating “picklebrunch” on a weekend day and filling the courts with friends, food and great play.
How often do you play?
4-5 times a week.
What paddle are you using, and what do you like about it?
I play with a Joola Scorpeus Pro 1V, 14 mm…the Anna Bright model. It’s a large sweet spot that allows me to play ‘my game’ which is a lot of drops and resets, but has plenty of power. It’s a sweet paddle.
What is the next goal you’re working toward (in pickleball or otherwise)?
I am always working on improving my game. This year my goal was to get to 4.0 competitively. I took at bronze at 4.0 with my women’s dubs partner on Bainbridge Island as we also celebrated the 60th anniversary of PICKLEBALL!
Now that I’m well into in my 60’s, I’ve recognized that I will never be able to compete at a level I would like so I decided to get involved in other areas of the sport. My friend Kimmie Ouchi is a senior Pro and I love traveling (sort of as her caddy!) to watch her compete. I learn so much from watching Pro matches.
I’m a Verified Referee Trainee with USA Pickleball. That’s a big goal! My mentor in this venture is Tracey Bennett, from Oahu, who writes your Referee Corner column. She’s so helpful and always available. I would love to see more people get involved and train to referee. There is such a need and the education is fascinating.
I’ve also recently been named the USA Pickleball South Maui Ambassador and have been working with the county to get our public courts (at Waipuilani) resurfaced and improved. It’s been a long time goal and I’m happy to say we are ALMOST at the finish line…. 2026. All of these things check every box for me.
I’m also looking forward to the groundbreaking of the Aloha Pickleball complex later this fall. As a USA Pickleball Ambassador, I’m excited we’ll have a world class facility to welcome the global pickleball ohana and host both domestic and international events while spreading aloha. We’re all so excited!
What do you do outside of pickleball?
I have been on a (volunteer) board of Maui Huliau Foundation, which teaches environmental literacy to Maui Youth through film making. I’m a retired chef and have taken up making ice cream and baking, a departure from my ‘savory’ background, but of course still love all cooking. Pastry has become a new hobby. I hated it when I was immersed in my career but now I’m fascinated by the chemistry part of it. I do a bit of catering for friends and by referral. I love walking the beach and hiking with my pup, Edie.
Carol (L) with Laurie Loney of Maui Pickleball
