From the Sidelines to the Court: Meet Gabriella “Gabby” Sakoda
Pickleball Spotlight: Gabriella Sakoda
She kept score for years. Now it's her turn to play.
Some of our favorite pickleball stories start the same way—someone gets dragged to the courts, falls in love with the game, and never looks back. This week's feature is one of those stories, and it's one of the sweetest ones we've heard.
Gabriella “Gabby” Sakoda grew up watching from the sidelines, literally—cheering on her mom and the PB Fam Sunday League crew at Diamond Head, keeping score, handing out game balls, and collecting snacks from the aunties and uncles along the way. It wasn't long before the court called her name, too.
What makes Gabby’s story so special isn't just pickleball, it's the way she shows up for everything and everyone around her. From Special Olympics to hospital volunteering to daily FaceTime check-ins with Grandma, Gabby is exactly the kind of person who makes Hawaiʻi's pickleball community so special.
Without further ado, please meet Gabriella “Gabby” Sakoda!
Currently residing in: Kakaako.
Where did you grow up, and what high school did you go to?
I was born in Tokyo and lived in Yoyogi-Uehara in Shibuya-ku until I was four years old. In 2008, our family moved to Hawaii to be closer to my grandma. I attended Manoa Elementary, Stevenson, and then eventually graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2023.
How did you discover pickleball, and when did you start playing?
Our family got a pickleball set (complete with balls, paddles, and a bag) for Christmas in 2021, but we didn’t play until some of the restrictions due to COVID were lifted. I used to sit on the sidelines while my mom learned to play at Kaimuiki, Koko Head, and Palama. When pickleball lines were added to the tennis courts at my condo in 2023, my mom started hosting pickleball get-togethers, and I got more court time. I started playing weekly in May 2023 after graduating from Roosevelt.
What do you love most about pickleball?
Pickleball is about “family”, fun, and food! I love watching my mom and her Sunday League team, PB Fam, play at Diamond Head. Sometimes, the team captain lets me assist by writing all the names and scores down on the score sheet and giving out the game balls. I cheer on all the aunties and uncles I know on other teams, too, and they share their snacks with me! When my mom reserves a court at our condo or at Forté, I ask who’s coming, can I play, and are we potlucking?
Gabby, with her mom, Maria Villano (L)
How often do you play?
2-3 times a week. I have a lesson at Kamiloiki, play with neighbors at my condo, and drill with my mom and play with aunties and uncles at Pickles at Forté.
What paddle are you using, and what do you like about it?
After playing with whatever paddle was available for a year, I got my first paddle, a Yobi, as a gift from Tim Thomas at the HUGS tournament in 2024. Currently, I’m using the Cherry Blossom Six Zero Double Black Diamond paddle. I love that it’s pink!
What is the next goal you’re working toward (in pickleball or otherwise)?
I am taking my first group lessons through Parks & Rec with Coach Danny and am currently learning how to volley and dink at the kitchen line.
Gabby with her older sisters Izzy (L) and Becca (R)
What do you do outside of pickleball (hobbies, work, volunteerism, school, etc.)?
I’ve been competing in Special Olympics for eleven years. Initially, I swam, but now I run track and field and play bocce ball during the winter and spring. In the summer, I play VIP soccer through AYSO.
I’m also passionate about dancing! For the past two years, I have danced hip hop at “Reach For the Stars,” a student-led dance program founded by Punahou Junior Julia Saines. This year, I also joined a beginner class in line dancing through Parks & Recreation.
In addition to these organized programs, I volunteer at Kapiolani Women & Children’s Hospital, with Hawaii Meals on Wheels, and as a member of Waiokeola Youth Group.
I also participate in the B+Hari program, which is a neuroscience-based movement and creative learning curriculum. It helps the brain and body remember how to work together once a week.
In my free time, I play mahjong twice a week, enjoy making joyful Instagram posts with my friends, do household chores for boba, and check in with my Grandma in Manoa daily and my Lolo in Las Vegas weekly through FaceTime or text.
Anything else on your mind?
After watching my older sisters, Izzy and Becca, play volleyball during their high school and college years, I wanted become an athlete myself. Pickleball has not only fulfilled this desire to compete but has also provided me with the opportunity to connect with and bond with people beyond the special needs community. I am deeply grateful to the numerous people who have generously taught, played, encouraged, and welcomed me into this sport, despite my special needs:
Dr. Jonathan Pellet, Erin Nakatsuka, and the PT department at Shriners have been instrumental in enabling me to play sports through surgery, strength training, and the use of AFOs.
Coach Hong has instilled in me the confidence to play when I first started by keeping the ball in play and hitting a personal best of 32 balls in a row with me.
Coach Danny has been teaching me the foundational skills of the game.
Jin has been my favorite partner, covering every corner of the court and teaching me the art of drops.
Chase, Amelia, Kelsey, and Tama have been incredibly welcoming at Forté, treating me like a cherished member even before I became one.
Clinton, Airi, and Susie at the Kahala LDS have hosted beginner pickleball sessions, creating a warm and inclusive environment for newcomers.
Lastly, I want to express my deepest gratitude to some of my biggest pickleball fans, who have supported me beyond my family: Michelle and Gary Chun, Sharon & Jin Chen, Jeannie Chin, Eileen Odama, Glenna Maple, Karen Lee, Mel Toledo, Monica Lee, Mitzpah McCarthy, Carin Lim, Tim Thomas, and Hitomi Shimoda.
