Anu - Always Under the Sun

Meet Anu! Pickleball Pro, Surfer, Fisherwoman, Soccer Stud, and Fitness All-Star! Anu was born-and-raised on the Big Island of Hawaii and spends almost all of her days in the sun. It's hard to believe how diversely skilled she is in so many different sports. Join us in learning about what makes Anu so special. 

Tell us about Anu! 

Born and raised on the big island of Hawaii, everything I’ve done growing up, and still till this day, is in the sun. Growing up my main sport was soccer and my main hobbies were surfing or being at the beach. I love to play any and all sports and do anything active outdoors. I am lucky enough to make a living now being a teaching pro for pickleball.

I teach outdoors in the hot sun almost every day of the week. On top of that, my favorite hobbies are all outdoors; anything from taking my nieces and nephew surfing, hanging out at the beach, or training and working out outdoors. I’m not a big fan of being indoors.  I am a local girl and feel deeply rooted in my Hawaiian culture. We were a race born under the sun, and that is where we thrive.

My main craft is working as a pickleball coach and travelling to put on clinics and tournaments. I play pickleball at the pro level in tournaments as well.  I'm passionate about creating relationships with my clients and being able to see them grow in their own game and have fun being outdoors.

 

I’m in the sun most days almost all day for eight months out of the year.

Some days for 11 hours or more coaching and teaching or playing long tournaments. For the other four months out of the year, I get a little bit less sun thanks to the slow season (which is well needed).  But even then, I’m still in the sun for at least half of the day.

Some of my favorite activities or hobbies are playing pickleball recreationally, surfing, working out (especially in the sand or doing sprints and hill training), taking my nieces and nephews surfing or body boarding, or throwing net with my brother and frying fish up on the beach.

Through pickleball, I’ve had a ton of opportunities to travel for coaching, training, and competing at high-level tournaments. But most importantly, I was able to make really deep relationships with a lot of lifelong friends that have led me to so many more opportunities outside of pickleball off the islands.

The biggest challenge I face while being outdoors is the number of hours I have to be in the sun, so it’s really important that I keep myself protected. On the pickleball court you get a double glare, so wearing a hat isn’t enough. The sun reflects off the court right back under your hat!  One of the worst experiences I had was getting my lips sunburnt so badly that they blistered! I thought I was protected because I was using Chapstick, but it made it so much worse. Now I am very careful about what I put on my lips for protection while in the sun. 

 

Always pursue your passion; especially if it’s in the sun! Being in the sun not only helps produce vitamin D for strong bones and a healthy immune system, but it also helps improve your mood and happiness levels. I know that there’s a lot out there about too much sun being bad for you (and it is true). but as long as you’re properly protected, you can still enjoy a life out in the sun.

My favorite Beachy Lips product is the Sport Stick in the color Moonbow. I keep it right in my fanny pack that I wear every single day even on the court, so it is always on hand; although I rarely have to reapply because it stays on so long.

I support all women in my industry by holding women only tournaments, group sessions, and privates. Anybody who knows me personally knows that I am always willing to volunteer my time teaching/coaching pickleball, soccer, strength training, or advising healthy eating and lifestyle changes. I not only support the women in our community, but I support all people in the community. I have never turned down my time to anyone if they couldn’t afford it. We all know how expensive it is to live here. I love to take it back old school and just do trades for my time; especially for food - I love food!!! I have clients that make fresh sourdough bread and trade for an hour of training and I’m so happy!!

How do you envision your journey evolving?

I envision my journey evolving by one day starting a family and raising my own kids playing all the sports outdoor in the sun!

I very rarely (knock on wood) ever get sick… I've only been sick once in the last five years and it was a three-day cold. But when I don’t get enough sun or if I have more than two gloomy days in a row, I actually don’t feel good. Not just sad or low-energy, I physically start to feel bad. But, as soon as I get sun, I’m 100% better.

We love you, Anu!