‘Icing on the cake’ for Tennis Hall of Fame inductee

Hawaii went to extremes to honor its 2015 Tennis Hall of Fame class.

The second Education Award went to Canadian Peter Burwash, who moved here in 1974, created Peter Burwash International the following year and has now touched more than 3 million tennis players around the world.

Lurline Fujii, the 12th player to be inducted, is the quintessential “local” athlete. She picked up tennis in a freshman PE class at the University of Hawaii and honed her game at the Kapiolani and Diamond Head courts — between potlucks, a little landscaping and offering free lessons to strangers.

At 74, she is now the proud owner of one world championship and 17 national titles. Fujii has three U.S. Tennis Association gold balls, nine silver and five bronze.

Four years ago, she was picked to play for the U.S. in the Althea Gibson Cup in Croatia, against teams of the finest 70-and-older women from all over the world.

The Americans won. Fujii’s tennis goals were fulfilled.

“That was the height, playing for your country,” Fujii said. “There are 30 countries there. The camaraderie, the people, speaking their language, just a fabulous setting. You can’t describe it. You’re there, playing for your country and to top it off being world champion. I’ll always be a world champion.”

Fujii also has represented Hawaii most years at national league championships. She pays for an extra bag on every trip to deliver “omiyage to everyone.” She has been tournament director of Hawaii’s Senior Games since 2000, and won another dozen medals, including seven gold, at the National Senior Games.

Fujii has fire in her eyes on the court. At Saturday’s annual awards banquet and Hall of Fame induction, she had tears. So much for the “grouchy” image her friends joke about.

“I never thought I could be in the Hall of Fame,” Fujii said, wiping her eyes. “I’ve won gold medals, gold balls, been to Croatia and played on the winning Cup team … been at the highest level I can be.”

And still, when the USTA Hawaii Pacific Section called to make her “Fame-ous”, Fujii was “overwhelmed.” She called it “icing on the cake” Saturday.

Then the former PE teacher, and constant coach, confirmed stories her friends told in a video about when she claimed her first gold ball. All chimed in on how she was taken away in an ambulance after the match, suffering from dehydration.

“The ambulance (siren) was playing her song,” one friend grinned, “because that’s what was played when she won her first gold ball.”

Fujii’s only regret that day was “the only picture I have is being carted away in an ambulance.”

There are other pictures that tell a healthier, happier story of a woman hooked on tennis from almost the moment she started. As she got older, and national championships became more realistic, she made goals.

First she wanted to win a ball, then “I got greedy and wanted gold.”

After her memorable ambulance ride, she would win more and more, culminating in her unforgettable trip to Croatia.

“So now I’ve met all my goals I set in tennis,” she says, contemplating her 75th birthday, recovery from shoulder surgery and developing a more powerful forehand. “Now I have to make smaller goals.”

And pay it forward, a gift Fujii has kept on giving since the early days at a Kapiolani court held together with chicken wire.

“I try to give back, at the Senior Olympics and helping out at Diamond Head,” she says. “But most important, if I see a kid on the court and they want help from a complete stranger I help them because I believe if they pick up the sport, it is a lifetime sport.”

It has been for Burwash. He started playing at 12, competed on the ATP Tour from 1968 to 1974 and played in the Davis Cup for Canada.

He settled in Hawaii, and Kona Village was Peter Burwash International’s first contract, in 1975. PBI became the largest tennis management company in the world, taking the sport to “resorts and special places” large and small in 32 countries. Burwash also started wheelchair tennis in Hawaii, along with a prison tennis program and coaching Jr. Davis Cup.

The prolific motivational speaker also has authored 11 books, including “Tennis for Life,” one of the world’s best-selling tennis books. Former PBI pros here include Punahou Director of Tennis Bernard Gusman and Hawaii Pacific Section Executive Director Ron Romano.

Earlier this year, Burwash followed Billie Jean King into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. He also has been inducted into Halls at University of Toronto and Northern California, and is one of the original USPTA Master Professionals.