Kauai’s Sinclair Bill and Maui’s Jane Sakakihara will be inducted into the U.S. Tennis Association Hawaii Pacific Section Hall of Fame at the annual awards banquet on Oct. 6, at Ala Moana Hotel.

Anne Sinclair "Sinc" Knudsen Bill died in November at her Koloa home, at 71. She was born and raised on Oahu and played tennis at Punahou, winning the third annual Dillingham high school tournament. The victory earned her sponsorship for a trip to play in California tournaments.

It was the start of something big for Hawaii tennis.

She later moved to California and coached the Santa Barbara High School girls team for nearly 20 years before coming home. She worked her way onto the national radar when she captured two "Silver Balls" in doubles at age 43. There would be 17 more national runner-up finishes.

When she turned 50, Bill won a national singles grand slam and got a fifth "Gold Ball" when she won the doubles title at national indoors. She was a doubles finalist at all three other national events that year.

In all, she won 18 "Gold Balls" or national titles, including singles and doubles at Indoor Nationals when she turned 70.

Bill is being inducted in the player category while Sakakihara is in the service category. She is a certified section referee and works on several committees for the USTA Maui District.

Sakakihara took up the game as part of her fitness program to lose weight after giving birth to her daughter. She has been captain and coach for USTA league teams on Maui for nearly 15 years. Her involvement in Valley Isle tennis is so complete that the phrase "Just ask Jane" has become common on the courts.

The Hall of Fame induction and annual banquet are part of the Hawaii Pacific Section’s 2012 Tennis Festival. Clinics and games for adults and juniors will run all day Oct. 6 at the Oahu Club. All events are free except the awards banquet, which costs $45. It starts at 5 p.m. and features entertainment by Daniel Ho and the hall of fame induction, along with annual award recipients.

For more information, contact Madeleine Dreith at 585-9528 or dreith@hawaii.usta.com.