Legends finally get their due

Two people who have, in relative obscurity, had a huge impact on Hawaii tennis for decades will be honored at this year’s Tennis Hall of Fame and annual awards banquet.

Kauai’s Jane Hirota Pang, still knocking off national championships at "71, almost 72," and Sam Caldwell, who served more than 30 years as a volunteer official and tournament administrator, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Nov. 23 at the Ala Moana Hotel.

Caldwell will receive the service award for what started innocently enough and grew into a distinguished hobby.

When his daughters began playing competitively in the 1960s he saw a need for more oversight. Over the next few decades, Caldwell became a ubiquitous tournament presence as administrator and referee. Caldwell helped develop the Hawaii Tennis Umpires Association and served as Hawaii Pacific Sectional Delegate for four years.

"Uncle Sam" was there when Roscoe Tanner and Billie Jean King played at McKinley High School and the Hawaii Leis brought World Team Tennis to Blaisdell Center. He helped John Newcombe welcome some of the game’s biggest names and brightest hopes to pro events on Maui. Caldwell might have seen more Kailua Night Doubles matches than anyone over the years.

Most memorably — for a guy who often had to make unpopular decisions — Caldwell is universally liked and respected in Hawaii tennis for his wisdom, fairness and gentle laugh.

Pang grew up playing on the Lihue Courts, often practicing with the Lihue Plantation team. She won her first tournament at 11.

"I remember being home sick, sitting on a stool closing the bedroom door and hitting the tennis balls against the door trying to avoid the panels," she recalled. "Gee, I must have loved tennis even at that young age."

Her most recent title came at 71 years and 10 months, when she and Lurline Fujii captured Women’s 70 Doubles at National Indoors earlier last month in Vancouver, Wash.

From there, Pang went to see Mount Rushmore and caught up with Kauai High classmates at a Las Vegas reunion.

She was part of the KHS team that upset Punahou to capture the inaugural girls state high school championship in 1958. Pang also served as the National College of Education’s one-member "team" for three years in Evanston, Ill.

She won the first of nine national league tennis championships in 1980 and started playing open national age-group events at age 60. She is now the proud owner of three gold balls, 12 silver balls and 11 bronze balls, and has been ranked No. 1 nationally three times.

"I think my greatest tennis achievement is playing competitive tennis at my age and still enjoying the challenge," Pang says. "My goal is to continue as long as I can. One is never too old to learn and to improve even a little bit."

Pro Howard Tacub has worked with Pang on her game for 35 years. She says her drop shot is the best part of her repertoire these days.

He politely disagrees.

"He said, ‘The best aspect of your game is not a particular stroke, it is how you think on the court, your passion for the game and your passion for competing,’" Pang says.

That passion has her out on the courts three times a week, seeking satisfaction more than perfection.

"At my age nothing is perfect," she says. "It’s a matter of keeping going. I am still learning and trying new techniques."

To reserve a place at the banquet, contact USTA Hawaii’s Madeleine Dreith at 585-9528 or dreith@hawaii.usta.com. Deadline is Wednesday.