IART ambassador Albert Murata secures new position

IART ambassador Albert Murata is going home, back to his roots on the big Island of Hawaii but this time, with a new purpose. He’s been hired as the new tennis director at the Royal Kona Resort, an upscale seaside paradise with views to die for and a storied history. Past visits to the big island were yearly and family oriented, reuniting with his parents and lending a helping hand on their farm. Now, however, Albert will be a permanent fixture at the Kona resort with the mission of infusing their tennis program with new life while working closely with Ron Romano, the executive director for USTA Hawaii Pacific Section.

Importing the program from Oahu to the Big Island will be his main focus. After growing up in Kona, Murata spent more than three decades teaching tennis on Oahu before returning home to the Big Island in January. While lessons are set to begin later in February, courts at the Royal Kona are already like many others around the Big Island: filled with players for social play or informal round robin tournaments.

“It has a very local vibe,” said Murata of the matches at the Royal Kona. “There’s a tennis community that’s been doing these round-robins for ages. People just want to get out and play tennis in a safe environment.”

You can read the full story on Albert’s journey HERE