Hawaii Tennis Leader Transforms Lives Through Community Outreach

In the world of tennis development, few stories are as inspiring as that of Madeleine "Maddy" Dreith, whose three-decade commitment to growing the sport in Hawaii has touched thousands of lives across multiple generations. As director of Community Tennis for the U.S. Tennis Association's Hawaii Pacific Section, Dreith has transformed the landscape of recreational tennis through innovative programming and unwavering dedication.

"I love my job," Dreith says with genuine enthusiasm. "It's so rewarding. Getting somebody hooked onto tennis, I've seen it happen so often. They just get addicted to it."

The Punahou alum's journey to tennis leadership took an unexpected path through Southern California, where she spent a decade after college. At UCLA, she "found my independence," then worked in retail management at a Beverly Hills stationery store frequented by celebrities like Don Knotts and Sylvester Stallone. Her return to Hawaii came when husband Albie decided to start his own physical therapy practice, bringing both back to the islands where tennis would become their shared passion.

Tennis runs deep in the Dreith household – their first date was on a tennis court, and both remain active competitors well into their golden years. Maddy qualified for the 65-and-older league team tennis last year and recently returned from her fourth national tournament, while Albie has qualified for twice as many nationals.

This personal connection to the sport fueled Dreith's professional mission when she joined USTA Hawaii Pacific in 1998. Her inspiration came from a transformative 1995 trip to nationals, where she experienced firsthand the community and joy that tennis could provide. "I had such a great time," she recalls. "I wanted to be more involved in tennis, to promote tennis, to share this experience. I wanted to have other people experience this."

Dreith's timing proved perfect, as USTA was launching its 1-2-3 teaching programs nationwide. She brought these initiatives to Hawaii, initially offering single free lessons to introduce newcomers to tennis. The immediate popularity led to an expansion into low-cost, six-week beginner group clinics focused on fun, friendship, and accessibility.

Her approach to program development was both practical and ambitious. "I'd approach all the park directors," she explains, "and say, 'Hey, would you like USTA to come into your park and we will provide all the teaching of the tennis classes for you? We'll be in charge of registration. We'll provide all the equipment. We'll hire the coach. We'll do all of the admin for you. All you have to do is give us a permit for your courts.'"

The strategy worked brilliantly. "It just started popping up all over the place," Dreith notes, and the expansion continues today through the rebranded Play and Learn program, spread mostly through word of mouth.

The current scope of Dreith's impact is staggering. Classes operate at approximately 20 sites, primarily public parks, generating more than 10,000 registrations annually according to USTA Hawaii Executive Director Ron Romano. The age range spans from 4 to late 80s, with programming that includes beginner through advanced instruction, competition opportunities, and popular 90-minute drill classes that often fill within 15 minutes of opening registration.

A particularly successful innovation has been the parent-child program, which has encouraged many adults to step into coaching roles to accommodate demand. This approach keeps costs accessible while building stronger community connections around the sport.

Romano credits Dreith's success to her exceptional interpersonal skills. "She makes tennis fun and easy to learn with an emphasis on social, exercise and fun," he explains. "She always has a very positive, can-do attitude, and her positive attitude becomes contagious. We are lucky to have her as part of our team."

Dreith's influence extends beyond recreational programming through her 1999 founding of Kilauea Junior Tennis Club, initially created to develop her own coaching abilities while identifying future instructors and teaching life skills to young players. What began as simple classes evolved into competitive teams, and Kilauea now fields 32 teams with many coached by trained parents.

The program's long-term impact is evident in the personal stories that have emerged. Former students have married each other, raised tennis-playing children of their own, and even followed similar career paths – with three former juniors becoming physical therapists like Dreith's husband.

Looking ahead, Dreith and USTA Hawaii Pacific are preparing for their most ambitious project yet: a world-class tennis and education center on 7 acres in the Ewa by Gentry community, featuring 12 courts and a clubhouse designed to serve as a premier facility for sports, learning, and community gathering.

For Dreith, the work remains deeply personal and mission-driven. "It's all about the mission," she reflects, "to give the gift of tennis. It changes your life socially." The ripple effects continue expanding as parents watch their children discover tennis, often finding themselves drawn to try the sport as well. "It has been really gratifying," she concludes, and the thousands who have discovered tennis through her programs would undoubtedly agree.