By Emil | KE TEAM Hawaii
Oh, how good it feels to be back…
Back to volleyball. Back on the sand. And, most importantly, back with my volleyball family here in Kona.
It has been about three years since I really played - an unexpected and definitely unplanned break from something that had been such a big part of my life for nearly 20 years.
Volleyball Has Always Been Hard for Me to Give Up
For years, it didn’t really matter what hurt - I played.
Shoulder, knee, back… you name it, I played through it.
I still remember what was most likely a pretty serious tear in my shoulder, barely being able to raise my arm above my head. Yet, I got on a plane to Oregon to play in the Seaside beach volleyball tournament. But giving up and not playing just wasn’t in my vocabulary.
That was how passionate I was about volleyball.
But then life gave me something very different to play through.
An Unexpected Three-Year Break
Around June 2023, while playing in Summer Jam - one of our biggest volleyball tournaments here on the Big Island - I first started feeling that something wasn’t right.
At first, I kept going.
But over the next several months, playing volleyball became harder and harder. Eventually, I physically couldn’t do it anymore.
Months of research, endless doctor appointments, trying to understand why my body seemed to be failing me. I remember the day when the doctor told me, " I'm sorry to inform you, but you have stage four lymphoma."
What followed next were surgeries, chemo treatments, and a completely different kind of fight.
That journey deserves its own story. Someday soon, I will share it in much greater detail. If my experience can encourage even one person, it will be worth telling.
But this story isn't really about my cancer fight...
This one is about getting back to my lifestyle.
Volleyball is a pretty big part of that life.
Back on the Sand in Kailua-Kona
Today, feels amazing to be back on sand at Coconut Grove and surrounded by the Kona volleyball community again.
I’m feeling better than ever, although three years away from the game - along with a few lingering side effects - definitely means I have some work to do.
Taking it easy, fun quads is it for now.
For now I'm rebuilding my strength, getting my timing back, finding my legs again, and hopefully, bringing back my hammer. 😄
The goal is to work my way back toward playing competitive doubles again sometime soon.
I'm not quite there yet.
I'm back. And right now, that feels so good.
Watching My Son Grow Into the Game
One of the coolest parts of coming back to volleyball is seeing how much the game has become part of my son Tim's life too.
Tim pretty much grew up in Hawaii and, in many ways, grew up around volleyball. He was the kid on the sidelines watching Dad play. Then, as he got into his teenage years, he slowly started getting on the court himself - first joining some easy games, learning the game, and just having fun with everyone.
And then, somewhere along the way, the kid got really good. 😄
Before I knew it, we weren't just playing together anymore - we were playing competitively together. And while I was away from the game, he kept getting better... and apparently decided he needed to get taller than Dad too. I'm 6'3", and he's already 6'4", and very proud of it!
He has better hands than I do and can set the ball beautifully. And as much as it pains me to admit, he's probably hitting harder than me already too. 😂
But what makes me most proud isn't just how good he's become. It's seeing how naturally he became part of the same volleyball community that has meant so much to me.
My friends love having him on the court. Guys I've played with for years - including former partners I've won tournaments with - are now playing tournaments and competitive games with Tim. There's something pretty special about watching your son play alongside the same people who were once standing next to you on the court.
I spent years bringing Tim to volleyball.
Now, after my three-year break, sometimes it feels like he's the one bringing me back into it.
And I couldn't be happier about that.
Beach Volleyball at Coconut Grove in Kona
Something else that makes me happy is seeing Coconut Grove volleyball coming alive again.
While I wasn't playing, I never left our volleyball group chats. I watched our community go from having so many players. People would show up early just to get games in, some days barely having enough players to put games together.
Now it feels like things are changing again.
Some familiar players and close friends are back on the island, and great new people have arrived, and our Coconut Grove sand court in Kailua-Kona is busy almost every day.
Our current weekly volleyball schedule generally looks like this:
Monday & Wednesday: Doubles
Tuesday: Kids volleyball practice
Thursday: Women's net
Friday & Sunday: Fun quads
Of course, schedules and groups can change. This is a local community, not a formal volleyball program, so it’s always a good idea to connect with players beforehand.
Or just showing up works too.
Looking for Beach Volleyball in Kona? Reach Out!
If you live on the Big Island, recently moved to Kona, or you're just visiting Hawaii and looking for a good beach volleyball game, don't be shy. Reach out!
I'm always happy to connect volleyball players.
Over the years, I've met so many great players who were vacationing in Kona. Some ended up joining us for casual games, others got connected into competitive doubles, and a few even found their way into some of our bigger tournaments.
And it doesn't stop with the Big Island.
After playing the Dino Tournament on Kauai for about 10 consecutive years, along with tournaments and games throughout Hawaii, I've been fortunate to make volleyball friends on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, and the mainland.
That's one of my favorite things about this sport.
You can travel somewhere, know almost no one, find a volleyball court, and suddenly have friends.
That's the power of the volleyball community.
It Really Is Good to Be Back
Three years ago, I didn't know when, or honestly, if, I would be back doing this again.
Today, I'm back on the sand.
I'm playing.
I'm laughing.
I'm reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones.
And I'm getting stronger one game at a time.
So yes…
It is really, really good to be back.
And if you're looking for beach volleyball in Kona, Kailua-Kona or elsewhere in Hawaii, reach out. Whether you're looking for a fun quads game, competitive doubles, local tournaments or simply some good people to play with, I'm always happy to help make the connection.
See you on the sand!
Emil Knysh | KE Team | Keauhou Volleyball Association
