Kendama’s rise in the United States did not happen in one city or through one brand. It grew through communities, passionate players, and regions that embraced kendama as more than a toy. Among all of them, Hawai‘i stands as one of the most important places in the history of modern American kendama.
This history continues to shape how brands like Sol Kendamas approach community building, events, and the future of the sport.
Between roughly 2012 and 2015, Hawai‘i experienced one of the largest kendama booms ever seen outside of Japan. Kendamas appeared everywhere across O‘ahu and neighboring islands. Students played before school, after school, at beaches, parks, and shopping centers. For many young players, kendama became part of daily life.
This period was significant because kendama shifted from being viewed as a traditional Japanese toy into something that was social, expressive, and competitive. Players learned together, challenged each other, filmed tricks, and built friendships through play.
Modern American kendama culture still follows this model today. Progression happens fastest when players learn together, not alone.
That philosophy strongly aligns with Sol Kendamas’ core mission since 2014 to grow the kendama community and foster relationships through shared experiences.
Hawai‘i was home to some of the earliest large-scale kendama gatherings in the United States. Public mall events and tournaments drew hundreds and sometimes thousands of participants and spectators. Hawai‘i’s unique connection to Japan allowed direct cultural exchange between traditional Japanese kendama and the emerging style of kendama in America. Brands from all over the world including Japanese professionals regularly traveled to Hawaiian events, exposing local players to high-level performance while American players began experimenting beyond traditional trick lists.
This exchange accelerated innovation and the growth of kendama in the USA.
Events remain the heartbeat of kendama culture, which is why Sol Kendamas continues to host, attend, and sponsor competitions and community meetups globally.
Hawai‘i has produced some of the most influential players in kendama history, many of whom helped push competitive play and trick progression forward worldwide.
Bryson Lee, Sweets Kendamas Pro and 2016 Kendama World Cup Champion, demonstrated that American players could compete and win on the world stage, inspiring an entire generation of competitors. His performance that year blew the world away the world of kendama.
Johnny Kress, formerly a Sweets Kendamas pro and now part of the Erratic Squirrel team, has become one of the strongest competitive players in the United States, known for consistency under pressure in the Pro Open division.
Peter Ramos, previously sponsored by Kendama Co in 2015 and later Sol Kendamas in 2017, helped redefine technical progression. His innovations in kenflips and down whirlwind variations pushed trick difficulty into entirely new territory. Every time you saw a post or clip from Peter, you knew you were about to watch something crazy go down.
Jimmy Covington, a Kendama USA team member and longtime kendama player, continues to actively compete today, qualifying for the 2024 Kendama World Cup and proving the longevity possible within the sport. Holding it down for the OG players from Hawaii.
Among the most groundbreaking players is Micah Segura, who is sponsored by Sol Kendamas and continues to redefine what is physically possible with kendama. Micah has landed numerous never-been-done tricks and holds multiple world records including 11 Whirlwind, Wing 7 Kenflip Wing, Around 7 Inward Whirlwind, Quint Lunar Backflip, and Inward Lunar Quint Backflip. He represents a rare group of original Hawaiian players still actively driving progression today.
These players, along with many others across the islands, helped establish Hawai‘i as one of the most influential regions in modern kendama history.
Hawai‘i also revealed one of kendama’s greatest challenges: retention.
Large popularity waves brought tens of thousands of new players into kendama, but long-term growth required consistent local infrastructure. Without recurring meetups, clubs, and accessible communities, many players eventually drifted away despite initial excitement.
This realization changed how the global kendama community approaches growth today. Sustainable scenes depend on local jams, mentorship, and welcoming environments that allow beginners to stay connected month after month.
Today, Hawai‘i is once again investing in long-term community development. The Hawai‘i Kendama Club based out of O‘ahu is actively cultivating a sustainable local scene through regular meetups, teaching opportunities, and inclusive gatherings for players of all ages and skill levels. Ethan Santiago is one of the founders of the club that is working hard to ensure the growth and sustainability of kendama in his local community, and his efforts alongside other club members are being noticed and appreciated.
Sol Kendamas proudly supports and sponsors these meetups as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening real-world kendama communities.
We believe growth happens when players meet face to face, learn together, and feel welcomed into something larger than themselves.
Kendama’s future will not be built solely through viral videos or product releases. It will grow through people teaching friends, hosting jams, attending events, and creating meaningful experiences together.
Hawai‘i proved that kendama thrives when community comes first.
At Sol Kendamas, that lesson continues to guide everything we do. From supporting grassroots clubs to sponsoring professional players and events worldwide, our goal remains the same as when we started.
Grow the kendama community. Foster relationships. Keep kendama fun.
Whether you are discovering kendama for the first time or returning after years away, picking up a kendama and joining a local session is still the most powerful way to become part of its ongoing story.
