Sports Archives - Honolulu Magazine

3 New High-Tech Golf Systems to Help Perfect Your Swing

Brie Thalmann — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 10:00:13 +0000

Photo: Courtesy of Toptracer

Toptracer and Cosmic Drive at Olomana Golf Links

The Windward course is the first on O‘ahu to install the Toptracer Range system, which uses camera sensors to track balls in flight, capturing distance, height, launch angle and speed in real time. Each of the 30 bays has a monitor that lets you tackle virtual courses, play games and compete with friends. The range also offers Cosmic Drive, which employs LED lights and glowing targets and golf balls for fun evening sessions.

41-1801 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Waimānalo, (808) 259-7926, olomanalinks.com, @olomana.golflinks

Photo: Courtesy of Flighted Golf Sim

Flighted Golf Sim

Recently opened in Honolulu, this indoor studio features eight hitting bays—including one in a private party room—outfitted with Foresight Sports simulators that provide instant shot feedback. Opt for driving range or short game settings or play on virtual versions of famous courses. Pro golf instructors are also available for private lessons.

1500 S. King St., (808) 366-1477, flightedgolfsim.com, @flightedgolfsimhawaii

Photo: Courtesy of King Swing

King Swing Hawai‘i

The setup at Central O‘ahu’s newest indoor golf simulator includes a driving range bay and putting green bay powered by Golfzon technology. Along with immediate swing analysis, the system boasts a slew of cool features, including a virtual caddie that offers recommendations, an adjustable swing plate that mimics angled terrain and 250 course options.

99-115 ‘Aiea Heights Drive, Unit 208, ‘Aiea, (808) 888-0014, kingswingsims.com, @kingswingsims

We Tried It: Glow Golf at Olomana Golf Links

Brie Thalmann — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 18:30:42 +0000

Photo: Calvin Alonzo

When we heard that Olomana Golf Links in Waimānalo would be introducing Glow Golf in January, we immediately said, let’s go! Then we remembered that no one on our staff actually golfs, save for the occasional putt-putt game. So we did the next best thing and recruited a friend of the mag (someone who hits the links regularly) to try it out on our behalf. Here’s how it went:

Our Golfer:

Calvin, who was joined by his 17-year-old daughter, a golf novice. “I’ve been a golfer for about seven years. In golf terms, I am a 15 handicap. In layman’s terms, I am your typical weekend warrior, meaning I really only ever have time to play on the weekends. I typically golf once a week. I go to the driving range about once every other week.”

When:

Glow Golf is available Thursday through Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. We went at 6 p.m. on a Friday for a two-hour session.

The Price:

On Thursday, the special price is $35 per hour. All other days, $50 gets you an hourlong session at an individual bay, which can host up to six people. It also includes 70 glow balls. Additional baskets are $10 to $20, depending on size.

The Vibe:

“The environment was raucous and festive—it felt like a club. There was music coming through the PA and occasionally, a DJ would get on the mic to hype up the crowd.”

The Setup:

Out on the range area, glowing targets are staggered at various distances. You can use the Toptracer system to set up virtual games or competitions between multiple players.

The Bays:

“The bay was huge—larger than most driving range bays I’ve been to. Each has its own flat-screen TV, which displays the virtual games being played. It also had a full-size picnic table for dining. The best part is that the entire area is covered.”

The Clubs:

Our golfer brought his own, but the range has a variety of clubs than you can use for free.

The Games:

“We especially enjoyed the Closest to the Pin game. Another fun game was Angry Birds, which is based on the popular video game. The goal was to knock down the structures presented on the game screen. To do so required shots of specific distances and directions.”

The Menu:

Eats include sliders, nachos, veggie skewers, chili dogs and veggie pizza. “The best thing I had was the caprese salad bites.” And the drink menu runs the gamut from beer and hard seltzers to soju, wine and cocktails.

Overall:

“Wonderful staff, great hospitality. Fun family environment.”

Tips:

Snag your bay early. The Friday we were there, the range was fully booked, so you’ll want to reserve your spot online ahead of time.
Save serious driving range practice for the daytime or non-Glow Golf evenings—Sundays through Wednesdays. The Glow Golf lighting makes it a little tricky to see club heads, and the loud music maybe distracting for some.
Go for a great time, and don’t worry about lack of experience. “Go for the entertainment of it. The camaraderie and family bonding time were the highlights of the evening, even with someone such as my daughter, who has no golfing experience at all. In fact, that made it more fun in many ways.”

Olomana Golf Links, 41-1801 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Waimānalo, (808) 259-7926, olomanalinks.com, @olomana.golflinks

Gavin Ball Makes Waves in the Sailing World

Diane Seo — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:00:20 +0000

Photos: James Tomlinson Photography
Photos: James Tomlinson Photography
Photos: James Tomlinson Photography

At the 2024 WASZP Games, an elite sailing competition held in Norway, Gavin Ball surprised the field when he raced to eighth place among 180 competitors in the solo men’s regatta. With his foiling feats, the 21-year-old from Hawai‘i Kai became the first American to break into the top 10 at the world championship event, which started in 2017.

Two months later in October, he partnered with Pearl Lattanzi, also from Honolulu, at the FIV Foil International off the Italian island of Sardinia. Ball and Lattanzi, who herself placed fourth in the women’s division at the WASZP Games, ended up capturing the nation’s trophy event.

Ball’s mother swam competitively in college and his father is a standout paddler and kayaker. But it wasn’t until Ball started sailing at age 12 at the Hawai‘i Kai Boat Club that he found his niche. “I love the water, but I needed the freedom to do what I wanted to do,” he says. “A bunch of my friends had started sailing, so I started and really enjoyed it. It’s so freeing, and the only limit is how far you take it.”

As a high school senior at Mid-Pac, he competed on the sailing team and helped capture the state championship. Two years ago, he decided to pursue the sport professionally, which he says has been exhilarating. “When there’s a breeze that’s just howling, and I have Foo Fighters songs running through my head, I’m just taking in everything and trying to eke every little bit of power out of the boat,” he says. Ultimately, he hopes to make the America’s Cup and SailGP teams—goals he’s steering toward at full speed.

Paris Bound: A Conversation With Volleyball Star Erik Shoji

Diane Seo — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:00:06 +0000

Photo: Courtesy of Erik Shoji

Erik Shoji and four other volleyball standouts with Hawai‘i ties (Micah Christenson, Micah Ma‘a, Taylor Averill and Garrett Muagututia) will be competing with Team USA at the Paris Olympics. It’s a remarkable showing that nearly half of the 12 men selected for the team are connected to the Islands.

It’s Shoji’s third Olympics in the libero role, an accomplishment he describes as “surreal.” Shoji—a former Punahou and Stanford star now playing volleyball professionally in Poland—is the son of legendary University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball coach Dave Shoji, who will be in Paris watching with the rest of the family.

Fellow three-time Olympian Christenson, meanwhile, will represent the 808 as a Kamehameha grad, while Ma‘a hails from Punahou. Averill played for UH from 2012 to 2015, and Muagututia lived in the Islands as a child. While training in California, Erik Shoji chatted about his Olympic journey and Hawai‘i pride.

Does the thrill of Olympic competition diminish, or is it just as exciting as the first time?

There’s not a huge difference between the first time I made the team and the third. I remember heading into my individual meeting with nerves. I felt confident I would make the team, but you never know until the coaches tell you. I get chicken skin when I think about it. It’s an amazing feeling to be at the pinnacle of your sport. There’s so much energy at the Olympics, and I’m excited to have that experience again.

And with so many others from Hawai‘i?

During the last Olympics, it was me, Micah [Christenson] and my brother, Kawika. It’s cool there are four of us now. And actually, I want to include Garrett Muagututia. He spent three years as a kid in the Islands, has many connections to the Islands and is married to a local girl. For me, he’s part of the clan. All this shows Hawai‘i is a volleyball state. I love saying that. I’m so proud representing where we’re from.

You’re already a seasoned pro, so what keeps you going?

My first goal is to win. At 34, it’s tough to compete with 20-year-olds, but I’m still out there to win no matter what competition I’m playing. My second goal is to always be the best player I can be. And my third goal is to represent myself, my family and my state as well as I can, and show people you can be yourself, come from a small island and accomplish great things.

How did Hawai‘i become such a volleyball powerhouse?

It’s part of our culture—it’s who we are and what we do. You see people playing volleyball on the beach, in the gym, the parks. But I’m also going to brag about my father, who had such a successful program since the ’70s. A big part of the volleyball culture in Hawai‘i is the University of Hawai‘i program, and luckily, we had some amazing players who came before us, so now, we’re carrying the torch.

The Summer Olympics take place from July 26 to Aug. 11, with television coverage on NBC. You can follow Erik Shoji on Instagram @erikshoji.

Historical Threads Live on at Old Queen Street Stadium

Brie Thalmann — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 10:00:55 +0000

From left: Chester Sebastian, Kevin Faller, Kevin Sebastian standing on flooring from UH’s Klum Gym and in front of lockers from Aloha Stadium. Photo: Olivier Koning

late-1990s Les Murakami baseball jersey posted on Instagram is what first brought Kevin Faller and Chester Sebastian together. “He kept asking to buy it,” Sebastian recalls. At the time, Faller was curating a monthly vintage market on Queen Street. He invited Sebastian to participate, and soon after added Sebastian’s brother, Kevin, to the roster.

The trio realized that their wares, including old-school jerseys, aloha shirts and high school memorabilia, were actually pieces of Hawai‘i history. Thus in 2021, Old Queen Street Stadium was born—part museum, part vintage boutique—inspired by how stadiums fostered community. “We wanted to create an environment that would bring generations together,” Kevin Sebastian says.

“People generously share their stories and about their families,” Faller says. “We’ve kind of become the guardians of those stories.”

550 Halekauwila St., Suite #301, @hawaiisportsmuseum

Things to Do on O‘ahu in April 2024

Katrina Valcourt — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 10:00:41 +0000

Photo: Jarin Kobashigawa

SPORTS

2024 Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship

Thursday, April 18, to Saturday, April 20

The six Big West teams converge at UH this spring, home turf of the three-time-winning ’Bows, who will be defending their title in the conference championship’s seventh year. Experience the games live at the Stan Sheriff Center’s 10,000-plus-seat SimpliFi Arena or watch live on Spectrum Sports.

SimpliFi Arena, 1355 Lower Campus Rd., bigwest.org

Photo: Credit Preston Meneses

PERFORMANCE

Sasha Colby: Stripped

Friday, April 19, 8 p.m.

The first Native Hawaiian trans woman to win RuPaul’s Drag Race ends her 22-city tour back in Hawai‘i, where you can expect to see what made her a fan favorite all along.

$35.50 and up, Hawai‘i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St., hawaiitheatre.com, @sashacolby

FESTIVAL

2024 Science and Sustainability Festival

Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The return of this annual festival during Earth Month highlights the importance of sustainability in our Islands. Keiki-friendly activities are on tap, with presentations and vendors throughout the day.

$5 admission, Bishop Museum, bishopmuseum.org, @bishopmuseum

CONCERT

2024 Waimānalo Kanikapila

April 20, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Each year, this jam session featuring dozens of performers honors the late Cyril Lani Pahinui, the slack-key guitar master born on April 21, 1950. Admission is free, but you can support the event by purchasing a limited-edition T-shirt featuring a painting of Pahinui by Leohone Magno.

Free, Waimānalo Beach Park, cyrilpahinui.com, @waimanalokanikapila

Photo: Courtesy of Waikīkī Spam Jam

FESTIVAL

Spam Jam

Saturday, April 27, 4 to 10 p.m.

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Spam Jam with a pop-up shop, limited-edition merch, a Spam museum and more. Creative dishes will be available throughout the street festival, with some participants offering Spam dishes at their restaurants a week before and after.

Free admission, Kalākaua Avenue, between Seaside and Lili‘uokalani avenues, spamjamhawaii.com, @waikikispamjam

CONCERT

Lost in Concert With the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra

Saturday, April 27, 7 p.m.

It’s been 20 years since Lost, one of the greatest filmed-in-Hawai‘i TV shows, premiered. As Jack says at the end of season three, “We have to go back!” The show’s composer, Michael Giacchino, will conduct the orchestra, with appearances by special guests.

$19 and up, Hawai‘i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St., hawaiitheatre.com, @hawaiitheatre

Dreams on the Green: Allisen Corpuz on Her Golf Breakthrough

Diane Seo — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:00:26 +0000

Allisen Corpuz at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images and the LPGA Tour

Allisen Corpuz started out like lots of other young athletes in Hawai‘i. Her dentist dad, an avid golfer, taught her to golf as a preschooler, taking her and her older brother out on weekends to hit balls. She wasn’t good at first, but kept practicing, took lessons and started playing competitively. She won local junior tournaments, then excelled nationally. As a standout on Punahou’s golf team, she earned a scholarship to the University of Southern California, where she was a two-time All-American. After graduating, she took a shot at the LPGA’s Qualifying School, gaining membership into the pros for the 2022 season. In her rookie year, she played 24 events, making the cut 17 times and recording three top 10 finishes.

Promising, for sure, but then things spun well beyond even her own imagination.

The 25-year-old made international news this past summer when she captured the U.S. Women’s Open in Pebble Beach, California, one of five major golf tournaments in women’s golf. Along with earning $2 million in prize money, her ranking soared and the golf world turned its lens on her. As of late September, she was No. 9 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Cheered on by Michelle Wie—her idol as a kid—along with fellow Punahou alum Barack Obama, she was heralded as the sport’s newest breakthrough star. “It still feels like it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Corpuz says. “I was just trying to have a good week. It was my first time out at Pebble Beach, and it was the first U.S. Women’s Open to be played there, so there was a lot of excitement. I was just trying to go out there and play well.”

She’s now playing tournaments across the globe, accompanied by her mother, who Corpuz says keeps her comforted with her favorite Korean foods. And despite the onslaught of attention (and scrutiny), she’s staying grounded, focused on playing her best day by day.

Allisen Corpuz is known on the golf course for staying calm and steady, traits that have helped her rise up the ranks. Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images and the LPGA Tour

When relaying her golf story, however, she too marvels at how far she’s come since her small-kid days trying to keep up with her dad on the greens of O‘ahu.

“When I was younger, it was more just like, wow, it would be really cool to do that,” Corpuz says, recalling how she used to watch the action at the annual LPGA event on O‘ahu. “Playing college golf was my first golf dream. I thought it was cool to see all these golfers from Hawai‘i come back from breaks carrying their college golf bags. Then once I went to college and saw a few teammates turn pro, I was like, hey, maybe this is something that I could do as a career.”

Her goal now is to help grow women’s golf. And as the only player from Hawai‘i currently on the LPGA tour, she knows people at home are rooting for her. “I know how much Michelle (Wie) inspired me, so I hope that I can do the same for the future generations,” she says.

Her other big dream: to make the U.S. Olympic team and play at the 2024 Games in Paris. Although the competition will be fierce, it would be foolish to think she won’t earn her place.

@allysoncorpuz

Super Bowl Sunday LVII: Where To Watch the Big Game

Maria Kanai — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 01:35:17 +0000

Waikiki Brewing Company

Enjoy beer specials and themed food items like Kansas City BBQ pork pizza or Philly cheese steaks at Waikīkī Brewing Company’s two Honolulu locations this Sunday. Special menu items depend on the location, so follow their social media for details. Expect first come, first served seating, though bar top reservations can be made with the purchase of a $50 gift certificate (though this cannot be used on Sunday). Reservations can be secured via email; for their Waikīkī location, email manager@waikikibrewing.com, and for their Kaka‘ako location, email manager2@waikikibrewing.com.

Waikīkī Brewing Company, 831 Queen St. or 1945 Kalākaua Ave. waikikibrewing.com, @waikikibrewco

Kuhio Avenue Food Hall

Watch the game on 12 screens and one giant HD big screen in Waikīkī. ESPN Honolulu will be broadcasting live with the Sports Animals and there will be giveaways from Bud Light. There will be food and beverage options—each ticket includes a $20 food and beverage credit. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.

Prices start at $50, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Kuhio Avenue Food Hall, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., Suite #156,

Skybox Taphouse

Celebrate the 57th Super Bowl with special promos and giveaways per quarter. Tickets start at $25. Tickets for the Super Bowl at Skybox Taphouse in Waikīkī are available here.

$25, 12 to 5 p.m., Skybox Taphouse, International Market Place, Grand Lanai, 3rd Floor, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., skyboxtaphouse.com

Stand Up Honolulu

Enjoy a buffet, games, raffles, prizes, music, comedy and poetry at this comedy club. Tickets are $40—limited seating is available. You can purchase tickets at eventbrite.

$40, 12:30 to 5 p.m., Stand Up Honolulu, 575 Cooke St., Suite #E, standuphonolulu.com, @standuphnl

Champs Sports Bar & Grill

Enjoy $15 beer buckets, discounted shots, $8 margaritas, a special Super Bowl menu, raffle prizes and more. A total of $500 cash prizes will be given to the winners who guess the halftime and final score. Raffle prizes include NFL merchandise for both the Chiefs and the Eagles. Purchase tickets here.

10:30 a.m., $15, Champs Sports Bar & Grill, 3457 Waialae Ave., champssportsbarhawaii.com, @champssportsbarwaialae

Photo: Maria Burke

Pint and Jigger

Make a $45 prepaid reservation for reserved seating for the entire game. Tickets include an appetizer and an entrée per person, halftime snacks and sweets. You’ll also receive a raffle ticket per person and additional drink and food specials. Reservation ends one hour after the game. Tickets are available online at Pint and Jigger.

$45 per person, Pint and Jigger, 410 Atkinson Dr., pintandjigger.com, @pintandjigger

604 Ale House

If you have a base pass, join 604 Ale House’s watch party with an all-you-can-eat buffet, four drink tickets, a live DJ, games and giveaways. Tickets are available at eventbrite.

$15 to $25 per person, 12 p.m., Nehelani Banquet and Conference Center, 1249 Kolekole Ave., Schofield Barracks, 604alehouse.com, @604ale_house

Hard Rock Cafe

Registration includes an appetizer, entrée and two drink tickets. Seating is on a first available basis – everyone in party must be present for table to be seated. Additional food & beverage available for purchase. You can purchase tickets online via OpenTable.

$85 per person, Hard Rock Café, 280 Beach Walk, hardrockcafe.com/location/honolulu, @hrchonolulu

Meet the 6 Women Who Made History Competing in The Eddie 2023

Brie Thalmann — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:08:22 +0000

The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational has captivated the world since its first took place in 1984. And while the insanely huge waves and supreme level of skill showcased is always thrilling, what was particularly exciting about this year’s big-wave surfing contest was its inclusion of women in the competitive field for the first time in the event’s history.

Out of the 40 competitors, six were women. All competed together—there were no gender-specific divisions. And of course, we couldn’t help but want to know more about these badass wāhine and hear about how it felt to be part of such an epic moment.

Alms at The Eddie. Photos: Travis Morrin, Amanda Beenen Cantor

Paige Alms

Age: 34
Hometown: Ha‘ikū, Maui
Follow Her: @paigealms, paigealms.com
Born on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Alms moved to Maui at the age of 9 and honed her skills at Ho‘okipa Beach before getting hooked on big waves as a young teen. A two-time World Surfing League (WSL) Big Wave Tour champion, she helped lead the charge for equality in sports by co-founding the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing in 2016, a driving force behind the Honolulu City Council’s 2020 approval of Resolution 20-12, which supports gender equity in professional surfing.

On The Eddie: “It meant the world to me to be included in The Eddie this year. It was a dream come true to surf alongside the guys and to do it on one of if not the biggest and best Eddie that has ever run. It’s just magic! The thing about first times, is it only happens once. So, to be a part of the first one with women included, it will forever be engrained in my memory bank.”

Kennelly at Waimea Bay. Photo: Alana Spencer/Red Bull Content Pool

Keala Kennelly

Age: 44
Hometown: Hanalei, Kaua‘i
Follow Her: @keallakennelly, kealakennelly.com
The list of arenas Kennelly is active in would put any multi-hyphenate to shame. She’s taken on some of the planet’s sickest waves—she broke ground by winning the first women’s big wave contest in 2010 and has multiple trophies from the WSL Pe‘ahi Big Wave Challenge and XXL Big Wave Awards. Kennelly is also a DJ, an actor, clothing and swimwear designer and public speaker. The first openly gay surfer to win a world surfing title, she’s an LGBTQ+ and women’s rights activist, and is a co-founder with Alms of the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing.

Makani Aric at The Eddie 2023 / Photos: Erik Kabik

Makani Adric

Age: 26
Hometown: Hale‘iwa, O‘ahu
Follow Her: @makaniadri
Adric learned to surf at 4 years old and was catching waves on her own on the North Shore, where she grew up and still lives, at 7. She’s been a standout in Red Bull’s Magnitude big-wave competitions, taking home its Runner-Up award in 2021. Enormous swells aren’t the only things she takes down—Adric keeps fit out of the water by dropping competitors to the mat in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions (she boasts a third-degree brown belt in the martial art). And at one point she even helmed her own swimwear line.

On The Eddie: “It was quite a special moment for me to be a part of the first group of women to surf in The Eddie. It was such a humbling experience to be out in the ocean sharing my passion for surfing with only a few other people out.”

“My favorite moment was to see how excited and amazed all these younger kids were to watch the event live in person. It made me so happy to see the reaction on their faces. Hearing all the good words from everyone after the event was finished was really a proud moment for me.”

Moller at Red Bull Magnitude 2022. Photo: Christa Funk / Red Bull Content Pool

Andrea Moller

Age: 43
Hometown: Ilhabela, Brazil
Follow Her: @andreamollermaui
Impressive doesn’t even begin to describe the roles that Andrea Moller is juggling. Along with being a world-class surfer, paddle boarder and outrigger canoe racer, the now-Maui resident is also a mom and a paramedic. Moller landed a place in the Guinness World Records for the largest paddle-in wave surfed by a woman—an insane 42-footer she took on at Jaws in 2016. She’s also won a WSL Best Performance Award and in 2013 founded Ike Moana, an annual event that gives special needs keiki a chance to learn stand-up paddling and spend a day with pro athletes.

Dupont at The Eddie 2023 and surfing Jaws. Photos: Ryan Foley, Fred Pompermayer/Red Bull Content Pool

Justine Dupont

Age: 31
Hometown: Bordeaux, France
Follow Her: @justinedupont33, justinedupont.fr
Known as one of the most versatile all-around professional surfers in the world, this French waterwoman is a master of the shortboard, longboard, tow-board and stand-up paddleboard. She took home her first trophy as national longboard champion at age 15, and has since snagged several gold medals from the ISA World Championship Games and multiple awards from the Red Bull Big Wave Awards and XXL Awards. She’s also passionate about protecting the environment and works to raise awareness about negative effects on oceans.

On The Eddie: “I can tell you that it was an amazing experience to be part of it. It’s a huge honor, specifically as I am not a Hawai‘i resident and I didn’t have a lot of sessions at Waimea Bay. I didn’t approach it at all like a contest but much more like a celebration of big-wave surfing and of the legacy of Eddie [Aikau]. It was amazing to share the lineup with the best guys in the world in conditions like that. I am really thankful to the Aikau family, Liam McNamara and everybody that made it happen. I will remember that day my whole life.”

Erickson at Red Bull Magnitude 2023 at Waimea. Photos: John Hook/Red Bull Content Pool, Alana Spencer/Red Bull Content Pool

Emily Erickson

Age: 33
Hometown: Sunset Beach, O‘ahu
Follow Her: @emi_erickson
“Big Wave Huntress” is how Emi Erickson describes herself on her Instagram page and it’s an apt title. Growing up on O‘ahu’s North Shore as the daughter of a waterman (her father is Roger Erickson, a big-wave surfer who previously competed in The Eddie), the waves were always calling. Once she hit her teens Erickson began answering back, fearlessly chasing larger and larger waves. She’s competed at Pe‘ahi, won the Nelscott Reef Pro in 2019 and took home the trophy for the Best Wave in Red Bull’s 2021 Magnitude big-wave surfing event.

Get Fit in the New Year with These Stylish Hawai‘i Activewear Brands

Brie Thalmann — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 17:48:22 +0000

If you’re reading this post there’s a good chance that your New Year’s resolutions, like mine, include getting in shape in 2023. And for me, getting in the right head space and actually feeling excited about working out requires more than just a can-do attitude—it requires new outfits.

Here’s the math: If you feel good about putting on your workout wear, by proxy you’ll start to feel good about working out. Getting dressed is half the battle. And to help you win that battle, let me introduce you to two up-and-coming local activewear brands whose stylish workout gear has been inspiring me to get up, get out and get going.

Kūmana Activewear

Looks from the Ua Collection / Photos: Zack S. Jr., Courtesy of Kūmana Activewear

While its chic neutral color palette and timeless silhouettes first drew my attention to Kūmana Activewear, I quickly found them to be just the tip of the iceberg when it came to what makes it special.

Native Hawaiian designer Kawehi Leon Guerrero, sees the line as a vehicle for education and environmentalism. “I chose to go into activewear because Native Hawaiians rank among the highest at risk for various health ailments in Hawaiʻi, so I wanted to be part of inspiring the Hawaiian community to live healthy, active lifestyles,” she explains.

Looks from the Wāwāmalu Collection / Photos: Craig Chang, Courtesy of Kūmana Activewear

Each hue in its range is named after an element of Hawaiian culture, thoughtfully explained on the brand’s website: inky black leggings in Pō, for instance, reference night or darkness, as well as the realm of the gods. Select pieces are even printed with Hawaiian proverbs, such as “Uē ka lani, ola ka honua” which translates to “When the sky weeps, the earth lives.”

And the stretchy-yet-supportive, moisture-wicking fabrics are made from sustainable materials, including recycled plastic and bamboo. For Leon Guerrero it’s not just activewear, “it’s activismwear.” kumanaactive.com, @kumanaactive

Love Fitness Apparel

Looks from the Sedona and Terra collections / Photos: courtesy of Love Fitness Apparel

Created by husband-and-wife duo Crystal and Brandon Goode, this Waipahu-based brand has a knack for turning out cool, minimal styles and tropical, hand-drawn prints inspired by Hawai‘i. Launched in 2013 with screen-printed tanks and leggings, the family-run label has since evolved its range to include shorts, sports bras, tops, jackets, sweats and more.

What I really like about Love Fitness Apparel’s designs are the interesting details: the new Bodhi active dress features a playful scalloped hem, while the straps of the Lily sports bra overlap sleekly on one shoulder and the waffled Phaedra hoodie boasts both a cropped drawstring waist and balloon sleeves.

Looks from the Bloom Collection / Photos: courtesy of Love Fitness Apparel

I also appreciate that the label values inclusivity. As a minority-owned brand, it’s important to the Goodes to “fight social beauty stands, environmental challenges and inequality issues,” says Crystal, and to foster a community that shares in those ideals.

Several of Love Fitness Apparel’s styles are sized extra-small to 2Xl or 3XL, and the design team is working to expand all styles to 3XL in 2023. The Goodes also make it a point to feature diverse groups of models in the brand’s photo shoots. “I want individuals to feel empowered, confident and beautiful.” lovefitnessapparel.com, @lovefitnessapparel