MidWeek » On the Move

Yu Shing Ting

Safe and Drug Free School and Olomana School present the 10th annual Hawaii High School Bench Press Contest and the Mr. and Miss High School Body Building Championships March 9 at the Ward Warehouse stage.

“Our goal is to give kids an opportunity to showcase what they can do,” says event creator Daniel Suzuki, teacher in charge at Olomana School Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. “I like to give kids opportunities in positive activities, and weightlifting is one of those things that can help build self-esteem, and anybody can engage in and get better at.

“Also, weightlifting is a popular PE elective offered, and having a competition gives these kids something to work for. Without it, it’s like practicing with no game. It’s no fun. And I think that’s what our kids need.”

Last year’s Mr. High School winner Elijah “Kala” McShane has since graduated from Saint Louis School but continues to train and compete. He also won Saint Louis School’s Mr. Crusader contest three years in a row.

“I really want to turn pro, hopefully in the next three or four years,” says McShane, who attends Honolulu Community College and works at GNC. “Bodybuilding is my life. It’s hard work every day. If you screw up one little meal, you can screw up your look. And that’s what I like about it, that there isn’t anybody except me. I’m holding all the stress on myself. Yeah, there are coaches who help me, but when you get on the stage, there isn’t anybody but you and your competitors.”

McShane, whose coaches are AD Cherry and Kristie Borja, trains at Power House Gym in Pearl Kai six days a week. He’s also training people, including some who are competing in this year’s Mr. High School contest.

“When I was a freshman, there was a senior, Marcus Kimura, he was really big and he helped me train,” says McShane. “He’s the whole reason why I got started in bodybuilding and then I just made it my goal.

“Now, bodybuilding is what I do and promote all day. I think everybody should be into a sport like this, or just health and fitness because health and fitness is what Hawaii needs.”

The Hawaii High School Bench Press Contest and Mr. and Miss High School Body Building Championships are open to students from any high school statewide, public or private. There is no cost to enter, and forms are available through school PE teachers, or call Suzuki at 266-7870. Deadline to enter is March 2.

The Bench Press contest takes place at 5 p.m. Each lifter will be given three attempts, and the Wilks Formula will be used to determine the winners in each division.

The Mr. and Miss High School Body Building Championship begins at about 7:15 p.m., and all contestants must have a 1 minute and 30 second posing routine to music. The top four finishers for Mr. High School and the top two for Miss High School will receive trophies.

High School Bodybuilders Amaze

Yu Shing Ting

A painful abscess on the back of the author’s thigh. Nathalie Walker photo nwalker@midweek.com

Pop quiz: What caused the big, red, swollen bump on my right thigh pictured here?

A) spider bite B) pimple C) bee sting D) nobody knows Answer: D We all have our good weeks and then we have our bad weeks.

Two weeks ago my best friend got married awesome!

Last week, my gung gung passed away, then the next day I learned my doctor (Dr. Christian Boyens in Kailua) also died.

A good friend of mine was admitted into the hospital for heart failure (but is recovering) and, of course, we lost music icon Whitney Houston (who I grew up listening to).

The week was not starting so good. Then I was admitted to the ER for what turned into the most painful experience of my life (and I have two kids, including one who after 20 hours of pushing, eventually arrived via C-section).

So what is this big red bump on my leg?

“It’s an abscess, which is a pocket of infection (and happens when bacteria gets trapped under the skin and grows),” says Dr. Samantha Streater Bamber, who along with the nurses at Castle Medical Center’s ER took great care of me.

“It could’ve been either a cut on the skin or a mosquito bite that got infected, and what happens is the body walls off the infection from the rest of the body (with puss) and there’s the cellulitus, which is a skin infection, and that’s what makes it red and warm.”

Bamber says an abscess can occur with a number of things, such as an insect bite, ingrown hair, blocked oil gland, pimple, cyst or a puncture wound. That’s why it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of my infection.

After two shots of numbing medication and a shot of morphine, the doctor made an incision and drained the abscess while I screamed and cried into a pillow. It really was that painful.

I share this because I hope no one ever has to go through what I experienced. But, unfortunately, people will, as it’s a pretty common sight in the ER.

“I see two or three cases a day during my shift,” says Bamber. “It’s rampant in Hawaii. I’m not sure if it’s the climate or the bacteria that lives here. I’m from New York, and we didn’t see it half as much as I see it here.”

Now, for the worst part. According to Bamber, there’s nothing you can do to prevent this from happening. “It doesn’t matter (if you have good hygiene or a clean house), these infections are caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant staph aureus) bacteria,” she says.

MRSA can spread quickly throughout your body, so for any signs of a possible skin infection you should see a doctor right away before it gets worse.

My nurse told me that if I didn’t have the abscess drained and my infection treated (with antibiotics), it could’ve spread to other organs and parts of my body, and even lead to a sepsis, which can be fatal.

Yes, bacteria is everywhere, including on our bodies, and there’s nothing we can do about that.

But it’s still a good idea to keep life clean and simple practice proper handwashing; wipe down gym equipment before and after each use; de-clutter to minimize hiding places for uninvited critters; cough, sneeze and blow your nose into a tissue and throw it away immediately, and avoid sharing utensils, cups and dishes with other people.

Oh, I also was admitted to the hospital a second day for vomitting from my medications.

Hopefully next week will be a better week.

A Painful, Mysterious Infection

Yu Shing Ting

Summer Harrison. Photo by Kira Fox

Sixteen-year-old Summer Harrison of Kaimuki is one step closer to her dream – becoming an Olympian.

With a time of 1 minute and 1.25 seconds in the 100-meter butterfly at the Senior Sectionals in Seattle earlier this month, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which start in late June in Omaha.

“When I saw that I made it, it was such a surreal moment,” recalls Harrison, a sophomore at Mid-Pacific Institute. “The moment I touched the wall and looked up at the scoreboard, I was just so happy. It’s everything I ever really wanted. I always wanted to reach that level, and I wouldn’t have done it without my coaches and team.

“And I would love to make the Olympics – that would be the ultimate goal.”

Harrison was born on Maui, and then moved to Kaua’i, Florida and California (for her father’s job), before returning to Hawaii where she’s been for the last seven years.

As a small child, she loved being in the water, learned to swim at age 2 and started competing at 8. Her parents, Sean and Shannon, swam for Long Beach State, and often spent family-time at the pool. “Swimming has always been a part of my life,” says Harrison, who has an 11-year-old sister, Sophi. “I tried many other sports, but I just loved swimming.”

Harrison, who previously swam for Punahou Aquatics and Rainbow Aquatics, is on the swim team for her school and for Kamehameha Swim Club. Her main events are the 100-meter butterfly, the 100-meter freestyle and the 50-meter freestyle.

You can find her in the pool Monday through Friday after school for two-and-a-half hours, and on Saturdays for three hours.

“I really enjoy going to the swim meets,” she adds. “I enjoy racing and making those cuts for higher swim meets. And it’s just so much fun.

“For college, I would love to go somewhere in California because that’s close to where some of my family is. USC would be cool.”

An A-student in school, Harrison also plays the piano and enjoys surfing. She holds the Hawaii state record for the short-course 100-meter butterfly (previously held by Kathy Shipman for 32 years!), and the long-course 100-meter butterfly (also previously held by Shipman).

“The qualifying time (1 minute 1.99 seconds) that has to be achieved to qualify for the Olympic Trials is really difficult,” notes Kevin Flanagan, who is the co-head coach at Kamehameha Swim Club with brother John. “To qualify is a huge accomplishment. Summer is just a really happy, loving kid. The time she spends training, she always has a smile on her face.”

One Stroke Closer To Olympic Goal

Yu Shing Ting

Editors’s note: For more on Mariska Hargitay and her foundation, see the cover story here

Like Lilo (from Lilo and Stitch) says, ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind.

That message also holds true for the folks at the Joyful Heart Foundation, who in partnership with the Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund recently launched a statewide public awareness campaign called One Strong Ohana.

But ohana to them means more than just your immediate family. It includes your friends, neighbors, co-workers, teachers, community members and more.

“We learned through statewide focus group testing how important the concept of ohana is in communities across Hawaii,” explains Mariska Hargitay, founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation. “We know that it resonates strongly because we truly believe that we are all part of one larger family and can help prevent child abuse and neglect by supporting one another.”

In working to engage the community in preventing child abuse and neglect, the Joyful Heart Foundation and the Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund conducted its own statewide research to see where communities stood on their level of concern, their level of awareness and their attitudes and beliefs about these issues.

The results, from a 15-minute telephone survey conducted among 700 residents statewide, ages 18 and over in the summer of 2010):

* 80 percent of Hawaii residents think child abuse and neglect is a major problem in society.

* Nearly 40 percent of residents know a victim of child abuse (and 9 percent disclosed being victimized themselves).

* Two-thirds of residents say it is difficult to identify the signs of abuse.

* Almost half of those polled believe that children can do things to prevent abuse.

* Nearly a third of residents expressed that they were reluctant to get involved because it was “none of their business.”

“The research demonstrates we have a real opportunity with this campaign to educate the public and tap into the value system that is so much a part of the unique culture in Hawaii – that “we are all one ohana,” says Hargitay. “So we rolled up our sleeves, with more than $1 million invested by the Trust Fund, AIDIA STUDIO and Bennett Group – our creative team, as well as dozens of community providers to develop the creative for the public awareness campaign. It was important to us that it was hopeful, strengths-based and local.”

The campaign takes a comprehensive approach, integrating TV, radio and print public service announcements, online communications with a website and social media presence, as well as hundreds of thousands of tip cards and posters displayed throughout Hawaii.

Some things you can do:

* Reach out to parents you know to help them see that they are not alone.

* Commend parents on the things they do well to give them confidence and focus on positive child rearing.

* If you notice anything unusual in a family you know, ask them about it and let them know you are here to help.

* Share your own struggles with raising children. It is easier to handle and laugh about your own challenges with someone who has been there before.

Also, Friends of the Children’s Justice Centers of Hawaii is accepting donations of the following new items: fleece blankets, bath towels, pillows and pillow-cases, T-shirts of all sizes and backpacks to benefit the children served by the Children’s Justice Center of Oahu. Donations can be dropped off at Whole Foods Market Kahala starting April 1. Hawaii’s Children’s Justice Centers are programs of the Hawaii State Judiciary and bring together a multidisciplinary team of professionals who coordinate their activities and investigations of child abuse and neglect. On average, the centers see approximately 1,300 children per year.

For more information, visit onestrongohana.com.

One Strong Ohana Offers Help

Yu Shing Ting

Charlie Castro. Photo courtesy Salsa No Ka Oi

Eleven years ago Charlie Castro injured his ankle while playing basketball and has since rebounded through a passion for salsa dancing.

“After I got injured, my mom saw salsa lessons in the newspaper and told me I should get into my heritage,” recalls Castro, who is Hawaiian, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and German. “Because of my injury, I was looking for a low-impact exercise to stay in shape, so I signed up, went to my first class and loved it.

“It’s fun and you get to meet a lot of people from all walks of life.”

The 1989 Saint Louis School graduate, who works as a mail carrier, spends much of his time off dancing, and even teaches it as president of Salsa No Ka Oi.

Castro, who was born and raised in Kapahulu, says those who knew him when he was younger would probably be surprised to see him as a dance instructor.

“I was a typical local boy who played sports and went to the beach,” explains Castro. “And I was pretty shy.”

Now he’s teaching others how to move their bodies, with students, male and female, ranging in age from their teens to their 70s.

“We teach salsa and bachata on a weekly basis,” notes Castro, 41. “But we also do other types of Latin dances throughout the year, such as cha cha, meringue and mambo. I’m constantly learning. I’ll go to the Mainland or fly instructors in for workshops.

“I believe anybody can do it. My teaching theory is if you can walk, you can dance.”

And with the return of the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars on ABC, Castro says there usually is a spike in interest for dancing.

“Classes do fill up a lot more when something like that is going on,” he says. “But I think people are not just looking to dance, but for something fun to do.”

Castro created Salsa No Ka Oi seven years ago after his instructor moved to the Mainland.

Classes are held Sundays at 6 p.m. (beginner and intermediate) and 7 p.m. (advanced), and from 8 to 10 p.m. is a dance social. There’s also a bachata class Thursdays at 8 p.m.

Cost is $12 for a single class, $40 for a four-class card and $80 for a 10-class card.

Salsa No Ka Oi meets at the Dream to Dance Studio located off Ala Moana Boulevard at 661 Auahi St.

visit salsanokaoi.com.

Hot Salsa On The Dance Floor

Yu Shing Ting

Students perform the ‘reverse warrior’ move. Photo courtesy CorePower Yoga

CorePower Yoga has opened its first Hawaii studio at Kahala Mall, offering yoga classes to help you feel physically stronger and healthier.

“CorePower is a style of yoga that was created by our CEO Trevor Tice,” explains studio manager Zoe Pappas. “He took what he really loved about Bikram and Ashtanga yoga, and he also looked into Iyengar and most importantly Power yoga, and he took those styles of yoga and combined them into what we call CorePower Yoga.

“It’s basically a sequence, so you start with a great warmup, and then you’re toning the entire body (upper, lower and most importantly the core), and at the end is a great cool down and stretching.”

There are classes for beginners to the most advanced yogi. Also offered are HPF (hot power fusion) yoga and a sculpt class (yoga with handheld weights).

Free classes are available Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and Mondays at 8:45 p.m. First-time students also can sign-up for a free week of unlimited yoga.

“We believe in free yoga because we want people to just try it out,” says Pappas. “Some people are afraid of the financial commitment, and we want people to not have to feel like thay have to spend an arm and a leg. We also believe that in giving you receive.

“CorePower is power yoga – you are going to sweat and get your heart going, but we also tell people that if it’s too much, to take a break. For me, yoga just helps clear my mind. I can be away from my life for an hour and not think about anything else.”

The spacious and noticeably clean studio can fit 75 mats, and has locker rooms with six showers for women and four showers for men.

Mat and towel rentals also are offered. One regular CorePower Yoga class is $20. Discounted multi-class packages are available, as well as monthly and yearly memberships. Discounts are offered to students, seniors (age 55 and above), full-time school and yoga teachers, and military.

At Kahala Mall, CorePower Yoga is located outside of the mall near Kahala Barber and Young Laundry. For more information, call 738-9642.

Getting To The Core Of Yoga Practice

Yu Shing Ting

Caprice Willard at Macy’s Ala Moana. Yu Shing Ting photo

Chances are you may know someone like this, or maybe it’s you – after all that dieting and exercising, you’ve lost the weight but still sport the same clothes as before, which are now way too big for you. After any weight loss, it’s common for people to comment on how great you look, but it’s probably not as easy for them to say that your clothes don’t look good on you.

“I can relate to someone who loses a lot of weight and doesn’t want to invest in a whole new wardrobe right away,” says Caprice Willard, vice president/regional planning manager for women’s apparel for Macy’s and featured buyer/judge on NBC’s Fashion Star. “To me, that is when accessories come into play, and I’m a firm advocate of getting things altered as opposed to buying a whole new wardrobe until you hit your goal.

“But I also feel you’ve got to celebrate the little successes as you’re going, and buy a couple of cute pieces that will allow your wardrobe to move forward.”

Willard, who was in Hawaii last week on business, shares how she weighed 20 pounds more in college than she does now. “I was short and chunky, and didn’t feel great with my body,” she recalls. “But it wasn’t so much how much I weighed but more because I didn’t have a good understanding of what worked for my body and what to wear.”

An active teenager who was into dancing and cheerleading, Willard says she stopped working out in college because she didn’t have the time. So, upon graduation she joined a gym and eventually incorporated exercise into her daily regimen.

“I started seeing results and started eating healthier, and then I got a buddy, a friend at Macy’s, who had a weight-loss goal as well, and we worked out together and ate lunch together every day so we didn’t get off track, and then it became a lifestyle,” she says. “Yes, there’s a fitness thing and I like being able to wear the clothes in my closet, but for me it’s also a mindset that it’s my 30 minutes to be one with me, and that’s so important regardless of how busy you are.”

Some other fashion tips from Willard:

* For a petite person, just because they make it in your size doesn’t mean you are meant to wear it. “Often a wide-leg pants just isn’t as flattering on a petite person because you don’t have that leg span to really warrant all of that fabric flapping around,” she explains. “I’m also not a big advocate of high-waisted pants or even skirts because, again, the proportions. They made it in your size but that doesn’t change the fact the distance is just not there like on an average-size person. On the flip side I would say don’t be afraid of long things like maxi dresses or maxi skirts, those look fantastic on a petite person.”

* For tall people, don’t be afraid to wear heels. “If I did learn anything from Elle Macpherson, it’s that tall people get to wear heels too, and it looks great on them,” she says.

* Don’t wear something just because it’s a hot trend. “I think that’s the biggest fashion mistake people make,” she says. “Seeing something in the magazine doesn’t mean you’re meant to wear it. If you’re a curvy, short girl like I am, and gauchos came back in style for two hot seconds – I didn’t wear it the first time they were in and I wouldn’t wear them now.

“I really feel people should embrace their body whatever it is. If you’re tall or short, if you have 5 pounds to lose or gain, just embrace where you’re at today and then work toward what it is you want to be.”

Fashion Star (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC) also features supermodel host Elle Macpherson, celebrity mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie and John Varvatos, and buyers/judges Nicole Christie of H&M and Terron Schaefer of Saks Fifth Avenue. On the show, 14 unknown designers compete for the chance to win a multimillion-dollar prize to launch their collections in three of America’s largest retailers, Macy’s, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Choose Clothes To Fit Your Body

Yu Shing Ting

Local running legend Jonathan Lyau hosts the fourth annual Aloha Cross Country Camp July 25 to 29 at Camp Erdman offering education and motivation for incoming eighth- to 12th-graders who are interested in cross country. Graduated seniors who are interested in running cross country in college also are welcome.

“Cross country is one of the first fall sports in the school year, so the kids should already be preparing for it in the summer,” explains Lyau, who also is assistant coach for Iolani School’s cross country team, head coach for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training and owner of Personal Best Training.

“We have seminars from different professionals covering topics such as training philosophy, nutrition, injury prevention, form, strength training, visualization and picking the right equipment.

We have a professional athlete speaking as well. Also, a lot of our staff and speakers are former high school and collegiate runners currently coaching at various schools.”

There also will be a range of activities, including games, campfires, swimming and fun workouts.

“(A great runner is made) by becoming a student of the sport,” says Lyau. “Learn about the sport and become a fan of it. You also need to train smart, stay motivated and stay injury free. If you have natural ability but are missing one of the other ingredients, then someone of lesser ability with all the qualities can achieve greater success.”

Lyau started running as a sophomore at McKinley High School after seeing a notice in the school paper for the cross country team. He went on to become the Hawaii state high school track champion (for the 3,200m in 1982), and later dominated the local running scene for almost two decades.

On record, he was the top local-born finisher at the Honolulu Marathon from 1993 to 2004 and again from 2006 to 2009. He also won the popular Great Aloha Run in 1994 and 2002, and was inducted into the Honolulu Marathon Hall of Fame in 2009.

More recently, he took some time off from racing after recovering from a torn meniscus in his knee in 2011.

“I’ve been conditioning throughout the last year and feeling stronger, but I took my time and listened to my doctor,” says Lyau, noting that runners often make the mistake of returning too early from an injury. “I realized that my body weakened and had to build back my running muscles. I had to let my body fully heal, and do proper strengthening.”

Other common mistakes runners make, adds Lyau, are running in the wrong type of shoes, being too aggressive in your training, and not giving your body time to adapt or allowing sufficient time to recover.

“Probably the most important thing to prevent injury is selecting the right shoe to match your stride and foot plant,” he explains. “Also, a lot of times they’ll race their workout even when it should be easy.

“And many underestimate the importance of the base training period, which is the time your muscles and joints get used to the stresses of running with lots of easy runs with a few short non-stressful fast run drills. A bigger base equals bigger peak.”

Cost for the camp is $329 and includes food, lodging, seminars and all activities, T-shirt and goody bag. Space is limited.

For more information, call 277-8777, email alohaoutdoorsports@yahoo.com or visit alohacrosscountrycamp.com.

A Cross Country Camp For Teens

Yu Shing Ting

One of the things I wish I learned in school is how to cook. Back then most of my meals were made by my mom, who is a great cook (the kind whose recipes are all in her head). But these days, I’m the one trying to figure out what to eat. And as a mother of two young children, I feel guilty going to too many fast food restaurants or heating up microwavable meals for dinner.

At Puohala Elementary School in Kaneohe last week, a group of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders were taught how to make a Super Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Chipotle Aioli dipping sauce by Racey Biven, owner/chef of Native Feast Catering.

The after-school lesson was sponsored by the Junior League of Honolulu’s Kids in the Kitchen program, which is held twice a year and meets once a week for four weeks.

“We want to teach kids healthy eating habits,” says Bernice Balete, co-chairwoman of Kids in the Kitchen. “And then we encourage the kids to go home and teach their parents what they learned and to promote healthy eating habits at home.

“Nationwide, the childhood obesity rate is on the rise, and in our schools, eating healthy doesn’t seem to be as big of a priority as it should be.”

According to the Junior League, the Kids in the Kitchen initiative was created in response to the alarming statistic that nearly one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or at risk of becoming over-weight. In addition, childhood obesity has been shown to be the leading cause of pediatric hyper-tension, and is associated with Type II diabetes, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem and affects relationships with peers.

Diane Peters, a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Puohala who hosted the program in her classroom, also served as chef for one of the sessions, teaching the kids to make lean turkey meatball spaghetti and a garden salad.

“The children are so excited to come, and they say they wish it could go all year long,” says Peters. “Also, they’ve told me that they go home and cook for their families. We’re just trying to provide them with healthier alternatives and things they can prepare by themselves.”

Other guest chefs included Mrs. America Lara Leimana Fonoimoana, who made chicken breast tacos, and Pat Gamble of L.H. Gamble Co., who made English muffin mini pizzas with tomatoes and low-fat mozzarella, as well as bananas rolled in orange juice and then coconut flakes for a sweeter option.

Last semester, chef Russell Siu showed the kids how to make chicken quesadillas with homemade salsa, Dean Okimoto of ‘Nalo Farms shared homemade salad dressings, and chef Rodney Uyehara served gnocchi.

Promoting Healthy Eating To Kids

Yu Shing Ting

Miss MMA Hawaii Leslie Kaleiwahea. Photo by Robert Tolentino, courtesy Leslie Kaleiwahea

Leslie Kaleiwahea of Aiea started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu about five years ago, and says she fell in love with the sport as soon as she hit the mat.

Now she has a blue belt in jiu-jitsu, holds the title of Miss MMA Hawaii 2011 and works as a personal and professional trainer at the new UFC Gym BJ Penn in Kakaako.

She also has a background in boxing, and grew up playing sports, particularly soccer and basketball.

“All my life I’ve been an athlete,” says Kaleiwahea, a 2003 Pearl City High School graduate. “And then I started boxing when I was 18. It was something different, and I had a good friend who was in boxing and kickboxing. I liked the cardio workout and the self-defense training.”

For jiu-jitsu, she first trained at BJ Penn’s gym in Hilo and then at Gracie Barra when she moved back to Oahu in 2008.

“I’m competitive, and martial arts is a tool to help me be disciplined and to have self-control,” she says. “My goal and passion is to be a trainer and to instill what I’ve learned from my coaches (including coach Leandro Nyza) to my clients.”

At the upcoming Big Boys Toys & MMA Hawaii Expo June 15-17 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, Kaleiwahea’s reign as Miss MMA Hawaii will come to an end. Those interested in competing for the 2012 title can still enter. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. June 1. The contest is open to females age 18 and above, and contestants will be judged on their outfit, beauty, physical fitness, energy and audience applause.

The expo also will host a Hot Import Model, GoGo Dance, Lingerie, Bikini and Big Boys Best Crew Battle contests. The winner of each category will take home $500 in cash and prizes.

There also will be live MMA cage fights, a jiu-jitsu tournament, an auto showcase featuring some of the most tricked-out custom cars and bikes from around the Islands, and more than 100 vendors with clothing, products and services for the active lifestyle. For more information, visit bigboystoysmmaexpo.com, email valen@hpelive.com or call 391-6317.

Time To Crown A New Miss MMA

Yu Shing Ting

Aloha Beach Volleyball volunteer coaches Jordan and Rusti Cripps, Dennis Le, Kaydee Yukawa, Chase and Shea Suzumoto, Kelli Yoshimura, Bert Hayashi, Perlas Bardouche, Keoki Shupe and Diana McKibbin. Photo from Rod Suzumoto

Rod Suzumoto and Diana McKibbin wanted to spike some interest in the sport of volleyball, particularly beach volleyball and with children, so they partnered up to launch Aloha Beach Volleyball earlier this year. The group meets on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Maili Beach Park, and is open to youths age 7 to 17 of all skill levels, though anyone is invited to join.

About 25 to 40 participants have been showing up for their events, along with a great support team of volunteer coaches including those pictured here.

After many years of coaching volleyball, including 15 at Punahou School, McKibbin has always wanted to give back to the community.

“It’s something that has been tugging at my heart, to work with underprivileged kids who don’t have the support financially or from family,” she says.

The City and County provides permits for the group to set up its nets at the park, and Suzumoto says they hope to eventually transition from grass to the sand and maybe even one day have sand courts at Maili Beach.

“We created this program to provide an affordable and sustainable physical fitness program using beach volleyball as one of our activities for the children to fight child obesity and other health-related concerns for the Leeward communities,” adds Suzumoto. “We provide basic volleyball skills training, and our goal is to ensure everyone has fun while learning and exercising.”

Suzumoto’s 19-year-old son Chase, who serves as co-director, says the program has been rewarding for not only the children, but for the volunteers too. “I just enjoy seeing how the kids look forward to coming and seeing them develop not only as volleyball players but as individuals,” he says. “It’s a good feeling to see them coming back and enjoying it, and hopefully we can continue to give back to the community and the volleyball world.”

For more information, visit the Aloha Beach Volleyball Club Facebook page.

A Leeward Beach League For Kids

Yu Shing Ting

Family and friends of Skyler Kamaka are used to seeing the 21-year-old in athletic wear and with no makeup. But now, they'll have to get used to seeing the newly crowned Miss Hawaii in a more glamorous way. A recent graduate of Concordia University in Portland, where she received a B.S. in exercise and sport science with a minor in coaching and was a star volleyball player, Kamaka wanted to pursue a master's in education and decided to run in the Miss Hawaii pageant for its scholarships. She was crowned Miss Diamond Head earlier in the year, which earned her a spot in the Miss Hawaii pageant, and in January she will compete for Miss America. "I'm just really honored to be a part of the Miss America Organization and to use my crown kind of as a megaphone to advocate the things I care about like health and fitness," explains Kamaka, a 2008 graduate of Kamehameha Schools. "I want to educate people on how to take care of themselves and give them daily tips on what they can do to live a healthier lifestyle." Kamaka, who was born and raised in Kaneohe, also has a background in dance, starting with hula at age 5 and then adding jazz, tap, ballet and hip-hop. Then, when she was 12, her grandparents took her to a UH Wahine volleyball game, and she instantly fell in love with the sport. "My heroes at that time were Lily Kahumoku and Kim Willoughby," she recalls. She started by joining Jammers Volleyball Club and would go on to have a successful volleyball career, including an appearance in the Junior Olympics for six consecutive years, and winning three league titles and two state championships at Kamehameha. At Concordia, Kamaka was a starting setter and captain as a freshman, a Cascade Collegiate Conference all-conference setter and MVP, and is ranked No. 5 on the school's all-time list with 1,913 assists, and finished among the top 10 in school history in sets and games played. "My mom always pushed me to be active and be who I am," notes Kamaka. "She raised me as a single parent, and it was very important for her to instill in me self-confidence and being self-motivated as well. With volleyball I like the team bonding part of it. Your teammates become your family, and for me that was huge because I didn't have siblings growing up." A self-proclaimed jock, Kamaka used to spend a lot of time working out in the gym and playing volleyball, which resulted in a muscular, athletic body. But in the last few months leading up to the Miss Hawaii pageant, she modified her workouts and diet, and managed to lose 10 pounds and showed off a much leaner body. "My biggest problem is I eat like an athlete," she says. "I've always had this athletic mentality where you have to eat so many calories and load up on your carbs because you're working out so hard. I was so bulky and athletic, and I would just eat all the time, so in preparing for the pageant I had to train myself to eat smaller portions and do different types of work-outs, such as more functional movements. "In volleyball, it's all about legs, so I had really big, muscular legs, big thighs, big butt and big hamstrings. It's all about explosive power, some core and, of course, back and arms. So, for the pageant, I had to tone down on the arms and legs, and work on my core a lot more. It was a total body transformation, and I definitely had to work hard at it. But I think it helped that I had all those years of muscle build-up and that knowledge of lifting, so I could make that transition easily." Kamaka, who stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, also incorporated yoga, as well as workouts with Brandon Akamime at Strength and Conditioning Fitness Academy on Ward Avenue. Her career goal is to teach health and fitness, and coach volleyball. "The biggest secret (to being healthy and fit) is diet," she notes. "No matter how much you work out, it's really about how you fuel your body and what you're doing to your body on the inside. I love to eat. I love local food, and when I went to Concordia I learned about kinesiology and then the nutrition aspect of sports and how you eat certain foods so your body works properly. I think it's really important that we share that message with the community because there's a lot of misconception out there, like that you can drink a shake and lose 10 pounds. It's really just about your daily habits and the way you eat, and encouraging people to get out there and be active."

An Exercise And Proper Diet Payoff

Yu Shing Ting

For her 50th birthday, Lori McCarney of East Oahu decided to do a triathlon. Since then, the senior vice president at Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties and mother of three, who is now 58, has not slowed down one bit. In 2009, she qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, but as she crawled toward the finish line during the final marathon portion of the event, time ran out at midnight with just half-a-mile more to the finish. Not one to give up, McCarney hopes to give it another try and needs the public's help. She's competing against 14 others from around the world in an online contest where the two with the most votes receive an invitation to compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kona in October. Vote at konainspired.com through July 18. The grueling Ironman competition consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run. McCarney tried to qualify for the 2012 event through a few Ironman events but came up short, finishing third in her age group in one race and second in two others (she needed to finish first). "I got into triathlons because I was an older mom and I wanted to do something to stay active so I could continue to be part of my kids' life," recalls McCarney. "Now, my motivation is that it feels good to be fit at my age. I feel better now than I did when I was 30. Also, the support network and friends, the community that you do it with, I really enjoy participating in this with other people. "I'm also very goal-oriented. And I just feel vital. I can relate to my (twin) boys who are 23. I can do things with my son who is 17. I just feel capable and able. That's nice, and that goes back to my original goal."

Vote To Send Lori To The Ironman

Yu Shing Ting

In 2009, Christine Gardner entered the Paradise Cup figure competition so that she could cross it off her bucket list. She ended up winning, and has been competing regularly in various figure competitions ever since. "It was something I wanted to do before I was 30, but I was already 33 and decided it was time," she recalls. "When I first started I just wanted to do one contest. Now, I'm taking it one contest at a time." This week, she'll fly to Las Vegas to compete in the National Physique Committee USA Bodybuilding Championships July 27-28 at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. It's an IFBB Pro Qualifier event, and she hopes to not only do well but also earn her pro card. A 1994 graduate of Aiea High School, Gardner works as a hair and makeup artist and is the owner of Flaunt Makeovers. She also keeps busy taking care of her five dogs, and designs accessories and bridal hairpieces for her Attached hairpiece line. She works out at 24 Hour Fitness and in preparing for the upcoming USAs has added private pilates classes at HI Performance Pilates, TRX, outdoor incline sprints, and occasional swims in the ocean ,and hikes. "Also, one of my main focuses in preparing for the competition this year is knowing that my mom, who just passed away in January, is going to be shining down on me," she says. "When she passed away I was completely lost and had to refocus my thoughts and be reminded that she is always with me." Gardner also credits boyfriend and workout partner Jake Woolley for keeping her on track in and out of the gym. "Having a partner to train with really helps, especially with dieting because he eats the same food," she says. When she's gearing up for a competition, Gardner is in the gym six days a week, and then twice a day when it's 12 to 16 weeks out. She eats six meals a day, including a post-workout protein shake. "The biggest thing for me is that because of my job I'm always on the go, so I would go to places that were convenient like McDonald's or any drive-thru," says Gardner. "Instead, I had to learn to prepare all my meals and have it with me. I had to measure everything out and pack it in a cooler. It's a lifestyle change."

Figuring A Way To Win It All Again

Yu Shing Ting

Chances are you've been glued to the TV watching the 2012 London Olympics and even shed some tears from the inspiring stories of the amazing athletes. Special Olympics Hawaii is no different in that it too has its share of great athletes, and all with a memorable story of their own - except that you don't need to wait every four years to hear about it. Special Olympics Hawaii, which provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities to those with intellectual disabilities, recently named Jannellie "Henny" Basilio its Female Athlete of the Year and Jerry "Mana" Kama its Male Athlete of the Year. Basilio, an eighth-grader at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind, participates in a number of sports, including swimming, track and field, bowling, softball and basketball. "I like running the best," says Basilio, who earned the nickname "Mother Henny" because of her caring and mothering nature toward her teammates. "The training is hard. I'm motivated by other athletes to do my best." Kama, 17, who also happens to be deaf, lists track as his favorite too. In May, he was selected to light the torch at the opening ceremonies, which he says has been the highlight of his seven years with Special Olympics. In addition to his personal achievements, Kama also is recognized for his leadership qualities, such as leading warmups in practice and directing younger teammates in their events. Next for Special Olympics Hawaii is its Tip a Cop event Aug. 16 and 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. at participating Ward Centers restaurants, including Dave and Buster's, Kincaids, Ryan's Grill, The Old Spaghetti Factory and Wahoo's Fish Taco. Local diners will have the opportunity to experience one-of-a-kind service as volunteer law enforcement officers deliver dishes, refill glasses and bus tables for a good cause. For a list of participating eateries, visit SpecialOlympicsHawaii.org.

This Dining Event Really Is Special

Yu Shing Ting

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: Nathalie Walker photo nwalker@midweek.com

UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell was in Hawaii to help celebrate the grand opening of UFC Gym BJ Penn in Kakaako Aug. 18. Liddell, who retired from the sport two years ago, maintains an active lifestyle by lifting weights four days a week (deadlifts are his favorite) and going to the gym near his home in Calabasas, Calif. He also trains other MMA fighters, including Glover Teixeira. While in Hawaii, he enjoys surfing and hiking. As for his diet, Liddell says it's not as strict as it was when he was fighting. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, his current weight is 230 pounds, compared to about 215 pounds before. "My biggest struggle a lot of times is I love good food," says Liddell (pictured at right with Penn). "(Now that I'm retired), there's not a set time where I have to get back to this weight or a reason to not eat too much, especially when I travel as much as I do for work." He admits his weakness is dessert, specifically rich chocolate and ice cream, and when he's in Hawaii he enjoys eating Spam musubi and loco moco. He also likes to barbecue a lot of his food, and likes to eat sushi, chicken, vegetables and broccoli. For supplements, he takes glu- cosamine for his joints. "It's one of the few I can actually tell the difference when I'm taking it," he says. Of course, BJ Penn was at the grand opening and confirmed he'll be back in the octagon Dec. 8 to face Rory MacDonald. "I didn't have any plans of fighting," says Penn. "I was happy teaching, but the opponent who I'm fighting put out the challenge to me, and I accepted." Penn says he trains every day, and his workouts consist of a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, including on the treadmill and Stairmaster. He also lifts weights to put on size, and does a lot of martial arts, including grappling, Brazilian jiu jitsu and kickboxing. "I try to eat a lot of healthy foods; I haven't cheated for a month," he adds. "What did I win my first world championship on? Combo No. 3, but now I cannot do it anymore. I'd go to McDonald's and order a double cheeseburger with Big Mac sauce, but I cannot do it anymore like I used to. "Now, it's no sodium, no fat and no sugar, so whatever that leaves me left with. And I do want to make it my lifestyle (not just during training). It's going to go up and down, and you got to balance, but I want try to eat as good as I can."

Liddell, Penn On Training And Diet

Yu Shing Ting

UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell was in Hawaii to help celebrate the grand opening of UFC Gym BJ Penn in Kakaako Aug. 18. Liddell, who retired from the sport two years ago, maintains an active lifestyle by lifting weights four days a week (deadlifts are his favorite) and going to the gym near his home in Calabasas, Calif. He also trains other MMA fighters, including Glover Teixeira. While in Hawaii, he enjoys surfing and hiking. As for his diet, Liddell says it's not as strict as it was when he was fighting. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, his current weight is 230 pounds, compared to about 215 pounds before. "My biggest struggle a lot of times is I love good food," says Liddell. "(Now that I'm retired), there's not a set time where I have to get back to this weight or a reason to not eat too much, especially when I travel as much as I do for work." He admits his weakness is dessert, specifically rich chocolate and ice cream, and when he's in Hawaii he enjoys eating Spam musubi and loco moco. He also likes to barbecue a lot of his food, and likes to eat sushi, chicken, vegetables and broccoli. For supplements, he takes glucosamine for his joints. "It's one of the few I can actually tell the difference when I'm taking it," he says. Of course, BJ Penn was at the grand opening and confirmed he'll be back in the octagon Dec. 8 to face Rory MacDonald. "I didn't have any plans of fighting," says Penn. "I was happy teaching, but the opponent who I'm fighting put out the challenge to me, and I accepted." Penn says he trains every day, and his workouts consist of a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, including on the treadmill and Stairmaster. He also lifts weights to put on size, and does a lot of martial arts, including grappling, Brazilian jiu jitsu and kickboxing. "I try to eat a lot of healthy foods; I haven't cheated for a month," he adds. "What did I win my first world championship on? Combo No. 3, but now I cannot do it anymore. I'd go to McDonald's and order a double cheeseburger with Big Mac sauce, but I cannot do it anymore like I used to. "Now, it's no sodium, no fat and no sugar, so whatever that leaves me left with. And I do want to make it my lifestyle (not just during training). It's going to go up and down, and you got to balance, but I want try to eat as good as I can."

Liddell, Penn On Training And Diet

Yu Shing Ting

It's funny the things we remember. For instance, I still can tell you some of my best friends' home phone numbers from 25 years ago (we didn't have cell phones back then) even though I haven't dialed them in the last 15 years. These days I'll walk into my publisher's office and somehow in the 30-second walk there from my desk will forget what I needed to talk to him about. Then, of course, there are those endless "Hiii ... (I hope it's not obvious I can't remember your name)" moments, or rushing back into the parking lot to lock the car only to find that it was already locked. And I admit I'm really bad at remembering birth dates. Yes, there are typical age-related changes, such as forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later, making occasional errors when balancing your checkbook, misplacing things and then retracing your steps to find them or having trouble finding the right word. But sometimes memory loss can be a sign of some thing more serious, such as Alzheimer's disease, a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 31,000 Hawaii residents have Alzheimer's or a related dementia. Early detection is important, and here are 10 warning signs and symptoms to look for: • Memory loss that disrupts daily life, such as forgetting recently learned information, important dates or events, or asking for the same information over and visual images and spatial relationships such as vision problems or judging distance. • New problems with words in speaking or writing, such as following or joining a conversation, or struggling with vocabulary. • Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps to find them again. • Decreased or poor judgment, such as when dealing with money, or paying less attention to grooming. • Withdrawal from work projects or social activities. • Changes in mood and personality. On Saturday, Sept. 8, the Alzheimer's Association-Aloha Chapter presents the 3-mile Oahu Walk To End Alzheimer's at Magic Island. Proceeds will go to caregiver counseling, support and training programs offered by the chapter. Registration begins at 6 a.m., and the walk starts at 7 a.m. Donations of any amount are accepted. For details, call 593-1901, email hawaii-walk@alz.org or register online at alz.org/walk.

The 10 Warning Signs Of Dementia

Yu Shing Ting

In an effort to raise funds for the Moanalua High School football program, Zumba instructor Diana Walton is hosting a Zumba Fitness Master Class Saturday, Sept. 29, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the school's gym. The class also will feature other Zumba instructors from Oahu, and an admission donation of $10 will go to Moanalua Football. The event is open to the public, and people of any gender, age and dancing experience are welcome. Walton, who has two sons on the Moanalua JV football team, Noel "Niko" Walton and Isaiah Martinez, says she decided to donate her services to help get kids into sports. "There might be kids out there who want to play football but don't have the funds because sports can be a little bit costly," she explains. "Also, I wanted to help the football program in raising funds for anything they need, such as gear. But to get kids off the streets and into sports is my main goal." Another team parent, Olga Caldwell, notes that like many other youth sports programs, supporting Moanalua Football is not just about buying footballs or pads, it's about investing in the future of our youths. "Our program stresses doing well in the classroom, in the community and on the field," she says. "We want to coach the person, then the athlete. Realistically, it takes funds to run any sports program - buses, equipment, uniforms are some needs, to name a few." Walton has been teaching Zumba for the past five years, with classes at Hickam Air Force Base and at Madalene'z Dancefit Studio in Pearl City. Among her many students are some of the moms of her son's teammates, and she hopes to see more of them at the upcoming fundraiser. "I'm a working mom, and I want to show other moms that they can work and still make the time to exercise," says Walton, a breast cancer survivor. "For me, Zumba keeps me active and gives me energy. But Zumba is not just a girl thing. I want to see families come to my class and to just have fun, to come back to life and let go." For the upcoming Zumba Master Class with Walton, interested participants can pre-register online at MoanaluaFootball.com (under "donations"; note Zumba when making your donation and be sure to include your full name) or call 368-2393. Walk-ins are welcome on the day of the class.

Ready, Set, Hut! … Er, Zumba!

Yu Shing Ting

Training for any sport has its challenges, but tangled earphone wires shouldn't be one of them. Runner and triathlete Frank Dugger always trains with music, but while training for the Honolulu Marathon with Team in Training a few years ago, he became tired of constantly fixing his earphones and decided to put matters into his own hands. "It gets tangled, pulled and falls out, and you have to mess with it," he explains. "There was nothing on the market that really solved the problems, so one day I bought a pair of cheap earphones and it took me about two hours to come up with a prototype." He created shorter earphones that were tangle-free, and a year-and-a-half ago Dugger started iRun International, expanding his products to three styles of earphones, including a waterproof model, as well as running hybrid-compression socks, elastic shoe laces, racing belts and quick-dry hats. There also is a fourth earphone design in production that is waterproof and has only one earbud for those who like to keep the other ear free to listen to traffic or have conversations with friends. "The response has been very good," says Dugger, who lives in Saint Louis Heights with wife Yumi. "We've done over $100,000 in business in the first year." Dugger also serves as maintenance material control chief for the U.S. Marines based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe and plans to retire from the military next summer. The 41-year-old has completed about 30 triathlons of varying dis tances including the 2010 Ironman in Cozumel, Mexico, and numerous running races, including marathons. Last year, he was hit by a car while on a bike ride in Florida and is recovering from injuries to his left shoulder. He also keeps busy with 8-month-old twins Kai and Nari. On Oct. 7, iRun International sponsors the 25K run as part of the BioAstin 808 Marathon Readiness Series. The run starts at 5:30 a.m. at Kailua Beach Park. Registration fees are $30, due by Sept. 19, $40 by Oct. 6 and $50 on race day. Participants using any iRun product during the race (not including the iRun 25K race shirt) will have their race number put into a drawing in the iRun tent at the finish area. The prize is a round-trip ticket to Las Vegas. Must be present to win. For more information on the iRun 25K, visit 808race.freelifestyle.com.

Listen Up: Earphones For Runners