Now open 24 hours every weekday, Kauai Fitness & Martial Arts in ‘Ele‘ele serves those fitness buffs who have a hankering for breaking a sweat long after or before work. Owner Joshua Kinnard is pleased to open his facility to
Now open 24 hours every weekday, Kauai Fitness & Martial Arts in ‘Ele‘ele serves those fitness buffs who have a hankering for breaking a sweat long after or before work. Owner Joshua Kinnard is pleased to open his facility to serious athletes who prefer to work out at whatever time they need to, day or night.
KFMA opened its doors in November, but has only recently become a 24-hour gym. “I visited my sister in Florida,” Kinnard said, “and toured her local 24- hour fitness gym. We didn’t have anything close to that facility here, and so I saw an opportunity in the market.” Kinnard literally built the gym, located behind Night Owl T-Shirts in Port Allen, on his own two shoulders. Pointing to a beam in the cardio loft, “I had to carry that heavy beam on my shoulders to get it in place.”
Offering the first professional training studio for UFC cage fighters, Kinnard is proud to sponsor and provide space for winning fighters such as Keoni Bigno and Sherry Ephan. Ka- Mole Jiu-Jitsu teaches children and adults three nights a week in the upstairs mat-room.
“This is the most equipped gym on the island; before KFMA, there wasn’t really a place to lift serious weights,” said Kinnard. Impressed with the steady flow of clients, Kinnard hopes that more people will discover the gym.
Kickboxing and yoga are also offered at KFMA, but the emphasis has been on UFC fighters who rent the mat-room for private training sessions, grappling, and Ka-Mole Jiu-Jitsu. The downstairs includes fully equipped locker rooms where tourists coming off Captain Andy’s boats sometimes pay to shower before heading to the North Shore.
“We also have,” Kinnard said pointing to a private room off the cardio area, “the only tanning bed on Kaua‘i. I can’t believe how popular it’s been, especially used by bikini models or hula dancers who can’t have tan lines from bathing suits. I have one client who drives all the way from Anahola.”
Kinnard’s own love of fitness came from lifting with his friends in his home state of Florida. Moving to Ele‘ele five years ago, Kinnard continues to lift as his hobby. “I do offer personal training if people are interested, but mainly I’m just running the place.” Kinnard hopes to team with local hotel/resorts who might offer the gym to their guests for a set fee. He recently signed a contract of this sort with Waimea Plantation Cottages — now all guests and residents can use the gym as part of their basic room rate. He also hopes to expand and add an adjacent day care for parents-on-the-go.
Daily passes start at $7 and monthly memberships with auto withdrawal are $40. Classes and tanning are additional.
For more information call 335-0049 or visit the gym at 4350 A Waialo Road behind Night Owl T-Shirts.
• Keya Keita, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kkeita@kauaipubco.com.
