“Can you provide us with more details?” has been a frequent question asked as I am currently seeking out people to join Kū Performance.
So, here we go…
I am a Strength Coach. That is my passion. I have a deep interest in learning and teaching people how to get stronger, faster, conditioned, healthier, and improve their overall performance be it on the field or in the business board room.
I’ve been in the industry for close to 10 years working my way from a front desk worker all the way up to a Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at a university running programs for 21 collegiate sports. It was obvious to me that one day I would open my own gym but as I grew as a person and learned more about myself, the idea of having a gym evolved into something more.
Now that I am back home in Hawaii, I want to make a difference in a place that has given me so much.
The Vision
Kū Performance is a strength academy based on the integration of physical training and Hawaiian Culture. Our motto is “Build a Kū Body. Live a Kū Life.”
To me, Kū means to stand strong in who you are, to be that symbol of strength that empowers people around you, to take responsibility of yourself, and to care for the vehicle (your body) that shares your message with the world.
I believe that this can be done in a training facility through exercise and pushing yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. I see a training facility as a controlled environment that not only builds character but also reveals it.
Now I’m sure I am not the only person who feels this way. So, this is where the Hawaiian Culture comes in.
I am proud to be Native Hawaiian and want to share the culture with the world. To me, a gym is similar to a hula halau, pa lua, dojo, or any other place that deserves the utmost respect that follows a certain protocol.
I grew up in an environment of following protocols from my mom teaching hula for the past 35 years to bowing before entering the dojo and wiping down the mats, all the way to performing a ha’a before entering the pa lua of Pa Kui a Holo.
Part of the vision is to take those protocols and integrate them in our academy of strength which is why Kū Performance will be exclusive that welcomes everyone but not just anyone.
Here are a few insights of what to expect at the Kū Academy:
You come in and say, “Aloha” to everyone.
Before each class (training session) the students will perform the entry chant to ask for permission to train and learn. This will get the students in the proper mindset to begin their training lesson. At the end of the class, there will be a closing prayer to give thanks, pay homage to our ancestors for allowing us to be here, to continue to strengthen our body, mind and spirit, and guide everyone safely on their journey.
There will be an internal structure of ranking that instills leadership similar to a hula halau (kumu hula, po’o pua’a, alaka’i, haumana) and martial arts school. It will be a learning environment that pays close attention to the academy’s culture which is why there will be an application process and enrollment.
As a learning environment, not only will it be a place for training our body but also a center where we bring Hawaiian practitioners and other experts to teach us things that we believe would help us “build a Kū body and live Kū life.”
It’s a place where the teacher wants to learn just as much as the students.
Making a Difference
I believe, that Kū Performance will become a strength academy that not only improves physical performance (enhance athleticism, increase strength and conditioning, improve body composition), but also perpetuates the Hawaiian Culture.
I believe, that Kū Performance will become a model that would improve the health and wellness of everyone, especially Native Hawaiians. It will build a stronger sense of self within an individual, and make building a Kū body a way of life that leads people to live a life full of meaning, value, and strength.
Interested? We are building up our Founder’s List to Reserve your Space for Exclusive Access and Benefits
