The County of Kauai is teaming up with Get Fit Kauai to promote healthy lifestyles for Fitness Week on Rice through Friday, culminating with the Rice Street Block Party on Saturday.
“It’s so exciting to see the community come together to promote healthy, active living, and economic development in our Lihue Town Core. Lihue is the heart of Kauai, and you can feel the energy building,” said Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr.
Fitness studios are opening their doors with special offers so that the public can participate in fitness activities during the week. You earn a star on a Fitness Challenge punch card each time you try a class or training at a studio.
Participating fitness studios include Ala Yoga, Au’rai Fitness, Barre Soul Deux, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawaii, Island Ride Kauai, Kauai Athletic Club, Pineapple Pilates, and Trinity Fitness.
Jacob “Smilie” Punzal has been offering free classes for newcomers this week at Au’rai Fitness in Lihue, including a 30-minute circuit training at lunchtime and a box and flow class.
“You put your gloves on hit the bag, guaranteed to lose 500 to 600 calories of just sweat,” he said Wednesday, “and you feel the boxer coming out of you.”
Many people have tried the classes.
“A lot of people got out of their comfort zone to experience a new type of fitness training,” he said. “This whole thing is just a great fitness fellowship.”
Bev Brody, director of Get Fit Kauai, said Fitness Week on Rice was going well.
Fitness studios and clubs have opened their doors to allow people to come in and try different classes at low prices, and the turnout has been strong.
“Things have been on fire,” she said.
Following the Fitness Week on Rice activities, bring your challenge card to the Rice Street Block Party to earn prizes.
This is the second year for the Rice Street Block Party, which will run from 4 to 8 p.m. on Rice Street from the Rice Shopping Center to Hardy/Kalena streets.
Rice Street between Umi Street and Hardy/Kalena Streets will be closed from 2 to 10 p.m. Umi, Hardy, and Kalena streets will remain open.
The family-friendly Block Party features food trucks, vendors, a keiki zone, and live music including taiko drumming, and more. New this year is the “Art Feast,” with live mural painting by numerous street artists.
Free parking is offered at Vidinha Stadium, and The Kauai Bus will be operating a free shuttle between Vidinha Stadium and the Block Party from 4 to 8 pm. Participants may also park and walk from the Lihue Civic Center.
Kalena Park will have activities all day on Saturday, including a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
