Maka'eo Development
Maka'eo Walking Path consists of 17 acres of state land with beautiful gardens, public lawns, a small fitness pavilion, and undeveloped areas with great potential. With your help and support, Friends For Fitness is proposing to transform a large portion of the small loop interior space with an elevated grass stage, refreshed community-centered lawn, fitness trail, and creative arts garden.
With your kokua, together we can provide additional access to full-body outdoor fitness for our Big Island community. The Maka'eo Walking Path will provide exercises for the mind, body, and spirit.
Small Lawn Renovation
Summer 2021/2022
The small lawn at Maka'eo is currently under renovation and development thanks to Kaz Shigezawa, a retired Landscape Architect and Friends For Fitness President. The small lawn will be a focal point at Maka’eo and will boast an elevated grass stage available for community use, events, hula lessons, competitions, and shows.
An annual May Day In The Park Health & Wellness Festival will be held on the lawn. The festival will host various health and wellness groups offering information booths, medical screening, and fitness activities.
All work currently underway is performed by generous volunteers and local companies helping to improve the community. Mahalo for your kokua and generosity!
Maka'eo Fitness Trail
2022/2023 Project
A fitness trail is comprised of a path or trail with outdoor exercise obstacles and/or equipment stations where a path user can perform specific exercises. Trails like these can be natural, man-made, or a combination of the two.
The purpose of a fitness trail is to provide an active exercise area so people can improve components of fitness such as balance, coordination, and strength. Fitness Trails can be built suitable for all levels of fitness clients, including adults and children. Each fitness station has a placard providing basic and simple instructions on how to perform the specific exercise. The stations can focus specifically on the upper extremities, lower extremities, core, or total-body workouts.
If you are interested in using a fitness trail as a work out/ exercise routine, please fill out the Fitness Trail Survey to support the proposal of a fitness trail at Maka’eo! Mahalo for your kokua & support!
Benefits Of A Fitness Trail
A fitness trail, also known as a parcourse, is a fun and easy way to get active and stay fit. A parcourse focuses mostly on calisthenics and isometric exercises.
A Fitness Trail:
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Improves cardiovascular health
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Increases muscular endurance, speed, and power.
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Increases flexibility and range of motion.
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Is free to use
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Is available to everyone
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Promotes friendships and social lifestyles
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Improves cognition
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Is Eco-friendly
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Provides an outdoor space for local organizations to train
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Can help deter unfavorable park use
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Provides a full-body workout at the Maka'eo Walking & Jogging Path
Examples of Calisthenics
Bench Dips
Incline Push-Ups
Chest Dips
Standard Push-Ups
Chest Dips
Sit-Ups
Leg Raises
Balance Beam
Bridges
Wall Sits
Planking
Calisthenics are a form of exercise consisting of a variety of exercises, often rhythmical, movements, generally without using equipment or apparatus. Calisthenics is intended to increase body strength and flexibility using only one’s body weight for resistance. Calisthenics when performed vigorously and with variety can benefit both muscular and cardiovascular fitness, in addition to improving psycho-motor skills such as balance, agility, and coordination.
Isometrics is a type of strength training in which the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction. Isometrics are done in static positions, rather than being dynamic through a range of motion.
Fill out the survey >
Creative Arts Garden
2022/2023 Project
The Maka'eo Creative Arts Garden will feature color-specific plant gardens that will host a community meeting space for social gatherings, sculptures and artwork created by local Big Island artists, and stand alone easel benches for the creative community while enjoying a peaceful outdoor environment.
Creativity is directly related to brain activity and has many positive benefits relating to our overall health. There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence that proves art enhances brain function. It has an impact on brain wave patterns and emotions, the nervous system, and can actually raise serotonin levels. Art can change a person’s outlook and the way they experience the world.
A health benefit of art is that it encourages creative thinking and imagination in kids and adults. It also enhances problem-solving skills. Because there is no wrong answer in art, people are encouraged to imagine their own solution, and are more daring with new ways of thinking. This type of flexible thinking stimulates your brain and prepares it for complicated functions in the same ways that learning a new language does.
Benefits of A Creative Arts Garden
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Relieves stress and depression
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Increases and renews brain function
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Can help prevent and ease Dementia & Alzheimer’s by increasing cognition
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Improves mood
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Cultivates a social lifestyle
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Encourages creative thinking
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Sparks the imagination
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Enhances problem solving skills
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Creates a mental flow of focus
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Provides a sense of accomplishment
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Uses hand and mind coordination
Examples of Creative Arts
Painting
Writing Poetry, Music, Literature
Drawing
Sculpting
Dancing
Acting
Viewing Art
Interpreting music or art work
Drama
Storytelling
Film Making
Pottery
Fashion
Fill out the survey >
Make A Donation
100 percent of your tax-deductible donation to Friends For Fitness is invested in the community through Maka'eo Walking Path landscaping and maintenance paired with ongoing development of fitness focused opportunities and programs that positively benefit improving the health of the Big Island community. We invite you to be part of a new perspective for our local walking path and gardens.
With the participation of Hawaii County Parks and Recreation, local businesses, and your support, we will successfully fulfill these proposals. See you around the path!