UH Maui’s “Wellness Center” Surges in Popularity

By Laura Greene

UH Maui College's Wellness Center. Image by UHMC.

The University of Hawaii’s Maui College (UHMC) Wellness Center has seen a surge in popularity over the last year, thanks to its reasonable prices and variety of fitness classes.

“It’s not easy to be healthy on Maui sometimes,” says Dane Sadang, Student Assistant at the UHMC Wellness Canter and Student Life Office.

“There are so many fast food joints. That’s why our facility tries to promote a healthier lifestyle for our students and everyone in the community.

“We’ve gone from 300 members to 1200 in the last year and I’m sure it would be more. People just don’t know that we’re here,” Sadang added.

The Wellness Center is not a traditional gym, with weight-lifting and treadmills. Situated in the heart of the UHMC campus, the one-room facility offers instructional classes that cover everything from Ab training to Zumba.

“Part of coming to college and studying can be stressful and we want to give everyone an opportunity to stay healthy and fit and to release any stress or pent-up energy.

“Our classes offer exercise that will not only benefit you in a physical way, but in a mental way too. We want to make it easy for students to turn that stress into health,” says Sadang.

Semester-long membership costs just $35 for students at UHMC, but the facility is also open to members of staff and the over-55s who pay $50 and the general public who pay $65.

“We’re open to the whole community and we have people traveling from all over Maui to come here because it’s such a great place with great prices.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you prefer because we cover so many things; Muay Thai, Yoga, ‘Boot Camp’, Zumba, light aerobics and more.”

“We’re open from 8 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., so no matter what time you have work or class, there will be something for you. We even have showers here so you can freshen up before you go back to class or work. It really is a beautiful facility.”

The Center offers classes from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and classes from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The current semester runs from August 22 – December 16.

To join, visit the UHMC Business Office with your payment at 310 Ka’ahumanu Ave | Kahului, HI 96732 or call 808-984-3434.

For a full schedule, please visit: http://uhmcwellness.wordpress.com/schedule/