Posts made in August 2018

The Aquabats Launch Kickstarter Campaign

TV’s punk rock superheroes The Aquabats announce the launch of a Kickstarter campaign featuring Jack Black, Weird Al Yankovic and others in a new video entitled “I Am The Aquabats!” The Emmy-winning collective is gathering a Legion of Righteous Comrades (fans new and old) to rally in support of new music and new episodes of The Aquabats! Super Show! The band has heeded the longtime call of its loyal following – and are working with them to bring it all back! Click here to join the Legion.

The Aquabats’ leader, The MC Bat Commander, explains: “We’re gathering a Legion of Righteous Comrades that believes in the importance of sharing music, adventures and pizza. Only with the help of our homies from around the world can we bring back The Aquabats! Super Show! and make awesome new music and TV for the next generation.”

The Kickstarter campaign runs for one month, from July 31 at 10am PST through September 1 at 8pm PST, featuring a new episodic adventure as The MC Bat Commander leads fans on a quest to re-assemble The Aquabats while fending off some of their oldest foes – all while releasing new rewards and special surprises! The campaign will culminate in a live, climactic concert/telethon/finale hosted by The Aquabats at The El Rey Theatre featuring special guests, last-minute surprises, and a livestream countdown for those who can’t attend in person.

The campaign has two goals: To fund the full-time return of The Aquabats, leading to the first new episodes of The Aquabats! Super Show! since 2014, and the first new studio album since 2011; and to create a groundswell of support that tells the world: in an era of over-serious superheroes and hip cynicism, it’s time for a change. It’s time for the return of The Aquabats!

Jack Black and Electric Dynamite have also signed on to the new season in an Executive Producer capacity, should the campaign be successful and the show moves into production.

The Aquabats’ comrade, Jack Black, explains: “Ever since I met the MC Bat Commander on the set of Yo Gabba Gabba, I knew we were destined to become allies. Today, I’m excited to officially join forces with The Aquabats and our Righteous Comrades around the world. Together, we can save rock and roll for the kids… and us all. This is an extremely important mission, and I hope you’ll join us.”

The team spearheading the campaign comes from notable crowdfunding campaigns like Veronica Mars, Reading Rainbow, Super Troopers 2, and Mystery Science Theater 3000.

To thank backers for their support, the campaign will offer a wide variety of exclusive rewards and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, for pledges ranging from $10 to $10,000,000. The more notable rewards include original accessories designed by long-time band collaborator and noted designer Paul Frank, on-set and on-screen experiences during the filming of Super Show’s next season, and even the creation of a private album recorded for, and owned entirely by, the backer. At the highest tier of support, The Aquabats will buy a private island, legally rename it Aquabania, and appoint the supporter to a three-year term as the island’s first “Prime Minister.”

Additionally, the Legion can support The Aquabats by completing both solo and community missions that boost The Aquabats’ signal, recruit more members to the Legion and unlock more awesome rewards and upgrades for all backers.

For more campaign information, to donate, and sign up for secret missions, visit www.wearetheaquabats.com and follow @TheAquabats on Twitter and Instagram.

About The Aquabats

TV’s punk rock superheroes The Aquabats formed in 1994 in Orange County as a way to have some harmless fun in a music scene that took itself too seriously. Their Paul Frank designed “power belts,” trademark blue rash guards, black eye masks, “anti-negativity” helmets and onstage antics quickly caught on, earning the group a fiercely loyal following that spans generations. Their line-up and music is continuously evolving, including Blink 182’s Travis Barker as former drummer “Baron Von Tito.” To date, The Aquabats’ music library includes The Return of the Aquabats (1996), The Fury of the Aquabats! (1997), The Aquabats vs. The Floating Eye of Death(1999), Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2 (2000), Yo! Check Out This Ride! (EP, 2004) Charge!! (2005), Radio Down! (EP, 2010), Hi-Five Soup! (2011). Current Aquabats are Christian Jacobs, “The MC Bat Commander” (lead singer), Chad Larson, “Crash McLarson” (bass, vocals), Ian Fowles, “EagleBones FalconHawk” (guitar), Richard Falomir, “Ricky Fitness” (drums), and James Briggs, “Jimmy the Robot” (keyboards, woodwinds, vocals).

About The Aquabats! Super Show!

In 2012, the band debuted The Aquabats! Super Show!, a live-action musical action comedy television series which aired on the Hub Network. The show received eight Daytime EMMY nominations and one win. Super Show!’s run was cut short when The Hub closed in 2014, leaving fans demanding a return ever since.

Thomson Safaris

New York – August 2, 2018 – Thomson Safaris and Thomson Family Adventures have appointed Geoffrey Weill Associates to handle their public relations needs in North America, it was announced today by company President Geoffrey Weill.

Created 38 years ago by the dynamic married duo of Rick Thomson and Judi Wineland, Thomson Safaris specializes in personally crafted trips to Tanzania. To this day, Thomson Safaris uses only local guides in its hand-picked itineraries, offering access to people and areas of the Serengeti that other outfitters can’t.

The company’s Kilimanjaro Treks are some of the most highly respected tours in the region,with the most qualified guides and a 98% summit success. Committed to quality and care, all of their guides are Wilderness Responder Certified. A founding member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project – an NGO advocating for the rights of porters, Thomson has distinguished itself by upholding the highest standards for the treatment and compensation of porters, launching such initiatives as Porter Appreciation Week in 2018.

Thomson Safaris is the recipient of both a “Tanzania Conservation Award” and “Humanitarian of the Year Award” from The Tanzania Tourist Board. Thomson’s sister nonprofit,  Focus on Tanzanian Communities (FoTZC), was started by Thomson Safaris co-founder Judi Wineland and a group of guests who wanted to bring educational resources to developing regions in Tanzania.

In 1998, with young children, Judi and Rick answered a need by creating Thomson Family Adventures, catering to families of all sizes and composition. Today, Thomson Family Adventures is still the only tour operator in the US exclusively dedicated to family travel. Pioneers in what is now a burgeoning niche market in the travel industry, Thomson Family Adventures now offers more than 90 itineraries and covers regions of North, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and Antarctica. The company also offers specialized tours specifically for teens and millennials, age groups often overlooked in the family market.

“We are thrilled to be adding Thomson Safaris and Thomson Family Adventures to our portfolio of unique travel products,” said Ann-Rebecca Laschever, Executive Vice President of WEILL. “Although they have been offering first-class safari and memorable travel experiences for several years, they are not as known in the industry as they deserve to be. We look forward to changing that.”

For more information visit www.thomsonsafaris.com and www.familyadventures.com.

YG’s “Stay Dangerous”

YG IS THE BOOLEST MAN ALIVE!!

“STAY DANGEROUS” ARRIVES TOMORROW, AUGUST 3RD!

WATCH EPISODE 1 HERE: http://youtu.be/flZAuONgEpM

PRE-ORDER YG’S “STAY DANGEROUS” HERE: http://yg.lnk.to/StayDangerous

5 Seconds of Summer Premiere of “YOUNGBLOOD” Video

Open up your YouTube app because the heartthrob boy band 5 Seconds of Summer just released their video for new song Youngblood.

The track has a relentless thumping rhythm where the members are shown to switch from a delicate verses to a booming chorus that will have you singing at the top of your lungs. Their new song is a mixture between pop and EDM–getting the best of both worlds.

Their new album is out now on Capitol Records. The video, directed by Frank Borin, was filmed in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Tokyo. Check out this masterpiece of a video right here.

Not only do the band members find Japan aesthetically pleasing, but it has a much deeper meaning to them spiritually:

“There are many wonderful, interesting, and captivating subcultures all over the world. In every corner of this earth there are groups of inventors, visionaries, thrill seekers, and boundary pushers…The Japanese Rockabilly culture is that of a renaissance and a beautiful flare of passion for everything old and new and that makes this particular subculture so interesting and amazing to us. We hope you enjoy this video. Thank you for allowing us to be explorative with the concepts we choose to visually express our songs to you. Thank you to everyone that brought this video to life,” says the band’s vocal artist and drummer, Ashton Irwin.

Along with Irwin, the video’s director, Borin, shares:

“About 10 years ago I was shooting in Tokyo and was walking through Yoyogi park when I came upon this huge group of Japanese rockabilly guys and girls. Every Sunday, they were dressed to the nines in full rockabilly gear, doing their hair out in public, taping up their decades old boots, and dancing the day away to 50’s music blasting on their boombox. Flash forward to 10 years later, 5SOS was releasing Youngblood and the band and I were collaborating on another video together. The band were really into the ideas of highlighting the rockabilly crew and we hung out with them for a couple days. They took us around Tokyo and gave us a peak into their world which really lent itself to the spirit of the song and ultimately became the video.”

You can order tickets for 5SOS’s Meet You There Tour here as they are on sale now at LiveNation.com. It will be a 25-city North American headline outing that launches August 27 in Toronto, ON. The full itinerary can be found here.

Already, Youngblood is recorded to have debuted as No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. What’s cooler is that 5SOS is now the only band in chart history to see its first three-length studio albums enter the chart at No. 1.

 

Brunch Life Fest & Giveaway!

360 Magazine will be conducting a social giveaway for a pair of GA tickets. To enter, just follow @brunchlifefest on Instagram and comment #360magazine and #agendafestival on our Instagram post here. Winners will be announced Thursday, August 2nd. They can collect their passes under their names with proof of ID at WILL CALL.

Brunch Life Festival is coming to the Rainbow Lagoon Park in Long Beach, CA on August 4, 2018 to celebrate that indulgent meal between breakfast and lunch that’s fueled by mimosas and avocado toast topped with poached eggs. Restaurants from Long Beach and Orange County are gathering to provide guests with brunch samples and beverage tastings. For five hours, the festival encourages attendees to live out their wildest brunch dreams (i.e., sip bottomless mimosas, sample gourmet brunch dishes, and participate in their favorite booze-fueled outdoor games). Live entertainment by Soular System, The Black Noise, and Roma provide a soundtrack to revelers’ escapades. Enjoy plenty of photo-booths to preserve memories for brunches to come. Round up your brunch crew for a fun filled day and enjoy the Brunch Life! Tickets starting at $20 on www.brunchlifefest.com

Zander Bleck

Zander Bleck’s single, “Mercy Me” is definitely the summer rock jam. Zander’s incredible vocals and funk pop rock beats make for the perfect on repeat summer road trip tune. Check out more on Zander below!

A spellbinding voice, vibrant charisma and a compelling artist in ascension: Zander Bleck creates epic, anthemic music to propel rock and into the future.

A small town kid from rural New Jersey, Zander grew up geographically close to the towering spires of Manhattan. A talented musical family were prime influences as he absorbed the music of legendary artists from far before his time. A competitive athlete in high school, he moved to New York where modeling paid the bills and set the stage for his journey. “I developed a certain type of fearlessness,” Zander remembers. “When you get that hardened skin it prepares you well for the music business.”

After early successes with his East Coast band “Monument” , Zander went solo. He began focusing on his voice and his writing. Fate connected him to multiple Grammy-winning songwriter Holly Knight and he traveled to Los Angeles to write and record “Temptation,” the song that he recalls, “…changed everything.”

His distinctive voice captured the attention of producer RedOne, hot off the success of Lady Gaga. In US Today RedOne called Bleck’s voice “A mixture of Jim Morrison, Bono, and Freddie Mercury” and added, “There’s no singer like that right now.” RedOne introduced Zander to Jimmy Iovine at Interscope Records and a deal was made. When an executive shakeup reordered the label, Zander shifted to Capitol Records. But his major label launch was not to be.

“I had to get tough or die,” Zander remembers. “It was time to be true to myself.” Social media was key. “I was getting an instant response. Rather than going through the chain, here was the artist and the audience. When I sing a song on social media the message is immediate, to thousands of people all over the world. I started dedicating myself to this connection.”

See some of his music at his Spotify link here: http://open.spotify.com/track/7ngCXZgsvjWFLekfY1kuLS?si=ttrQgqcgS36rcCpDFqauzg

Follow Zander on social media:

Circle V Ranch Receives $16,000 of Upgrades

Yes, you heard it right. Circle V Ranch Camp Receives $16,000 of New LED Lighting & Refrigeration Upgrades Via Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership & Santa Maria Chamber Grant.

The annual cost savings estimated at $4,442 for the Non-profit Camp Rebuilding from 2017 Whittier Wildfire.

Below you can see the before and after shots to notice the striking difference that the upgrades had accomplished:

BEFORE

Before

AFTER

image006.jpg

The difference is that in the first picture, original florescent lights are present that results in an unpleasant yellow-colored atmosphere. The Camp’s 16 guest cabins shown to hold the new LED lights are Camp Director Ray Lopez; Energy Watch Project Liaison & Camp Volunteer Tony Yanez; Staples Energy Specialist Norman Knowles and SBCEWP Program Manager Dave Cross (left to right).

After the LED lights replace them, the second picture reveals a lighting difference as the yellow-colored atmosphere is no longer present, but in fact, has everything appear in a brighter tone. The members in the second photo are Project Liaison & Camp Volunteer Tony Yanez; Camp Director Ray Lopez; Staples Energy Program Manager Tori Bennett; Staples Energy Specialist Norman Knowles; SoCalGas Senior Account Executive Frank Mateo; SoCalGas Program Manager Jeff Lawler and SBCEWP Program Manager Dave Cross (left to right).

 

Santa Barbara County, California–This summer, Circle V Ranch Camp & Retreat Center received $16,000 of new LED lighting and refrigeration upgrades with custom installation through the Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership (SBCEWP). This also included a $6,000 grant from Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce as well as receiving $4,000 from a private donor. The Energy Watch Partnership is a program funded by PG&E and SoCalGas with the goal of significantly reducing energy use and promoting sustainable practices–Mother Nature would definitely be proud of this. The annual estimated cost savings are $4,442 equaling 30,851 kWh of energy saved.

“We are thrilled to have new LED lighting throughout our entire facility and refrigeration upgrades now! This year-long project was spear-headed by Camp volunteer Tony Yanez of Santa Ynez, who has worked with an incredible team put together by the Partnership not only to fund the $16,000 project but also to install it so professionally. We are grateful to the Partnership for contributing $6,000; the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce for their $6,000 grant as well as $4,000 from a private donor to make this entire project a reality. It really means so much as we continue rebuilding Circle V after the damages we had during the 2017 Whittier wildfire,” says Ray Lopez.

“Helping Circle V Ranch Camp reduce their energy costs more than $4,400 per year especially as they rebuild from the Whittier fire makes this particular project even more important. Many thanks to the great crew from Staples Energy who did the assessment of all the Camp’s 16 guest cabins as well as the dining lodge, kitchen, office spaces, outbuildings and storage areas; then did all the custom installation over the course of this summer,” adds Dave Cross, program manager for the SBCEWP.

To gain some more knowledge about St. Vincent de Paul Circle V Ranch Camp & Retreat Center, here are some interesting facts to feed your brain.

  • It was founded in 1945 by St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles. The camp has been located across from Cachuma Lake in Santa Barbara County in the Los Padres National Forest on 30 acres since 1990.
  • Have kids and want to take them somewhere? During the summer, Circle V Ranch Camp sessions offer six days and five nights of traditional supervised fun for boys and girls ages 7-13 years and leadership training for ages 14-17 years. Campers enjoy activities including archery, arts & crafts, hiking, swimming in the pool, learning about nature, reading skills, painting, photography, playing baseball, basketball, ping pong, foosball, soccer, miniature golf and of course, campfires, skits and singing. This is basically heaven for your children. Campers stay in wood cabins or traditional canvas tents. Three nutritious daily meals served family-style in the Dining Lodge are not only for food but also for camaraderie and fellowship.
  • In summer 2016, the camp hosted more than 1,000 children for this time-honored experience. During autumn, winter and spring, Circle V is available for rental to other non-profit groups and organizations welcoming more than 3,000 guests of all ages.

 

After closing due to damage during the Whittier Wildfire on July 8, 2017, Circle V continues to rebuild its water treatment facilities, Craft and Health cabins with a goal of reopening in 2019.

Donations to help reopen are needed and welcomed here. For general information visit www.CircleVRanchCamp.org

More interested in hearing about the Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership? It is a program designed to promote and implement energy efficiency in government, businesses and residential homes. It is funded by PG&E and Southern California Gas, and the program is administered by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce. SBCEWP consists of PG&E, Southern California Gas, City of Buellton, City of Guadalupe, City of Santa Maria, City of Solvang, and the County of Santa Barbara. Since 2010, the Partnership has helped over 450 businesses and organizations in northern Santa Barbara County save on energy and reduce costs. Altogether, the energy savings from upgrading the energy efficiency of businesses (over 15,149,746 kWh annually) is enough to power 1,386 homes. In addition, the average business savings is $4,761 in energy costs per year. In addition, the Partnership has upgraded municipal buildings in Santa Maria, Guadalupe, Solvang, Buellton, and in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County with 122 projects saving 2,307,292 kW, representing over $324,866 in taxpayer savings with enough to power 211 homes. For more information, visit http://santamaria.com/energy-watch-partnership

Complex × Fuse

Talent Featured: Chance The Rapper, Waka Flocka, G-Eazy, T-Pain, YBN Nahmir and Leon Bridges

Airdate: Wednesday, August 1st at 11 p.m. ET / PT

TUNE-IN: Grammy Award-winning rapper and record producer Chance The Rapper tells all about his new music featuring Kanye and Childish Gambino; soul singer Leon Bridges shares his secret dance moves; Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter T-Pain chows down on the wings of death; rapper G-Eazy talks his all new summer tour and Waka Flocka shares seven guilty pleasures and more on an all-new Complex x Fuse, this Wednesday, August 1st at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Fuse.

Episode Highlights:

  • Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter T-Pain shares his theories about how to survive wings of death on First We Feast’s “Hot Ones.” Meanwhile, Waka Flocka highlights his guilty pleasures on “Seven Questions,” and G-Eazy talks his summer tour on Complex News.

T-Pain tells “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans about giving pop singer Jesse McCartney 15,000-20,000 to spend at the strip club: Preview Link:

Preview Link:
player.ooyala.com/static/v4/production/skin-plugin/iframe.html?ec=p0MHF1ZjE6nZClfD8pTA03twnE2vve2c&pbid=2d3ba78563814845b909d4788ca4e96c&pcode=F5aWwyOkNHP9ju1fx2Ilw2om-_-m&autoplay=false

T-Pain
tells “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans all about his experience living in a haunted house with ghosts:

Preview Link:
player.ooyala.com/static/v4/production/skin-plugin/iframe.html?ec=pyMHF1ZjE6m8O-JoCA0TF4ebPYvJOgxj&pbid=2d3ba78563814845b909d4788ca4e96c&pcode=F5aWwyOkNHP9ju1fx2Ilw2om-_-m&autoplay=false

  • Grammy Award-winning rapper and record producer Chance The Rapper reveals info on new music on “Open Late.” Later, rising trap rapper YBN Nahmir drops stacks on new sneakers on “Sneaker Shopping,” and soul singer Leon Bridges shares his secret life as a dancer.

ABOUT: Complex x Fuse features exclusive first-looks of athletes and celebrities eating killer food, answering burning questions, and revealing the secrets behind the hottest kicks. The weekly Complex-branded block features first-run segments from Complex’s core slate of more than 20 digital shows including signature series like First We Feast’s Hot Ones, Sneaker Shopping and Everyday Struggle.

LONDON × THE MILESTONE HOTEL

THE MILESTONE HOTEL UNVEILS NEW SUITES OVERLOOKING KENSINGTON PALACE

Photo: 106 Grand Master “Hermes” Suites

London’s Milestone Hotel & Residences, has this month revealed two newly reimagined suites, part of a process of elegant refurbishments that elevates its multi-award-winning accommodations to new heights, with some of the most exquisite hotel rooms in London. The reopening of two suites is part of a three-year refurbishment program of this landmarked Victorian mansion that is a stylish and chic sanctuary for 21st-century travelers known also for its warm and generous service.

Each suite boasts an enviable view of Kensington Palace and Gardens, offering a panorama that is every bit as impressive as its interior. Like all sister properties within the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, The Milestone’s unique style reflects the rich history of its building and environs. The visionary design team – headed by the Collection’s founder and president, Beatrice Tollman, and her daughter Toni Tollman – blended bespoke furnishings from master craftsmen and artisans, fine antiques, and carefully chosen objects d’art to create some of London’s most stylishly decorated accommodations.

106 Grand Master Suite

Striking the perfect balance between preservation and transformation, The Milestone Hotel’s Grand Master Suite – affectionately known as “The Hermès Suite” – blends strong mid-20th-century design with the building’s historic architecture. The result is a place of timeless elegance.

Carefully selected pieces of original period furniture harness the glamour of the room with an iconic bronze four-poster bed at its center. The room is distinguished by a vintage collection of Hermès scarves, elegantly framed and presented on luxuriously upholstered white velvet walls. Twelve-foot coffered ceilings give the sensation of endless space, and magnificent floor-to-ceiling lead doors frame the suite’s private balcony, overlooking Kensington Palace and the Gardens that surround it.

The blend of timeless design and architecture with modern comforts and the hotel’s unrivaled hospitality establishes The Milestone’s Grand Master Suite as one of the very finest hotel accommodations in London.

The Meghan Suite

For this suite, Beatrice and Toni Tollman worked with master craftsmen and artisans to create a tribute to the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

The suite’s elegance is accentuated by an exquisite 18th-century ebonized French bureau plat, Giacometti-style chairs and original contemporary art on its walls. A vast black-and-white marble bathroom is set behind majestic bronzed mirrored double doors, and the suite’s handmade Savoir bed, is surrounded by custom-designed Indian silks, all enhanced by views through three large windows of Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace, the new home of the American-born Duchess of Sussex.

The Meghan Suite

General Manager of The Milestone Hotel & Residences, Andrew Pike, says: “I am tremendously proud of The Milestone’s two beautiful new suites. Our hotel is a historic London landmark and provides a rich cultural backdrop for The Milestone Hotel & Residences’ future. Mrs Tollman and her outstanding design team have created timeless accommodations with classic elegance. Twinned with our award-winning service, we are offering the discerning traveler some of the very finest luxury accommodations in London.”

The launch of The Milestone’s new suites is complemented by the unveiling of six fully refurbished residences that provide the perfect home-away-from-home for business travelers, longer stay guests or families, in the heart of Kensington, London’s “most desirable village,” an upscale neighborhood minutes from the West End.

ABOUT THE MILESTONE HOTEL:

The award-winning Milestone Hotel is the London flagship of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Also a proud member of the Leading Hotels of The World, the five-star Milestone Hotel is a quintessentially English property in the heart of London boasting luxurious suites and spacious long-stay residences, fine British dining in Cheneston’s Restaurant, charming public areas and an award-winning Afternoon Tea menu. This property occupies a prime position with beautiful views over Kensington Palace and Gardens and located just minutes from London’s museum district and glamorous shopping area of Knightsbridge.

ABOUT RED CARNATION HOTELS:

Red Carnation Hotels is a collection of 17 family-run, award-winning boutique hotels in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA. Each hotel is a landmark of history and tradition, with an exceptional reputation for exquisite fine dining, leading spas and sumptuous surroundings. Great pride is taken in delivering warm, thoughtful and highly personalized service

UFC GYM® Set To Open Fourth Hawaiian Location

UFC GYM®, the rapidly expanding fitness franchise that creates training programs for all levels inspired by the training regimens of world-class UFC® athletes, today announced the opening of its fourth location on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. In partnership with UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn, this location in Kailua will provide members with a brand new, 20,000 square foot, full-service premium training facility that will include high quality equipment and amenities, including a Kids Club.

“We’ve experienced an amazing response from our membership community following the opening of our first three gyms and we couldn’t be more excited to open this new location in Kailua,” UFC President Adam Sedlack said. “Kailua has long been a priority location for our continued expansion throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and one of our key initiatives is to continuously provide our Train Different® philosophy throughout this incredible community.”

Since debuting in 2009, UFC GYM has opened more than 150 locations throughout the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, India, Ireland, Mexico, Oman, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

“I was born in Kailua Town and am proud to bring UFC GYM back to my hometown,” UFC Hall of Famer and UFC GYM franchisee BJ Penn said. “I’m really excited to connect with our Kailua community and allow families to train together, just as my family did growing up.”

Located in the Lau Hala Shops (573 Kailua Road), this new franchise will be the largest and most innovative fitness facility in Kailua. Featuring a large group fitness studio, boxing and kickboxing conditioning area, MMA and youth fitness classes, state-of-the-art equipment, full amenity locker rooms, a Kids Club and more, this location will have something for everyone. UFC GYM is also currently offering ‘Founding Member’ special rates for the first 500 prospective members who enroll. New members that enroll will automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Las Vegas, Nevada, home of UFC.

“For many local residents in Kailua, staying fit is part of their lifestyle,” said Lance Parker, Chief Real Estate Officer for Alexander & Baldwin, which owns Lau Hala Shops. “UFC GYM’s top-notch equipment, training programs, and services will help meet that need, so we expect they will fit in well with the community.”

UFC GYM programming has been developed through exclusive access to the training regimens of internationally-acclaimed UFC athletes, providing members access to a variety of energized group classes, world-class private coaching and an engaging, family friendly community of fitness enthusiasts who love to train different.