A knockout of a chance for the kids

Gaige Robertson, 6, is the youngest boxer at the Nalo Boxing Club, which will have its grand opening at its new location Saturday. Club assistant K. Buster Hagelgansz, left, makes sure that only the safest equipment is used. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

On a quiet lane in Waimanalo, a warehouse has recently gone from storage space for agricultural supplies to a bustling boxing gym.

Longtime trainer Duke Artuyo, right, and club assistant K. Buster Hagelgansz used to operate out of a gym that they found to be too small. They see great potential in their larger center, a former warehouse. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

The warehouse, off Kakaina Street, is owned by Kevin Andrews of Plant Research Corp. It stored fertilizer and pots, but was shut down after the agricultural business slowed in the area.

"We operated it as an ag distribution center for a while," said Andrews. "And the market was soft, the tenants went out of business."

Meanwhile, longtime trainer Duke Artuyo was running the Nalo Boxing Club nearby at the Waimanalo gym, which was inadequate because of its size.

"The place we were before was too small — the ring couldn't fit," Artuyo said.

Andrews and Artuyo soon got together and arrived at a mutually beneficial solution: The club moved into the warehouse.

Now, boxers such as Antone Joseph have a bigger and better place to refine their fighting skills.

"Boxing, for me, helped keep me off the streets," said Joseph, 24. "It's all positive. As opposed to being at home playing PlayStation or Xbox or out causing mischief, boxing here you're learning. And — who knows? — in the future maybe you can make a career out of it."

Andrews' company owns the property and warehouse, which, he says, cost $400,000 to $500,000 to build. To his credit, he turned a lost business venture into something he always wanted to do — create something positive for the residents of Waimanalo.

"We decided to donate this to the community as a community center for kids after school, kids at risk," Andrews said. "Coach Duke moved his boxing club over here, and it's been busy ever since. We need more of this in Waimanalo."

He said that while gangs are not a problem in the area, neither are there lots of productively beneficial things to do for children.

"It gives the kids something good to do after school," Andrews said. "It keeps them in shape. ... Maybe it's something good for anger."

Furthermore, the facility is open to anyone, especially because there are no doors yet, according to Nalo Boxing assistant K. Buster Hagelgansz.

"It's a place to hang out and just talk to somebody," Hagelgansz said. "It's not just boxing, it's a lot deeper. It's a good place for them to come."

Hagelgansz, who has been with Nalo Boxing for eight years, makes use of his skills as a former anger-management counselor with the Hawai'i Job Corps Center.

"Not only do I train boxers, but I want to work to keep them off the streets, and I want to work on their mental a little bit," he said.

A volunteer with a big heart

Artuyo has driven from Enchanted Lake to Waimanalo the past 17 years to run Nalo Boxing Club, which is affiliated with the Police Activities League.

The feeling is mutual.

"Coach Duke is one of the best people I've ever met in my life," Andrews said. "He's into helping kids. He doesn't expect anything in return. He's into boxing for sure and he's an unbelievable asset to our community.

"The glory and honor should go to coach Duke."

Artuyo boxed while at Konawaena High School and, later, with the Army and the Coast Guard. Now he teaches the skills to children.

"I'm retired," Artuyo said. "I keep myself busy and, at the same time, I can help some kids out. I've been doing it all these years. It's not a hard thing to do."

Artuyo recruited 19-year-old Puaala Kahalewai, one of the few female boxers at the club.

Kahalewai, who has been with Nalo Boxing for a couple of weeks, said Artuyo and her father know each other.

"The coach came by my house and asked me if I wanted to box," said Kahalewai, a 2000 graduate of Kaiser High School. "And since I'm not doing nothing, I figured I'd come out."

Things have changed

On one side of the gym there are 10 mirrors — eight of which are full length — leaning against the wall.

The mirrors are streaked with sweat from those who like to shadowbox up close. It doesn't take much to sweat in the warehouse, which is especially hot and humid in the afternoon.

Next to the mirrors is a "Raging Bull" movie poster, featuring the battered face of Robert De Niro.

None of the Nalo Boxing members will ever look like De Niro, according to Hagelgansz, because the club uses big gloves and everyone wears headgear when sparring. The worst anyone gets is a bloody nose, he said.

The gym's boxing equipment — ring, speed bag, sway bag and three heavy bags — was mostly paid for out of Artuyo's pocket.

Hagelgansz said he would like to add pool tables and pingpong tables to attract nonboxers.

Outside the warehouse are remnants of the site's previous use. Countless plant holders, many with soil and plants still within, are lined up along the dirt driveway to the warehouse.

Starting 'em young

Around 15 children and 10 "big boys" have been going to the gym since it opened two months ago, according to Artuyo.

Hagelgansz assists Puaala Kahalewai in taping her hand in preparation for boxing at the new center. Kahalewai, one of the few female boxers at the club, is a 2000 graduate of Kaiser High. “Since I’m not doing nothing, I figured I’d come out,” she said, recounting how the club’s coach, who knows her father, encouraged her to join. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

The youngest boxer is 6-year-old Gaige Robertson.

"I looked at people training at boxing and I realized it looked really good," he said.

Robertson, who attends Kailua Elementary School, can't reach the speed bag or sway bag yet, so he often pounds away at the heavy bag. Someone usually holds that bag in place but such assistance actually isn't necessary yet because Robertson's blows don't pack a Brian Viloria-like wallop. Not yet anyway.

Robertson will start sparring at 8, according to Joseph, whose fiancee is Robertson's mother.

Joseph drives Robertson down to Waimanalo five days a week to train.

Joseph, who also has trained at Wai'anae, Kaka'ako and Kalakaua, said he also started boxing at age 6.

"Being around boxing, him seeing me around it, he was really interested in it," Joseph said. "He showed that he had a knack to box. So I brought him down, and he has a natural talent for it. He's a quick learner."