Posted on: Friday, August 8, 2003

Aloha Muscle Jam will feature variety of events

Advertiser Staff

The second annual Aloha Muscle Jam, which includes national-qualifying events in bodybuilding and figure and a world-qualifying competition in the bench press, will be held tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. at Blaisdell Center.

In bodybuilding, winners of six different classes in the open and masters divisions qualify for national competition. The women's figure championship qualifies two competitors — short and tall classes.

The bench press qualifies 13 weight classes in 13 divisions (including teams) to international contests.

The Jam also features a Hawaiian Hercules Strongman event, open only to Hawai'i residents, with competitors pulling a 43,000-pound tow truck; a car show (with funny cars, dragsters and Harley Davidson motorcycles); a bikini fashion show; and martial arts and aerobics demos.

Hawai'i bodybuilders Daren Foust and Guy Copeland are entered.

Foust qualified for nationals by winning the Hawaiian Islands Bodybuilding Championships on June 28, while Copeland has to beat Foust to reach the nationals.

Copeland's task is difficult because, unlike the Hawaiian Islands Championships, the Aloha championship includes Mainland competitors.

Ryan Kennelly — credited with being the first man to bench more than 800 pounds — and Kerwin Unten of Honolulu will compete in the bench press.

Unten, who weighs 132 pounds, is one of less than a dozen in the world who can bench press three times his body weight, according to an Aloha Muscle Jam press release.

Frank Wakakuwa, who weighs about 242 pounds, hopes to lift more than 650 pounds to break the world record in his class.

Tickets, which allow entry into all events, are based on seating for the bodybuilding final and range from $7 to $30. For information, call 551-6805.