The sun beats down on the glistening muscles of CrossFit Waikiki’s trainers and students, who make use of the beautiful beachside campus of the Ilikai Hotel during high-intensity workouts. Trainers harness the natural resistance of the beach’s sand and water to tone bodies during routines that vary constantly and entail everything from Ivy League rowing drills to hurdles over the hotel’s sunbathing patrons. Workouts seldom repeat the same exercises—a reflection of a training philosophy best summed up in the phrase “specializing in not specializing.” This proclivity for all-around athleticism prevents minds from slipping into boredom and ensures that the sum of exercises, like wresting a paperclip from the grip of an electrical socket, engages every muscle.
