Foundation First

Kumu Ka‘ai Spencer building on reputation as an elite strength and conditioning coach

Kumu Ka’ai Spencer works with HPA student-athletes.

While talent and coaching are vital ingredients in having successful sports programs, a focused, informed, and specific training program is what gives teams the edge needed as they hunt down championships. Kumu Ka’ai Spencer teaches Hawaiian language at HPA, but also functions as the strength and conditioning coach for Ka Makani athletes in multiple sports.

Spencer’s reputation in the strength and conditioning field has grown rapidly, and he was recently named the 2019 Pacific Regional Strength Coach of the Year by the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA). Spencer also serves as a board member for the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) and has functioned as the Hawaii state director for NHSSCA since 2016.

Spencer recently returned from the 2020 NHSSCA Pacific Regional Conference, meeting up with other strength coaches from Nevada, California, and Hawaii. He gave a presentation while also taking in some new knowledge that he brought back to campus. 

Kumu Ka’ai Spencer during his presentation at the NHSSCA Pacific Regional Conference.

From your perspective, what’s the most important part of going to conferences like this?

Every time I attend one of these conferences, I come back with new strategies that can be implemented into my own programming as an improvement. These conferences allow me to connect and network with other high school strength coaches that work in similar situations, and we can share and learn from each other. Many of the approaches I used are things that I have learned at a conference that I have molded to work for our program at HPA.

Talk a little about your presentation.

The title of my most recent presentation was “Considerations for the Stationary Warm-Up.” Working with larger numbers in a relatively smaller space has been the niche that I have become accustomed to. After seven years of tinkering and coming up with new approaches to help larger groups have a seamless flow in the weight room, it has become something that I can help others with. When considering warm-ups, we do many movements in a stationary area due to the limited space. Sharing what I do helps other coaches to get an idea of something that may be helpful to them. Much of what we do stems from inspirations that have been borrowed from other coaches, then adapted to fit our situation.

What’s the most common feedback you hear about your presentation from those in attendance.

The most common feedback I get is that my approach is simple yet effective and practical. Here are a few of the feedback statements on the conference exit survey:

  • “I have limited space as well so I greatly appreciated your creativity and willingness to help students to figure things out on their own.”
  • “Our weight room is very crowded so I am now going to reexamine our warm-up to add more stationary movements.”
  • “Useful for many coaches with space limitations.”

From a Hawaiian perspective, I share the proverb: “ʻO ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kūkulu.” It means: The foundation is first, then the building.”

— HPA strength and conditioning coach Ka’ai Spencer

While working with HPA student-athletes, what are some things you try to preach that you feel are the most important aspects of training?

Being physically strong is just as much a mental as it is physical. So much of my coaching focuses on students to believe in themselves, and acknowledge that gains in strength come with time and with a solid foundation. I like to use the phrase, “Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot, youʻre right.”

From a Hawaiian perspective, I share the proverb: “ʻO ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kūkulu.” It means: The foundation is first, then the building.

Anything else you want to add?

After much time working to establish a culture in the Nakamaru Fitness Center, it is now seen as a safe place by all students at HPA. Everyone is welcome, and the students are the stewards of order, cleanliness, and a healthy amount of self-discovery. Weight rooms are often a very intimidating space that comes along with ego and exclusivity. Here at HPA, students of all experience levels train together and learn together. It truly is a classroom that teaches lifelong fitness along with science, technology, math, and psychology all in one bundle.

As part of the Campus Master Plan, HPA envisions an athletic facility expansion, adjacent to the Nakamaru Fitness Center, dedicated to strength and conditioning. Here, teams will gain the necessary space to train together while individual students will find exceptional, personalized support. The new facility will free space in the Nakamaru building for an expansion of athletic training and cardio fitness. The project also allows HPA to address efficiently other vital improvements in athletics, such as renovated lock rooms and a competition-grade wrestling room. HPA is actively seeking philanthropic support to bring this plan into reality for our students, teams, and coaches. If you have questions or would like to assist, please contact Hannah Hind Candelario, director of advancement, at hcandelario@hpa.edu or (808) 881-4036.