Aloha Rock Gym Blog

Intro to Climbing 101

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 06:30:34 GMT

What is Rock Climbing?

Rock climbing is more than just scaling walls — it's a full-body workout that challenges your mind and builds confidence. Whether you’re looking to get stronger, overcome your fear of heights, or just have fun with friends, climbing is one of the most rewarding sports out there.

Modern climbing gyms make it easy to get started, even if you’ve never tried before. With padded floors, friendly staff, and walls designed for all levels, climbing is safer and more accessible than ever.

Types of Indoor climbing

There are several styles of indoor climbing you might encounter. Here’s a quick breakdown:

You’re harnessed and attached to a rope that runs through an anchor at the top of the wall, with a belayer on the ground managing the slack. This is ideal for longer climbs and building endurance.

Bouldering:

Top Rope Climbing:

Lead Climbing:

No ropes, no harness — just you and the wall. Bouldering routes (called “problems”) are shorter and closer to the ground with thick padding below. It’s a great way to start climbing with minimal gear.

For more advanced climbers, lead climbing means clipping your rope into quickdraws as you ascend. It requires more skill and training, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

Gear You'll Need (Or Can Rent)

For your first few sessions, you don’t need to buy anything. Most climbing gyms rent everything you need. If you're enjoying your new hobby and feel it would be advantageous to have your own gear then you can decide to purchase your own gear.

Belay Device:

Chalk and Chalk Bag:

Keeps your hands dry for better grip.

Required for top rope or lead climbing.

If you’re learning to belay.

Climbing Shoes:

Snug, sticky-rubber shoes that help you grip the wall.

Harness:

Common Beginner Questions

Expect a friendly, low-pressure environment. You’ll likely start with a short orientation or safety briefing. After that, a staff member can help you get fitted with rental gear and point you toward beginner-friendly climbs.

Most gyms label routes by color and grade. Don’t worry about numbers — just try a few and have fun. Falling is part of the process (especially in bouldering), and everyone was a beginner once.

What to Expect on Your First Visit

Do I need to be strong to start climbing?
Not at all! Climbing is about technique, balance, and learning to use your feet. Strength will come with time.

Is it scary?
It can feel intimidating at first, but you’re always supported — by pads or ropes. As you gain confidence, the fear fades.

How do I improve?
Start slow, climb often, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or take a class. Technique is everything.

Why Climbing Is For Everyone

Climbing is a sport that meets you where you are. Whether you’re 6 or 60, solo or social, focused or playful — there’s a place for you on the wall.

You’ll build strength, flexibility, and confidence. You’ll meet new people. And you’ll probably find yourself hooked.

Gym Design Walk Thru | February 2025 Newsletter

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:37:07 GMT

Aloha Maui Climbers!

First 10 seconds of video:

As you can see in this video, when you enter Aloha Rock Gym, we’ll have a front desk where you can check in, ask questions, get outfitted with shoes, harness and chalk bag. We’ll also have a robust retail section where, when you’re ready to take that next step, you can pick out your own climbing shoes, chalk bags and chalk, rope, quick draws, belay device and everything else you might want in order to advance your climbing to the next level. We’ll also have Aloha Rock Gym swag so you can rep Maui’s only climbing gym when you’re out there in the world.

Note that the first wall in the gym (facing the windows) is not too steep and will provide good bouldering opportunities for all levels including kids and teams. We’ll also have plenty of seating here for parents and kupuna who’d like to hang out and watch the keiki getting after it. Finally, this wall will give our route setters space to set lower-angled problems which offer some of the trickiest (and funnest) moves.

Thanks for signing up for this newsletter. I'll use this forum to catch you up on gym updates and Aloha Rock Gym community projects.

I’ve kept past updates short and sweet because I know everyone is busy and, frankly, the last thing most of us want to do is read a long blog post. This time, however, I want to elaborate a bit on what went into the design of Aloha Rock Gym and, believe it or not, the story begins in 1977 when I got busted for playing floor hockey in the school bathroom with a metal puck we’d unscrewed from a urinal.

Our punishment for the disruption, destruction and gambling was to choose a book from the library and write a book report. For some reason my elementary school in Plano, Texas had a bunch of books about mountaineering and the photos were so mind blowing that I chose one of those books for my report.

In High Places was an autobiography about a Scottish rake named Dougal Haston who rode a motorcycle, lived on the “dole,” and managed to find his way onto pretty much every significant British expedition in the 1960s and 70s: Everest, the Eiger as well as cutting edge rock and ice climbs closer to home in the UK. Haston’s exploits resonated with me and my tight crew of reprobates who longed for something thrilling and difficult to throw our adolescent minds and bodies at. We saw that Haston trained on a railroad trestle and so we emulated him, meeting after school at a 30-foot flagstone trestle where we practiced techniques gleaned from Royal Robbins’ Basic Rockcraft with braided manila ski ropes we bought at Kmart.

These sessions at the trestle with my grade school buddies were the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the sport. It wasn’t just the movement and workout that we craved. It was also the comradery. Climbing became a path toward health and discipline and provided friendships with folks who were similarly interested in pushing their minds and bodies in positive ways rather than getting high and the general malfeasance of many of our teenage peers. I truly don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t found climbing, but I do know that it changed and shaped my life in the best way possible.

But a big part of climbing, to me, is the social aspect, and I dreamed of bringing a topnotch facility to the island. Ten years later I connected with the best team possible to make that dream a reality. Now we’ve found a building, cleared the permitting hurdles and we’re just a few months away from opening. We can not wait to share the culmination of our vision with our community.

The design of Aloha Rock Gym is bound up with my (and my partners) earliest experiences of climbing where the social aspects were just as important as our time wrestling through moves and learning new techniques. Allow me to walk you through the gym, share the reasons for the design and point out some of my favorite aspects.

Jeff and his crew enjoying a day of rock climbing together on Maui.

Seconds 10-30:

As you round the corner, you enter the sport climbing corridor (I like to think of it as a box canyon) with potential for 75 routes over 35-feet tall. We put a lot of thought into this section, including steep bulges, sweeping overhangs as well as dihedrals and aretes so that our members can experience virtually all types of climbing. We also invested in AC and a variety of fans to circulate the warm air that tends to collect up high so that folks will be comfortable while cranking up there in the high places.

Seconds 30-35:

Rounding the corner you can see another section of bouldering with more aggressive angles. Setters can utilize this wall to make more advanced problems as well as easier ones that everyone can do. We’re excited about the back wall, which we designed as a “spray wall,” a 30-degree overhanging wall that we’ll load up with all kinds of holds. This area will be great for coaching and teams since we can concentrate the keiki in this back area and keep the fun level high without negatively impacting the experience of other members.

Seconds 35-40:

The cave boulder and campus boards are an area where more advanced climbers can train at the steepest angles and train fingers for the smallest crimps. Keep in mind that Tyler, our head setter, will have problems for all levels in every area of the gym.

Finally, adjacent to the cave we’ll have a full service Rogue fitness rack, free weights, hang boards and cardio machines. Our goal is to give our members a one-stop fitness facility and this area will hopefully check all the boxes. We intentionally left this area open for events such as movie nights, guest speakers and parties.

I hope you’re getting a better idea of what Aloha Rock Gym will look like and the kind of vibe we’ll provide. All this comes out of our shared experience of climbing as both a sport and a community.

When I look back 48 years to that railroad trestle in Texas where my friends and I spent so many hours lost in movement and friendship, I realize that not much has changed. Climbing is still such a positive force in my life. My health and friendships are still growing out of this incredible activity and Aloha Rock Gym (ARG) is simply another way to share the climbing aloha with others. That’s why we like to say that ARG will be a community center disguised as a gym — a place where bodies get stronger, minds are bolstered as obstacles are overcome and lifetime friendships are made.

We can’t wait to share the real thing with you in a few short months!

Big Thanks

Mahalo to those of you who bought an Aloha Rock Gym t-shirt. We really appreciate the early support. Looking forward to seeing you flying the ARG colors out there in the world!

Community Outreach

Our mission is to use climbing to foster community. To that end, Aloha Rock Gym is already sponsoring community outreach events.

UPCOMING MALAMA AINA

Please join us on March 12th for a malama aina event hosted by Malama Maui Nui at historically and culturally significant Ukumehame/Olowalu. This spot has been used as a dumping ground for many years and needs our help! Pauwela Beverage Co has generously decided to co-sponsor this event and provide beverages for volunteers!

Where : Location at Ukumehame, Mile Marker 13.5

When : March 12th, 2025, we will be there 8 am - 2 pm. Signups are in 2 hour shifts, if you feel called you can choose to stay longer.

Fill out MMN’s Waiver : Right here

Sign up : Right here

Other info : Ukumehame is very hot! Please bring water, sun protection and closed-toe shoes. Gloves, trash pickers, bags, water and snacks will be provided.

Thanks for reading! Mahalo for your interest in Aloha Rock Gym. A hui hou …

Jeff Jackson

ARG T-shirt Order & Malama Recap | December 2024 Newsletter

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:07:21 GMT

Aloha Maui Climbers!

ARG Swag!

Many of you asked for ARG t-shirts, and we listened! We're doing a limited run of our classic ARG shirt and hoping to have them available for pickup on island before Christmas. For those of you on the mainland, delivery will take a little longer.

We managed to get some big savings on this run of shirts and are passing those savings on entirely — just $20 bucks (pickup on island) to start the new year representing what is going to be an incredible community here on Maui.

P.s., every order placed on this run will receive a 3x3” clear die-cut ARG sticker!

Many of you have run into us when we're wearing our shirts around town and it's been really fun getting to know you. Now we hope to run into you, with much aloha.

Please place your orders ASAP given limited quantities. Order deadline: Fri, Dec 13.

Happy holidays!

Click here to submit an order for a t-shirt!

Thanks for signing up for this newsletter. I'll use this forum to catch you up on gym updates and Aloha Rock Gym community projects.

Gym Update

We’re in a holiday mood at Aloha Rock Gym (ARG) as gym equipment, gear and goodies are starting to arrive on island. Notably, the first big box of climbing volumes is here on Maui (and in my garage) and all ~9,000 square feet of custom-designed Walltopia climbing walls came out of manufacturing — just waiting to be shipped! More holds on the way — over 6,000 holds from 30 different brands to be exact.

Building Update

Check out the future home of Aloha Rock Gym when you're stopped at the intersection of Hana Highway and Airport Road. We’ve been eagerly watching as the roof and siding goes up. Once the building has a shell, we’ll bring in our contractors and start our improvements. Maui climbers, get ready for air-conditioned indoor climbing in a state-of-the-art facility this summer.

Sneak Peak

Below, enjoy a sneak peak into what you’ll be seeing when you arrive at ARG’s facility at 72 Lauo Loop. Our next newsletter in January 2025 will of fer a deep-dive into our gym’s design with lots of visuals that reflect our motivations to create a special and inclusive community space. Get psyched for detailed realistic renderings and a walk-through video allowing you to check out the facility in full — including 3 bouldering areas, an epic sport climbing corridor (100+ roped routes), campus rungs, training devices, and a strength & conditioning area powered with Rogue Fitness lifting racks.

Community Outreach

Our mission is to use climbing to foster community. Aloha Rock Gym will be a climbing gym and a community center.

Recent Malama Aina

On October 5, Aloha Rock Gym joined Kipuka Olowalu to talk story and tend the lo’i (taro patch) near Olowalu Stream in west Maui. It was a rewarding experience for community members to give back and help care for the Native Hawaiian cultural site. If you weren’t able to join, but would like to show support for Kipuka Olowalu (non-profit that relies on donations) as we head into the holiday giving season, please consider making a donation here: https://kipukaolowalu.org/support-us

Away from Kipuka Olowalu, ARG partners and the climbing community have been working with landowners surrounding special climbing areas in the West Maui mountains by supporting them in various ways in a show of solidarity. If you’d like to volunteer time, energy, or funds to these causes, please reach out. As climbers, we deeply value our connection with the the aina and each other, and want to provide a foundation for generations to come.

Upcoming Malama Aina

Do you have ideas for impactful Malama Aina opportunities? We would love to hear them! Reply to this email and let us know.

Otherwise, stay tuned for upcoming ARG-sponsored Malama Aina projects after the holidays. We look forward to seeing you as we kokua together.

Mahalo for your interest in Aloha Rock Gym. A hui hou …

Jeff Jackson

GIANT Hold Order & CWA Recap | August 2024 Newsletter

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 03:54:29 GMT

Aloha Maui Climbers!

Barring unforeseen delays, we're on track to open in Spring 2025.

Sick Grips on the Way!

Our team, including Tyler Dail (Head Routesetter) and Kevalin Hutachinda just completed and placed our climbing holds order for over 6,300 holds. Brands include Kilter, Cheeta, Flat Hold and Squadra Holds (30 different brands), ensuring that Aloha Rock Gym will be outfitted with state-of-the-art crimps, volumes, jugs, and jibs from the very first set.

Thanks for signing up for this newsletter. I'll use this forum to catch you up on gym updates and Aloha Rock Gym community projects.

Gym update:

So much has happened in the past few weeks. Probably the most tangible and exciting development is watching the steel structure go up (and up to almost 40 feet) at our Lauo Loop location. You can clearly see the future home of Aloha Rock Gym from the intersection of Hana Highway and Airport Road.

Climbing Wall Association Trade Show

Speaking of climbing holds and all things gym climbing, back in May the Aloha Rock Gym crew ventured to Portland, Oregon for the annual Climbing Wall Association (CWA) trade show where we attended seminars, checked out products and networked with fellow gym owners, industry experts and gear manufacturers.

I particularly enjoyed reconnecting with many old friends made over the 47 years I’ve been invo lved with climbing, both as an athlete and during my decade as editor of Rock and Ice magazine.

Highlights included informative seminars on route setting, coaching, youth climbing programs, fostering community, and inclusive fee structures.

Aloha Rock Gym is committed to offering the most up-to-date programming and part of that commitment includes regularly networking and sharing innovative ideas and methods with other gym owners and industry experts. We’ll be bringing athletes, setters, coaches and experts to Maui to teach youth and train our staff. CWA was a great opportunity to set up these exchanges.

UPCOMING MALAMA KAI

Please join Aloha Rock Gym for the next Malama Kai as we partner with Maui Ocean Center for a beach cleanup in the area near Kahului Harbor and Paukukalo.

Kahului

Sunday September 1st, 2024

9:00am to 12:00pm

RSVP deadline Sunday, August 25th

Exact location and details will be shared separately after receiving your RSVP. To RSVP reply back by September 25th with the names and ages of your group attending. Keiki welcome.

Hope to see you there.

Mahalo for your interest in Aloha Rock Gym. A hui hou …

Jeff Jackson

Malama Aina Recap | July 2024 Newsletter

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 08:40:39 GMT

Aloha Maui Climbers!

Our head setter, Tyler Dail, is working with the best climbing hold companies on planet Earth to put together our climbing hold orders. We're committed to outfitting Aloha Rock Gym with state-of-the-art grips.

anks for signing up for this newsletter. As our opening day quickly approaches, I'll use this forum to catch you up on gym updates and Aloha Rock Gym community projects.

Gym update:

Big news: We finalized our wall designs with Walltopia, our wall manufacturer. Here's a teaser:

Thanks for signing up for this newsletter. As our opening day quickly approaches, I'll use this forum to catch you up on gym updates and Aloha Rock Gym community projects.

Gym update:

Big news: We finalized our wall designs with Walltopia, our wall manufacturer. Here's a teaser:

Barring unforeseen delays, we're on track to open in about six months, early 2025.

Community Outreach:

Our mission is to use climbing to foster community. We like to think of Aloha Rock Gym as a community center dressed up as a climbing gym. With that in mind, we’ll be regularly sponsoring community outreach events.

Our first outreach was a Global Climbing Community Fundraiser for the victims of the Maui wildfires .

Through leveraging our contacts within the climbing industry and the incredible generosity of our Maui climbing community, we raised over $15,000 for the Hawaii Community Foundation in about a month.

Malama Aina:

Aloha Rock Gym took part in a Malama Aina day on April 27, where volunteers worked with the Mauna Kahalawai Watershed Partnership to plant and water over 300 trees near Olowalu Stream in west Maui. In total, they bedded out 150 native plants, including ’ohi’a and a'ali'i. Interesting fact: According to the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, a'ali'i is a boast, which means “I can hold my own, even in the face of difficulties.” You can see a’ali’i thriving in many of the areas we climb outdoors here on Maui, especially in the West Maui mountains. The sentiment, “I can hold my own,” resonates as West Maui residents rebuild after the fires.

www.waikoloadryforest.org/plants/aalii

Join Aloha Rock Gym for the next Malama Aina! We’re organizing it now and will include info and sign up forms in our next newsletter. If you’re enjoying this newsletter or are excited about upcoming opportunities please share this email with your friends who may be interested. We appreciate your help spreading the word.

Mahalo for your interest in Aloha Rock Gym. A hui hou …

Jeff Jackson

Founder Spotlight | January 2024 Newsletter

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 04:22:26 GMT

Aloha Maui Climbers!

TYLER DAIL, 29 , has a killer mustache and laughs a lot. He's a brush artist that paints and sells octopi, whales and portraits among other things. He also drives Uber, trims coconut trees, and just quit a job at a coffee shop. In other words, he's 29 years old and trying to make a living on Maui.

Tyler grew up in Utah and discovered climbing at 13 when he and his friends "got hold of a climbing book and pretty much winged it outside." Soon they discovered a nearby indoor climbing gym and "got hooked."

"I climbed at my local gym, Momentum, for my whole life," Tyler told me. "That's where I met my best friends and fell in love with climbing. I never realized how much climbing can change you not only physically, but emotionally and even spiritually as well."

Tyler parlayed his love of climbing into frequent gigs with Momentum working everything from front desk staff, to assistant coach to hold washer/wall stripper, manager, head coach, and route setter.

Setting: Tyler has set for national youth competitions and has his USA Climbing route-setting certification. He cites Shannon Cornellier, Momentum's celebrated head route setter, as his route-setting mentor.

Coaching: Before moving to Maui, Tyler was head coach at the Momentum Sandy gym.

"It's what I want to do," Tyler said of coaching. "I loved seeing the students' progression, the problem solving, unlocking sequences. I saw myself in them, the same stoke, and that's when I realized I'm not just a coach but a mentor. And suddenly my journey as a climber was not as important. I realized, I don't even need to climb anymore to be fulfilled and happy."

Happy New Year and welcome to this second newsletter where I'll bring you up to date on everything that's happening at Aloha Rock Gym (ARG), Maui's first indoor climbing facility.

A lot has happened since we touched base in October.

Aloha Rock Gym world headquarters — 72 Lauo Loop directly adjacent to the Costco gas station — is under construction. After months of moving heavy dirt and rocks, our developers are now pouring concrete foundation for the building — a major milestone that quite literally cements a promising future for our climbers. We are incredibly excited about the modern climbing wall designs we have drafted with Walltopia, the world's #1 climbing wall manufacturer to bring over 8,000 square feet of roped climbing and bouldering with 38-foot ceilings to Maui. Despite delays caused by the wildfires etc., we're on track to have our doors open late summer 2024.

We're not the first people to dream about bringing a climbing gym to Maui and it wasn't easy. We've worked for many years to make this happen and it has taken a dedicated team of pros. As we continue rolling out newsletters, I will be introducing you to the founding team of Aloha Rock Gym. For today, meet Aloha Rock Gym's director of youth programming and chief route setter, Tyler Dail.

Qs for Tyler Dail

Year you moved to Maui:

2019

Why you moved to Maui:

To see if this vision of opening a climbing gym could come true.

Your experience of Maui:

Absolutely amazing and life-changing. I've met friends who I can truly call family and feel how tight-knit the climbing community is here.

Your vision:

My vision for Aloha Rock Gym is to see a community come together and make lasting friendships and family while at the same time promoting a healthy lifestyle. I want to be a mentor and help the youth down positive paths. I want to bring something to Maui that will be authentic and beautiful.

In short, Tyler embodies what all the founders envision for Aloha Rock Gym. I'm so grateful to have a highly experienced route setter and coach on our team.

That's it for now. I'll profile another member of the Aloha Rock Gym founding team next time. Wishing you all a very happy start to the new year.

A hui hou!

Coach Ty with his students on his last day coaching in Utah

Aloha Rock Gym's First Update | October 2023 Newsletter

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 04:10:25 GMT

"Aloha Maui Climbers!"

We are seeing rapid construction progress at our facility in Kahului ever since our developer broke ground just over 60 days ago. You might spot our facility in Kahului if you’re a frequent Costco shopper – keep your eyes peeled! We believe the Maui community deserves a world-class climbing gym, and that’s why we’ve worked tirelessly for years to secure the right facility. With 38-foot tall ceilings and 10,000 square feet of floor space, this facility is perfect for climbers of all abilities across both roped climbing, bouldering terrain, and modern climbing training equipment. As we approach our grand opening in the first half of 2024, we hope you’ll rally alongside us and help spread the word about Maui’s first climbing gym coming soon! You can also follow along with us on Instagram @AlohaRockGym.

We recently signed a contract with industry leader, Walltopia, to build our climbing walls.

For many years that's how I'd begin any group text to the tight-knit crew of local outdoor climbers here on da island. Now I'm so happy to be using the same phrase to open this first newsletter where I'll bring you up to date on everything that's happening at Aloha Rock Gym, Maui's first indoor climbing facility.

Before I get to the gym updates, we want to send out aloha to all those affected by the fires. Just days after the tragedy, our founding team at Aloha Rock Gym rallied the support of climbers from all over the globe after we launched the Global Climbing Community Fund for Maui Fire Victims.

Shout out to Chris Sharma, Conrad Anker, Renan Ozturk, Walltopia, Kilter, Reel Rock, Access Fund, and 120+ others for helping us raise over $15,000 for the Hawai’i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. This was our first fundraiser and it happened months before we even opened our doors. We plan on continuing this community service through work projects, outreach, and events. Our mission is to make Aloha Rock Gym a community center founded on the principals of ALOHA.

In gym news:

IT'S ON!

We're very grateful to have some super-experienced folks volunteering their expertise in gym design, coaching, and setting. If you’re interested in supporting our mission and helping us build a vibrant, thriving, inclusive community around the sport of climbing, please reach out – we would love to hear from you.

Reach us here:

aloharockgym.com/contact

Mahalo for your interest and support. Stay tuned for more updates coming monthly.

Jeff Jackson,

Aloha Rock Gym