Darin H. Kawazoe
Darin H. Kawazoe of Honolulu has always appreciated walking for walking's sake. "There was a time when I thought I would be disabled for the rest of my life." His first bout of arthritis began at age 30 and progressively led to chronic pain over 20 years. The simple act of moving my body forward today, one foot in front without extreme discomfort, provides a deep sense of gratitude, and I try to make the most of every step," Darin says. Walking brought Darin more than exercise and appreciation – it brought him serenity and bliss. "I began noticing things around me like I hadn't before.
"My walks make me feel calm, and I do them for myself," says Darin. That walking awakening made him wonder: Moving makes people feel good, so why aren't we doing more of it?" "This inspired my research, training, and education in connecting mindfulness to the power of moving correctly," says Darin, who founded DHK Health to lead people with mobility issues to use resilience and science on and off the playing field.
Darin has brought the essence of moving correctly again to DHK Health's Resilience Hub. He is also the co-founder of Hirobuilt, where he prepared ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary goals for racing, paddling, rugby, and other sporting events. Darin credits the late physiotherapist Dr. Lyn Silbert for her wisdom. "The things she did to help people with chronic pain were incredible. They walked better. They moved better. They surpassed their goals. They were happier because of Lyn," says Darin, "I learned so much from Lyn, and I will always feel a deep sense of gratitude that I got to spend 10 years of my life with her."
Darin is the recipient of the 2015 United States President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition for Community Leadership. Darin's love for fitness and longevity extends into aging in place and strengthens aging adults, teens, and children to improve their well-being. Darin is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, falls prevention specialist, National Arthritis Foundation aquatic trainer, life coach, pain management as well as ergonomic specialist. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.