CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Gloria Hamada, in the foreground, owns Curves for Women at Ala Moana and Davies Pacific Center, a place that allows busy women like Mary Ann States, left, and Cheryl Martin to incorporate fitness into their lifestyle.

Living
the dream

"HerStory" features women
who've turned passion into profit

---

By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com

'HerStory' conference Where: Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort When: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday Admission: $120, includes continental breakfast and lunch Call: 946-6466 Details: The one-day conference, sponsored by the Junior League of Honolulu, offers a variety of sessions including: "Top 10 Wellness Tips for Women" and "War Torn: Women Reporters' Stories of the Vietnam War." Olympic gold medalist Dot Richardson will present the keynote address. Peggy Chun will deliver the endnote speech.

Turning a hobby or special interest into a profitable business seems to be a dream many individuals share. The idea of obtaining financial success while having fun is quite appealing.

On Friday, four women will share their turning "passion to profit" success stories at the annual "HerStory" conference sponsored by the Junior League of Honolulu. Pegge Hopper will discuss the opening of her downtown gallery; Maile Meyer will talk about her book business, Na Mea Hawaii; Lora Nakai will recount opening her Heaven on Earth Day Spa; and Gloria Hamada will share her reasons for opening two Curves for Women workout facilities.

The topics of the conference, ranging from "Unleash the Artist in You" to "Bill Gates is Taken: Getting Real About Financial Planning," are meant to be empowering for women who often spend so much time tending to others' needs that they neglect their own.

Hamada has been there. For 12 years she maintained a private practice that specialized in functional medicine, helping others with nutrition, diet and lifestyle changes.

But during her pregnancy, she ballooned from 114 to 196 pounds. At 5-foot-2, the gain seemed exaggerated and she was devastated. "I was used to helping others with their weight loss, not dealing with my own," she said.

At the same time, after giving birth she no longer had the time to put long hours into her private practice, nor time to spend in a gym.

"As I get older, I'm much more picky about how I spend my time," she said.

Frustrated by the traditional co-ed gym concept, Hamada wanted to provide a supportive, intimate exercise environment for women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. "My passion -- it's all about health and helping people."

Hamada now owns and operates the Curves for Women facilities downtown at Davies Pacific Center and at Ala Moana. More than 4,000 locations exist in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. The franchise met her criteria because it entails both strength training and a no-nonsense approach to weight loss. Hamada feels her days spent at Curves represents "an honest day's work."

"It's a great service because it's something women will do and can do. We are constantly seeing results with the ladies," she said. The simple workouts allow busy women to exercise, freshen up to go back to work, and see results in less than an hour.

The Curves facility utilizes a combination of hydraulic resistance strength training and aerobic recovery stations providing a complete body workout in about 30 minutes. The program is designed to help women achieve successful permanent weight loss and overall fitness because the program increases lean tissue mass, thereby increasing metabolism and the body's efficiency to burn calories and fat, explained Hamada.

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Pegge Hopper, with a painting many might not expect from her.

WHERE HAMADA had a goal in mind, artist Pegge Hopper had a different experience. "Things sort of just evolved for me," she said. "It's been a miracle -- life has really blessed me."

Even so, her accomplishments did not come easily. It took an abundance of hard work and discipline to open her Chinatown gallery in 1983. "I worked like a fiend ... was neurotic. I'd paint all day long, became antisocial and never went anywhere."

All the while, she tried to live up to one of her favorite sayings: "Chance favors the prepared mind" (Louis Pasteur), believing that people can accomplish anything with the right mindset.

She learned to push herself and not to criticize too much, knowing "the critical voice can be very strong."

The liberating idea of being on her own was worth the risk of abandoning the security of a steady job.

Hopper studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and after graduation she designed murals for New York department stores. Later, she traveled throughout Europe and worked for two years designing posters and graphics for La Rinascente in Milan, Italy.

Hopper arrived in Hawaii in 1963 and worked as an art director at an advertising agency. In the '70s, she began painting distinctive images of island woman.

She has no regrets about leaving the realm of corporate politics. "I'm my own boss and can do things my own way," she said. "I don't need to butt heads with people with big egos.

"I'm not afraid to make mistakes or go out on a limb. I like a calculated risk -- it comes with age."

There is nothing worse than doing work you don't like, and even if you don't yet have a plan to ditch your "day job," Hopper is upbeat when she says that opportunity will be there, and will be noticeable, when individuals are ready for something to happen.

"Opportunity is around every corner, especially in the United States," she said, adding the reminder that "life is like a diversified portfolio." It's best when professional and personal aspects are in balance.

Click for online
calendars and events.