This is Justin Ridgely. He’s a rock climber in Hawaii. You can see him climbing in a bunch of the “Bouldering in Hawaii” photos and in this video.

This is his kava plant.

These are his pineapples.

And this is his rock climbing gym.

Justin is the owner of Volcanic Rock Gym. He just opened a new location in Kaka’ako, a neighborhood in Honolulu. The grand opening was on Saturday, April 13.

Volcanic Rock Gym is a rock climbing gym (bouldering specifically) where folks can come to get strong. Pictured above is Beau.

Justin, a former carpenter, built the rock climbing walls by hand with the help of several volunteers from the Hawaii rock climbing community. The place was built fast. Like, in under a month.

Here’s how it went down…

Back in late February, a space opened up in Kaka’ako that seemed like it could be used for a rock climbing gym. Justin was interested and started thinking about how he could turn it into a gym. He sent me a text with this photo. I texted back asking if this was some sort of rock climbing gym for ants.

Then at the beginning of April, Justin signed the lease. Volcanic Rock Gym started as this long space that was formerly a weight-room for Powerhouse Gym. We went to check it out and congratulate him. The space was raw.

From that point forward Justin went into a building frenzy. In less than a week the space was cleaned up and the walls were framed out.

A few days after that, plywood was cut and installed. He was working like a mad man. Justin then announced that the new rock climbing gym in Honolulu was being built and invited anyone who was curious about it to come have a look.

Then came the painting process. Juri, a fellow Hawaii rock climber, was a huge help here. Painting this much wall space is not easy. One night I was here, we painted until 4 in the morning.

The cinder block walls got a new coat of paint as well and the place started to take on that new-gym feel. This photo was taken just a couple weeks after the lease was signed.

Justin is a big fan of Reuse Hawaii and built this desk with help from Nick and Juri.

This is where you’ll check-in and sign up.

A railing was built next with help from Johnny. The rail would section off the climbing area from the walkway.

Justin then built modules that would be mounted on the wall.

Sean, Evan and a few others helped screw in hundreds of t-nuts that are used to mount rock climbing holds to the plywood.

The back section of the gym also needed some attention. Justin installed lockers and built some rock climbing focused training equipment. He also had to build a door for the bathroom and install the toilet.

Lucky Olelo painted this piece.

This one’s by Jeff Gress.

One night I went over to help build a hangboard mount. I watched this dude (who I mostly know as a rock climber) measure, cut and construct a piece of work out equipment from scratch. You could tell he had done this sort of thing many times before when he used to build houses. It’s always interesting to see your friends’ hidden skills.

Once the construction and painting was complete there was still work to do. The floor was filled with shredded rubber, more furniture was built, and all he holds were set. All those long days of building and sleepless nights paid off and only a month after signing the lease, Justin was open for business.

There’s a lot of wall space here with plenty of overhung routes and roof climbing.

The back is now cleaned up and has been turned into strength training room. This is Nick on the campus board. It’s used to build finger strength and lock off strength.

Nick is doing assisted one arm pull ups on the rings.

You’ll also find these huge and heavy pieces of rebar that you can use to build your grip strength and shoulder muscles. You’ll probably want to get some tips from Justin on how to train with the rebar.

Rock climbing shoes and chalk are available to rent.

Drinks are available as well.

There’s a lounge space in the front where you can chat with other climbers or use the free Wi-Fi. If you come here during the daytime on a weekday you might see here on my laptop looking nerdy.

There are some fun routes set on the wall and more going up very soon.

Come check out Hawaii’s new rock climbing gym located conveniently in Honolulu. They open until 10pm.

Volcanic Rock Gym is located at 432 Keawe Street.

See also:

• A list of rock climbing spots in Hawaii.
• Get updates on VolcanicRockGym.com and on Facebook.
• Follow Volcanic Rock Gym on Instagram.

Spending the day in a Hawaii forest is a wonderful escape.

Even if you get stabbed by these every once in a while.

On this day we’re at another spot rock climbers in Hawaii have been bouldering. There are free standing boulders all over the place in this valley.

Many first ascents were had on this day.

This Hawaii bouldering spot is called Jagger Valley.

We hiked up to the valley a few weeks ago to check it out.

When I arrived a bunch of the guys were already climbing.

Crash pads were layered under the boulder.

Men held hands.

It was overcast and rain sprinkled on us throughout the day.

The guys were projecting a difficult boulder problem.

The route starts low and traverses the bottom park of the rock.

The holds are tiny and slopey.

There were many falls trying to make this reach.

Notice how small the left and right hand holds are.

Once you get your feet over to the other side, you’ll have to figure out a way to climb up the arete.

It is not easy. No one completed the problem on this day.

After many attempts, it was time to take a break and move on.

We also worked on a route that started low and went straight up the face of the boulder.

The start is easy, but the lip of the boulder had very tough slopey holds.

Up above the lip there’s a small rail you can grip on to.

It’s much more difficult than it looks and careful spotting is required.

The route is completed by topping out.

After we had grown tired of the first boulder we walked up the valley to look for more.

This river rock seems to get plenty of water.

Then there was this boulder.

This side of the rock is probably more for keiki.

Dogs ran through the forest.

Endless energy in this one.

We inspected another boulder with potential for some good climbing.

The guys brushed off moss to reveal potential climbing holds.

Matt climbed to the top to have a look at the view.

At the top, he gazed about in wonderment.

Phil got to the hard to reach places.

It took some teamwork.

With everyone pitching in the boulder was clean in no time.

Justin stretched out.

This problem starts low on the rock and goes up the arete.

The hill slopes down sharply so a fall here could send you tumbling down the hill.

As they climbed, the guys struggled to figure out which cracks and bumps in the rock could be used as holds.

One by one they figured it out.

And eventually the problem was completed.

There was another problem on the other side of the boulder.

This one takes you up the face of this boulder. While it’s not that tall, the problem is difficult. A fall here would put you on a pile of sharp smaller boulders.

Jagger Valley is tucked away in a remote part of the island.

The forest is lush.

And it’s full of life. Watch where you sit though. I almost sat on this sleeping lizard.

To learn more about bouldering in Hawaii, talk to the folks at Volcanic Rock Gym.

See also:

• More Unreal Hawaii stories about rock climbing in Hawaii.

This is a huge free-standing boulder with an overhanging face.

The rock is mega-sharp limestone.

To date, it’s the largest free-standing boulder we’ve seen on the island of Oahu.

On this day, Justin Ridgely (Hawaii rock climber and owner of Volcanic Rock Gym) decided to boulder it. He would climb to the top without a safety rope. Bouldering routes (called “problems”) are typically only 10 to 20 feet tall. This one is a good 35-40 feet tall so it’s called a “high ball.” Climbers risk serious injury or death when they climb a high ball boulder problem, but I’m thinking that’s why they do it.

Justin mentally prepares for the climb.

He pulls himself up from the first solid hold he can reach.

The holds are big but they are sharp and he has a long way to go.

I’m down the hill watching and taking photos. Our friend Brian is next to me taking video. There is no one spotting Justin. Spotter or not, if he fell from this height, it would have been bad.

As Justin gets higher up the boulder I think Brian and I were more nervous than he was.

Especially at this point where Justin seems to hesitate for a second to look for a place to put his foot.

He finds his footing and speeds his way to the top.

The top is where the rock gets crumbly so Justin has to be careful here.

And finally the route has been completed. He get’s the FA, or “first ascent.”

Coming down form the boulder is a bit easier. You just climb down the banyan tree growing out of the rock.

With that rock being so sharp Justin ended up with some minor wounds.

The route has been named “The Perfect Ratio.” That being the perfect ration between one fluid and another.

Having seen all that, know this … climbers don’t typically walk up to a 40 foot rock and climb straight up it.

There’s preparation involved.

Rock climbers will typically climb the route in a harness and attached to a rope first. They test the holds they will use and clean them off.

During this process, Brian climbed the route as well.

This is Hawaii rock climber Brian Shaw.

He had a nice scary fall from the top when the rock he was holding on to broke off. The rope saved him though and he got back on and completed the route.

Then he lowered himself down. We were self-belaying this day.

I gave it a go but found that it was too difficult to do with ultra-clenched buttchecks (it was scary).

After Justin’s first ascent on The Perfect Ratio, the climbed this side of the rock as well.

We then went to have a look around the area. This bouldering spot on Oahu has yet to be named.

There appears to be some potential on this limestone for some boulder problems.

And there’s this cave that a rock climber could potentially climb the roof of.

Soon it was time to go though. Justin had gotten his adrenaline fix, Brian completed the route and I got some photos I was stoked on.

Video:

See also:

• More stories about rock climbing in Hawaii.
• Questions about this spot? Talk to Justin at Volcanic Rock Gym or check them out on Facebook.

This is another bouldering spot on Oahu. (Thanks to Matt Lutey for snapping this photo.)

This spot has been named Unicorn Brothel. It’s tucked away in the woods and has one of hardest bouldering problems (“problem” = a bouldering route) on the island. Over the course of a month or so towards the end of last year, rock climbers on Oahu were venturing out on an almost daily basis. The mission was to be the first person to complete the boulder problem. I went out with the crew one day to check it out.

The day started with a short hike out to the boulders.

We had to dodge these things on the way out.

First stop was the warm up boulder where we would loosen up. Hi Phil.

Phil’s dog.

Justin sets up on the warm up boulder.

Phil gets in a warm up.

Nancy grabs the arête.

Sarah Cookson was in town.

3 inches shy. (No, that is not what “she said”.)

After a quick warm up we hiked up the hill to the Unicorn Brothel.

We set up the pads and the got settled in.

Then Phil shredded his thumb moving a rock. Hard to explain this one. Well, see, the guys noticed this big rock that was flat on top. It weighed maybe 150 pounds so three of them picked it up to move it 10 feet closer to where everyone was sitting. Then when they put it down, Phil’s thumb got stuck under it and then he shredded it. But at least now they had a table. (Which someone then sat on and used as a seat.) Yeah, probably didn’t need to explain that one.

The pups settled in as well.

This is the project the guys have been working on. It starts deep under the boulder. The holds are tiny.

You work your way up the overhung face of the rock. You’re hanging by just your fingertips.

Higher up on the rock, the holds get worse.

You must then somehow get your body over the lip.

No one completed the problem on this day. But, Hiro (pictured above) recently completed the project. When you are the first person to complete a route, you get to name it. The problem is now named “Spider Tears” (V10).

See also:

• More posts on rock climbing in Hawaii

This huge rock was found in a Hawaiian rainforest a few months ago.

The lines on it are some very hard high-ball boulder problems.

This place is called the Paradise Boulders. Do not look up in the trees.

I’m not sure if I’d be so fascinated by this giant rock if I never tried rock climbing. But these days, the sight of a gigantic free standing boulder has me in awe. Especially when it’s sitting in the middle of the forest in Hawaii. It seems so out of place.

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The Arch at Kaena Point.

Justin Ridgely hanging over the rocks and water at the Arch.

Justin at Zombie Meadows.

Nancy under a giant rock in the forest.

These are the photos that were shown in the “Bouldering in Hawaii” photo exhibition.

The photos are meant to provide a glimpse into the bouldering scene on the island of Oahu. Four climbers are featured in the photos: Justin Ridgely, Matt Lutey, Nancy Nguyen and Hiro Watanabe.

There are 21 photos in all. If you didn’t get to see them printed out and hung on the walls, please enjoy this photoset.

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