Monalisa Durkan looked at the pavement, feeling the heat rise to her face before she slowly began to unlock her knees and attempt to stand up. This was no easy feat. She was holding a whopping 445 pounds.

Monalisa Durkan struggles to deadlift 445 pounds during the Hawaiʻi Strongest Man and Woman competition in Hilo on Saturday. (Kelsey Walling/Big Island Now)

She endured the pain, bringing herself to full standing position to win the last woman standing deadlift on Saturday during the annual Hawaiʻi Strongest Man and Woman competition at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

The crowd cheered as Durkan jumped in the air and celebrated with her friends and fellow competitors.

The lively crowd supported every athlete as they tested their strength and endurance during events that included the deadlift, Viking press, squats and ever popular team bus-pull. There also was a medley of Strongman events: the stone carry, reverse sled, duck walk and power stairs.

A competitor looks up while completing a deadlift during the Hawaiʻi Strongest Man and Woman competition in HIlo on Saturday, July 26. (Kelsey Walling/Big Island Now)

“You’re really competing with yourself to see if you can push to lift just a bit more than your max,” Durkan said. “It’s honestly the only way I can get to the gym because I have something to work towards.”

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The strongman competition was hosted by the Big Island Substance Abuse Council as part of the annual Summer Jam, which brings health care resources and social services to one location.

The Big Island Substance Abuse Council has been a leading provider of substance abuse treatment and behavioral health care services for adults and youth on Hawaiʻi Island for 61 years. The organization began hosting Summer Jam as a way to bring its programs to the public eye and reduce the stigma surrounding addiction recovery.

The family-friendly event has grown to include a health fair, craft mākeke (market), food vendors and a Keiki Fun Zone with games for young attendees.

“Summer Jam is meant to be an opportunity for people in recovery to have a fun time with a big group of people without the temptation of substances,” Preston-Pita said. “We also want to bring health resources and services to the community, because I know there are so many ʻohana out there that don’t know what’s available to them.”

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Summer Jam had a substantial increase in vendors this year, with 28 craft and 21 food vendors, and 34 organizations registered for the health fair, said Lane Miyake-Kamahele, the council’s community engagement program manager.

While Hawaiʻi Strongest Man and Woman is a challenge between two dozen competitors, there is more camaraderie than rivalry. Many athletes train at Imua Iron in Kona and have built up their strength together.

“I’ve competed and trained with a lot of the people here, so it’s always friendly competition, but I love being able to win when I can,” Durkan said. “If someone is interested in trying it themselves, I would suggest beginning training three months beforehand. Regardless of how it goes, it’s always a fun time.”

Monalisa Durkan celebrates reaching the highest number of 445 during the deadlift event in the Hawaiʻi Strongest Man and Woman competition on Saturday, (Kelsey Walling/Big Island Now)

While the Strongest Man and Woman has been part of nearly every Summer Jam, Big Island Substance Abuse Council only recently began implementing fitness as a tool for recovery through the new program, Ola Kino.

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It provides clients in recovery with education, guidance and tools to promote positive healthy habits. With help from a counselor and nutritionist, clients develop a health and wellness plan that focuses on exercise and diet, which inspires behavioral change.

Attendees look through information from Maikai Community Health during the 11th annual Summer Jam in Hilo on Saturday. (Kelsey Walling/Big Island Now)

A variety of health and social service vendors offered support to the community. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi provided information on its Native Hawaiian-based health care services, Kōkua Support Services offered behavioral health services and support, Patch Hawaiʻi shared the changes that have been made to childcare services statewide, and the East Hawaiʻi Drug-Free Coalition provided information on how the group works to prevent substance use and eliminate underage drinking.

“We decided to participate because there are so many ʻohana that don’t know that the qualifications for receiving childcare support have opened up,” said Kehau Lee Hong-Mauga, a family navigator subsidy specialist with Patch Hawaiʻi. “The Preschool Open Doors application for next year is now out, so I have been able to distribute several to parents stopping by.”

Visit the Hawaiʻi Strongest Man and Woman Competition Instagram page to learn more about how to get involved.

More information on Ola Kino, treatment programs, and services can be found on the Big Island Substance Abuse Council website.