Small Gym September: Meet High Intensity Athletics

Get to know High Intensity Athletics, a program that represents the all star community strong all the way from Honolulu, Hawaii!

Sep 29, 2025 by Amber Salas

Small Gym September: Meet High Intensity Athletics

FloCheer is highlighting the small gyms and programs that help elevate All Star cheer and build champion athletes on and off the mat for Small Gym September. This week, we’re excited to share the story of High Intensity Athletics, a program on the rise, bringing the Aloha Spirit to the all star community all the way from Honolulu, Hawaii!

Quick Hits with High Intensity Athletics:

Location: Honolulu, HI
First Year: 2017
Number of Teams This Season: 6 Teams: Tiny 1 ISLAND BABES, Mini 1 HULA GIRLS, Junior 2 JBOWS, Junior 4 HAWAIIAN PUNCH, Senior coed 4 WARRIORS, Senior open 4 REBEL SOULJAHS
Website - Click here for more

The Story of High Intensity Athletics:

"We started as a training program at a university, getting athletes ready for college cheer and basic cheer fundamentals. We quickly grew to a competitive program. Then COVID-19 happened, and we lost access to our practice space. Once things opened up again, we practiced at a park for a while while the world figured out COVID. We lost athletes over time because we didn’t have a facility. We downsized to a single junior team (Hawaiian Punch) and were able to showcase our athletes' talents as a junior 4, winning national championships, paid bids, and ultimately placing well at The D2 Summit. As our athletes grew, so did our program! We were back to doing classes, and now our single competitive team became a Senior Coed Level 5 team this last season (Warriors)! They continue to do well as they are now the back-to-back D2 Summit champions. We now have 6 teams in our program."

- Kainoa Rudolfo - Owner of High Intensity Athletics

Meet The Owners of High Intensity Athletics:

High Intensity Athletics was co-founded by Kainoa Rudolfo and Cadey Vakauta. Kainoa was a college football player who transitioned to college cheerleading. A fun fact is that Kainoa coached Cadey on a Worlds-level team first, then they both coached together. They first coaches brother-sister private school athletes of an all girl school, as well as an all boy school, that competed against each other locally. They combined those teams and competed nationally together. They have now been coaching together since 2016.

Proud Wins & Accomplishments:

Warriors are the current back-to-back D2 Summit Champions in Senior Coed Level 5
Jbows finished in 4th place at The 2025 D2 Summit

What Makes The Program Special:

"It really is an Ohana. Our older athletes volunteer and work with the younger athletes at their practices as part of their involvement with the program. It takes every single person to make this all happen!"

FloCheer would like to congratulate High Intensity Athletics on a job well done! It has been so special to follow along with their journey of bringing the Aloha spirit to the all star cheer community. You can follow along with High Intensity Athletics this upcoming season at events like USA All Star Cheer Super Nationals, on island competitions, and virtual events. The program says it's always a challenge to compete at other competitions, having to fly from Hawaii to the mainland, but they are up for the test and always put their best foot forward! Their goal is to finish their season with the best routine possible at The D2 Summit.

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