Lahaina Shotokan Karate Dojo - sitting in seiza
Tradition
Lahaina Shotokan Karate Dojo - Kata Bassai-Dai
Camaraderie
Lahaina Shotokan Karate Dojo - Kata Tekki Shodan
Exercise
Lahaina Shotokan Karate Dojo - Reverse Punch
Discipline
Lahaina Shotokan Karate Dojo - kumite sparring
Self-defence
Lahaina Shotokan Karate Dojo - practicing Shuto Uke
Perseverance

About Lahaina Dojo

Lahaina Dojo is a nonprofit karate club located in West Maui. It has drawn hundreds of men, women, and children from all walks of life to experience the life-changing benefits of the traditional Shotokan karate martial arts system.

The dojo was established in 1983 by Jeffrey "Hulk" Zaugg along with Walter Chihara and Dave Barca . They practiced and earned their black belt certification under Karate Association of Hawaii Maui dojo Chief Instructor Yasuto Yoshioka. Eventually, Lahaina Dojo became part of the JKS headed by Tetsuhiko Asai. In recent years, it has been affiliated with Japan Karate Shotokai Hawaii in Honolulu lead by Sensei Charles Lee.

Shotokan is the most popular style of karate practiced worldwide. Lahaina Dojo follows a traditional Shotokan Karate curriculum based on kihon (fundamentals), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring). The dojo has members ranging from little kids to 70 plus year old adults who come to train from Kaanapali, Napili, Kapalua, Lahaina, and other parts of Maui. We regularly get visitors from the mainland United States, Canada, and other parts of the world - in fact some people come to train with us year after year while vacationing on Maui!

Shotokan Karate gives everyone an opportunity to train their mind, body, and spirit. It offers something to everyone - great workout, added flexibility, agility, endurance, self-defence skills, stress relief, improved focus and concentration, self-confidence, and a sense of community.

Lahaina Dojo instructors are highly qualified with many years of training in and teaching Shotokan Karate. If you'd like to join our classes, you can find our training schedule and location on this website.

Lahaina Dojo News

Lahaina Dojo takes part in JKA karate tournament
Lahaina Dojo takes part in JKA karate tournament

October 3, 2022

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japan Karate Association Fall Tournament was held on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the University of Hawaii Maui College. Participants in the...
Lahaina Dojo holds a kyu exam
Lahaina Dojo holds a kyu exam

April 10, 2022

In the first week of April 2022 Lahaina Dojo held kyu tests for color belts at the main dojo in Lahaina Civic Center on Maui. The students demonstrated their progress in Shotokan karate - basic ...
Shotokan karate classes resume at Lahaina Civic Center
Shotokan karate classes resume at Lahaina Civic Center

March 8, 2022

After a long pause due to coronovirus, Maui Lahaina Dojo is back to training at our dojo space in Lahaina Civic Center. Our traditional Shotokan Karate-Do classes' schedule and dojo location ca...
Shodan Certificate Presentation
Shodan Certificate Presentation

October 27, 2021

Michella Cabingas and Caehlaen Wyatt Balmores were presented with their official Japan Karate Shoto Federation (JKS) shodan - first degree black belt - certificates at the Wednesday practice by...
Summer Kyu Test
Summer Kyu Test

July 22, 2021

Lahaina Dojo held a kyu examination for eligible color belts in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii on July 9, 2021. Two groups of students tested - younger kids as well as more advanced kids and adults. It w...
Lahaina Dojo Students Test for Shodan
Lahaina Dojo Students Test for Shodan

May 22, 2021

Three Lahaina Dojo students - Hanan Oleiwan, Caehlaen Wyatt Balmores, and Michella Cabingas tested for their first degree black belts in Lahaina on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Charles Lee Sensei, the...
Black Belt Certificates
Black Belt Certificates

March 5, 2020

Charles Lee Sensei and Walter Chihara Sensei presented four students with hard earned black belt certificates. Samantha and Jason Monnett received their shodan (1st degree) certificates. Andy P...
Fitness and Self-Defense Demonstration
Fitness and Self-Defense Demonstration

February 13, 2020

Sensei Walter Chihara and the students of the Lahaina Dojo performed a demonstration at the Fitness and Self-Defense seminar at the Maui Hyatt. In his presentation, Chihara Sensei stressed how th...
Dojo Competes in Tournament
Dojo Competes in Tournament

October 10, 2019

Many Lahaina Dojo students competed in a traditional Shotokan Karate tournament organized by JKA Hawaii Kahului dojo. The event featured kata (forms) and kumite (sparring) competitions with the...