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Born on a Minnesota farm over 80 years ago, Clark Hatch became a fitness guru and successful businessman. Today in retirement, he has become a leader in the preservation and maintenance of one of Hawaii’s most iconic landmarks.
Hatch found his calling as a fitness ambassador while serving in the U.S. Army in Japan and Korea. After his military duty, he opened a fitness center in Japan and went on to establish more than 100 fitness centers throughout Asia and beyond.
“I’m fortunate to have made a successful career out of my hobby: Exercise and sports,” Hatch says.
After he retired, he chose to stay in Honolulu and began working to improve and preserve Mount Lēʻahi — leading the East Diamond Head Community Association, being named to the Diamond Head Citizens Advisory Committee of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and founding the private Diamond Head State Monument Foundation.
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Hatch joined efforts to install native plants (naupaka) and irrigation along Diamond Head Road Lookout. Today, he keeps active by leading groups of students from Kapiolani Community College who help maintain the endemic vegetation above the lookout area and personally provides lunch for the volunteers every week.
Though the Diamond Head State Monument Foundation, Hatch helps maintain the Muriel Flanders Mini-Park on the makai side of Diamond Head Road. Philanthropist and composer Muriel Macfarlane Flanders was the granddaughter of James and Abigail Campbell. Hatch also founded the Bryan Clay Exercise Park and donated the workout machines along the Fort Ruger Pathway, which is named after the Olympic gold medal decathlete from Hawaii.
Another fun fact: Hatch established the first dog park in Hawaii, Diamond Head Bark Park, by working with the DLNR to use state land on 18th Avenue and Diamond Head Road.
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