One of the most recognized names in fitness will soon disappear from Hawai'i, as Gold's Gym closes its only exercise club in the state, on South Street in Kaka'ako, on Aug. 31.

Irving, Texas-based Gold's Gym International Inc. said it has arranged to transfer its roughly 1,500 active members to Powerhouse Gym, a few blocks away at 432 Keawe St.

Gold's in a media announcement yesterday did not say why it is closing the gym, and a company representative could not be reached for more information.

The decision follows a decline in Gold's gyms in Hawai'i in past years, but also comes as the chain has managed robust growth on the Mainland and internationally.

Last year, Gold's reported opening a record 62 new clubs, and predicted continued growth this year, with more than 150 gyms in the development pipeline for both company-owned and franchised locations.

In November, Gold's sought one or more franchisees to expand the chain in Hawai'i and take over the corporate-owned gym at 768 South St.

Keith Albright, senior vice president for franchising at Gold's, said in an interview at the time that the company hoped to have five to seven Hawai'i Gold's gyms open in the next few years.

Instead, Gold's decided to close, and will transfer memberships to Powerhouse, a comparable-size gym that opened in July 2007 and has grown to about 2,000 members.

Alvin Paguio, co-owner of Powerhouse and a former competitive powerlifter, said Gold's called him with the offer and that he was able to accommodate the near-doubling of members at his gym.

"We have room to grow even more," he said. "We're looking forward to taking care of the fitness needs of all of our existing members and new members from Gold's, and continuing to offer the best-quality equipment and professional fitness coaching to anyone who wants to make living a healthy lifestyle a priority."

To help with the influx, Powerhouse is increasing the number of free parking stalls at an overflow lot at Pohukaina and Keawe streets that is also used by Gold's.

Gold's in a written statement said its members will receive letters informing them of the changes, and that prepaid memberships will be honored by Powerhouse through contract end dates, while month-to-month memberships will be billed as usual.

Gold's was established in Venice, Calif., in 1965 by Joe Gold and became famous through its affiliation with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the 1977 documentary film "Pumping Iron," starring Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.

The company expanded into an international chain primarily by franchising, and calls itself the largest co-ed gym chain in the world, with about 620 locations in 42 states and 30 countries.

Gold's previously had more of a presence in Hawai'i, with several locations. But in 1996, three Gold's gyms on O'ahu were converted to 24 Hour Fitness Centers after local operator Gym Masters Inc. sold the business to Pleasanton, Calif.-based 24 Hour Fitness Inc.

When Texas billionaire Robert Rowling's TRT Holdings Inc. bought Gold's in 2004, there were five Gold's gyms in Hawai'i. But since then, three locations on Maui and one on Kaua'i were closed by a franchisee.