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Nick
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Tell me about yourself
I'm a 3rd year studying Mechanical Engineering and I'm from Pana'ewa, Hawai'i. I grew up with a big family on a homestead where all we got is all we need. Money was hard to come by, so we started planting our own garden, went hunting, and fishing. This was a way to help support my family. Being Native Hawaiian was helpful because living off the land was to practice my heritage and take ownership of my identity. I've lived my whole life just hunting and fishing so it became more of a fun thing to do and less of a survival type of thing. I used to hike out in the middle of the woods and dive to the bottom of the ocean and get what I needed.
Have you ever attended an ORP event or rented gear from ORP?
I rented Spikeball. I wanted to come on a trip but didn’t have the time.
When you hear the word “outdoorsy” what do you picture?
After being on Tiktok since July it’s the stereotypical ‘trail mix girl’”. But my own brand is someone who is in tune with nature or comfortable in nature. If I take care of it, it takes care of me, but that’s what I think from just living off of the land. Nature is sort of part of the family and we’re obligated to take care of it; it’s part of the community. I don’t want to make this sound like "hippie" thing because this is actually a "way of life" type of thing.
What’s your first or favorite memory of being in the outdoors?
The first time I went hunting. I went to the stream in the valley, and started collecting seaweed and fruits. My uncle saw a pig and we spent 7 hours tracking it. I was about 10 years old at the time. My uncle jumped on the pig and wrangled it, then I had to carry the pig out. I really just enjoyed exploring and being in the outdoors, but not having to follow any trails.
What’s your favorite thing to do outside?
I love to be in the water, free diving, or spear fishing. It sounds different. It’s a whole other world. Unless you’ve experienced being in the deep ocean, you can’t describe the feeling you have being there.
What culture, ethnicity, or community do you identify with?
Native Hawaiian. I grew up in Hawai’i and culture was very important. I went to a Hawaiian immersion school and became “book smart” on the culture, but was also able to take ownership of my culture. I also identify with indigenous people. And my community is the family I choose. Growing up in Hawai'i, everyone is my family, but in Seattle I choose my family.
How does your culture interact with the outdoors?
Being Hawaiian, you got your native plants and you learn how to make medicine from them. It’s nice knowing there’s a home remedy if you know the plants and how to use them, how to plant your vegetation properly, how to catch fish, and what lures to use. Native Hawaiians really understand the land and how to leverage all that it has into their favor. They're like the "jack of all trades master of none."
Do you feel represented in the outdoor community?
No, because a lot of my life is centered around the ocean and being in Seattle is a whole different story.
What can ORP do to help you feel more represented in the outdoor community?
I don't know. I’ve never even seen an evergreen or snow. I’m very out of my element here. I mean I can share about advocacy for Native Hawaiians. So the Hawaiian government is making a 30-meter telescope on Mauna Kea, the highest point on the Pacific. The mountain holds religious and cultural aspects of the Hawaiian people and is just mismanaged on government’s part. There are 11 other telescopes there already, and there was never a plan to renew or update the telescopes so they’re just becoming a hunk of junk. Native people are pushing against it because the telescopes should not be there in the first place, so to add another huge one is ridiculous. Famous people like, Jason Mamoa and, the Rock have spoken about it which has helped spread awareness to what’s happening. Other people don’t understand what it’s like to have a culture connected to a land. There just doesn’t seem to be ethical morals to the science behind it. You can follow @savemaunakea on instagram.
Do you think you are an "outdoorsy" person?
Yes, but not as much up here as back home. Everything is so out of the way. I have to drive an hour and half to go anywhere just to go on a hike and also plan a week in advance. Where at home, I can just walk in my back yard for 20 minutes and be in the middle of nowhere.