A new chapter
On dry land
Aloha Kākou, Keʻili here!
Mahalo nui for reading along and joining us on this journey. Somehow, it feels like we’re learning even more about our waʻa while she’s out of the water—maybe because we can see so much more of her from this (kind of awkward) perspective. One thing that’s been especially helpful is having access to so many resources; when you’re out at sea, you really have to work with what you’ve got. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have so many helpful hands from friends around us, either.
I wish I were writing to you under better circumstances, but I’m currently sick in bed. I guess the silver lining is that it’s forcing me to slow down and sit down to write. It’s also been a time of deep gratitude—reflecting on my healthy body and knowing, with certainty, that I won’t take it for granted once it’s back. Maybe I needed this reset; I’ve been feeling a little lazy lately, vibing a bit too hard with the overcast weather.
Before we went to Maui last weekend, we got to do some fun power washing on ʻAʻĀ—shout out to my boss for letting us borrow the power washer! And today, while I was sick in bed watching Heated Rivalry, Chris was patching ʻAʻĀ up with fiberglass from Fiberglass Hawaiʻi, alongside our friend Alex. I hope it all went well!
Couple nights ago… our ʻAʻĀ hale took a beating from the unusual and string winds coming through the Koʻolou mountain range. You may have seen ‘em on our story but I wanted to share here & let you know that our little wa’a is okay! Though, her new hale (which was a generous gift from uncle Curtis, put up by all of us with love) will need to be cut up, broken down, and made anew. We had staked her down with heavy duty stakes and ropes and concrete blocks and she still get all bent up. If you have any tips or suggestions, let us know!
We have a lot of work coming up, and I’m incredibly grateful to have friends who help keep us on track—motivated, organized, and stoked.
Beyond waʻa updates, I also wanted to share a quick guide to donating. Since it’s the end of the year, some of you may be looking for nonprofits to support, or maybe you’re hoping to start volunteering somewhere meaningful. I originally made this list for a friend and ended up turning it into a podcast episode on my Wata Wahine World channel—so I thought I’d share it here with my Ethnomads as well.
Organizations to Support:
1) Kuleana Corals
An organization working to revitalize and protect our reefs in Hawaiʻi through conservation, education, and data.
2) Hoʻokuaʻāina
Working to create a model community for generations to come, rooted in mālama ʻāina, pilina, and education.
3) The Ocean Cleanup
A group of young scientists, engineers, and dreamers on a mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.
4) Hui Mālama o ke Kai Foundation
A local organization focused on engaging and empowering youth in our community to become the leaders of tomorrow—for a healthier Hawaiʻi.
If you have any others to add to this list, please share them in the comments! However you’re planning to give back this year, let’s make an effort together. I can already tell that community will be more important than ever—we’re going to need one another for the adventure ahead.
Mahalo,
Keʻili
This post is dedicated to my mother, who was always doing the most and doing her best. Mahalo to all our friends and family who have helped us while ʻAʻĀ is on dry dock. Special thanks to Aunty Marylee and the Miyashiro ʻOhana for all your love and support.