Aloha!
Kuikaika here. Welcome to my blog and website.
This space was created to support endurance sports in Hawaiʻi.
I’ve always known that being born and raised on Oʻahu was a blessing, but as I’ve grown older, that feeling has only deepened and become more solid in my mind. This small island chain holds humility at its core, while simultaneously boasting some of the planet’s most remarkable features. Within these islands exist some of the tallest mountains on Earth and an incredible range of biodiversity, where snow, sand, desert, and forest all coexist in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
As a child, going to the beach, fishing, surfing, and hiking year-round was simply what I did. It was normal.
I still remember the first time I experienced a climate outside of Hawaiʻi, during a season other than summer. I was in London, England, and the feeling of cold was something I didn’t even know existed.
Looking back, that moment gave me perspective. It deepened my gratitude for being from Hawaiʻi and strengthened my desire to move with intention, care for my environment, and manifest good energy in the place I call home.
Beyond the landscape, it’s the people of Hawaiʻi who inspire me to be more in tune with my environment, my community, and my culture. Kanaka ʻŌiwi have been here since around the year 400, developing a culture shaped entirely by the land and sea they inhabited. Every hill, river, mountain, rock, pond, and stream carried deep significance.
When the first Westerners arrived, they were in awe of both the knowledge of the people and their physical feats. Makahiki season was a time when Hawaiians would, and still do, compete in a wide range of athletic events as well as games of mental strategy. Racing, wrestling, lifting, and chess-like competitions were all part of this season.
Many people who come to the islands have no idea these traditions exist, yet they mean everything to me. I draw from them constantly, using that history and spirit as fuel while pushing myself in athletics and in life.
This blog is where I explore that connection between movement, culture, and the pursuit of becoming better.