CURRENT MISSION

To explore with a gentle, open heart. To learn from people who are different from me. To give love to myself and radiate it out to others.

ABOUT ME

I'm an explorer! I keep my eyes and ears and heart and mind open to learn from my surroundings. I am independent, interminably optimistic, and very go-with-the-flow laidback. Some things I love: dancing with all my energy, connecting in deep conversation, working to empower women and girls, swimming in the ocean, sitting on cliffs, hiking barefoot in rainforests, reading late into the night, friend crushes, speaking (and making mistakes in) Portuguese, broccoli.

Also I really like to cook, especially with friends. I'd be happy to help out around the kitchens of my hosts! Stir fry? Coconut milk thai curry?! I love to make cups of tea for everybody, because I think it's a great thing to have a conversation over.

PHILOSOPHY

I embrace all things human. I try to keep my body healthy, and I feel comfortable in my skin. I see beauty in every face and every mind. I studied neuroscience because I want to learn more about how the conscious mind works, and how we can use that knowledge to help each other. I also want to understand consciousness from a personal and spiritual side, connecting with other humans' minds and learning from their different cultural perspectives.

I am amazed at the way our strong, resilient human bodies afford us the chance to experience crazy cool places in the world: I don't mind roughing it, sleeping on the ground, sweating on a long hike, swimming in freezing water. I think it's super important to share these experiences with friends. For this reason, I greet new friendships with smiles and open arms.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am incredibly grateful that I had the chance to meet and explore with so many beautiful and warm people through CS when I was traveling in Brasil last year! Right now, I'm back on my home island of Hawai'i, and can occasionally receive guests here at my family's home, and take them hiking, camping, and exploring beaches and valleys!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I couchsurfed a lot in the north of Brasil, and wouldn't have traveled any other way! It was absolutely ideal to meet people who introduced me to their communities in each city. It feels like one huge family that is just waiting to meet up with me, dance, communicate, and show each other our cultures. Fantastic!

Interests

Doula care (helping mamas in labor), backpacking, going out to dance, beaches & exploring caves & coastlines, talking to regular, unfancy people in the street, SCUBA diving, slacklining, neuroscience research, intentional communities & co-ops, organic farming & gardening projects, ending gender-based violence, healing and empowering women with solidarity, opportunity, growth, and love!

• beauty
• dancing
• cooking
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• scuba diving
• swimming
• neuroscience
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Medicine for the People, Shakey Graves, the Tallest Man on Earth, Tycho, the Beats Antique, Braddah Iz, Brother Ali, Sufjan Stevens the Black Seeds, the Dø, Simon & Garfunkel, Olodum, Fat Freddy's Drop, Joan Baez, Bonobo, Clara Nunes, Lauren O'Connell, Tori Amos, Angel Olsen, Spiritual Rez, Beirut

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In Hawaii, off the Kona coast on my home island, just after sunset, I got the opportunity to settle myself on the sandy ocean floor with a scuba tank on my back and a big flashlight in my hand, with two of my siblings right next to me: we were waiting to attract krill and plankton in our light beams. As the krill gathered more and more densely, we watched the approach of several 12-18 foot manta rays. The mantas swooped right over our heads, their mouths wide wide open to filter out the tasty krill, their majestic fins gliding them in acrobatic loops through and around the light beams. I was totally awed, mesmerized, and in love with these massive conscious beings who swam so comfortably close to us. The whole experience has stayed with me ever since.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you to slackline! It's a tremendously fun balancing act that is a great way to spend an afternoon outside with friends. I can speak Portuguese with you and teach you swear words and love words! I can tell you all about the stages of labor, about how amazing breastfeeding is, and what a miracle it is to bring forth new souls!

I love to talk about deep questions of who we are and how we can fully embrace ourselves and each other. Starting to wrap my mind around the idea of unity co-existing with myriad valid truths.

I want to learn about the way you see the world. I want to learn about the world itself by immersing myself in new places.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil, Montenegro, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, United States

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