Scribbles Abroad

LOUISE AND KAHI

We’re a pair of surfers interested in seeing the world with surfboards under our arms. On our journey we hope to make some lasting friendships and to make the world a better place through education and emergence of cultures. Being raised in Hawaii we have grown up surrounded by a variety of cultures due to the mixed ethnicities of the island and ourselves. We are both hapa haoles (half something – half white). For Louise its Okinawan (Uchinanchu Pride!) and for Kahi its Filipino (Flip Power!). Louise’s mother is okinawan and her father is German, English, Irish, Scottish, and French. Kahi’s mother is German and his father is Filipino.

We try to surf almost everyday and enjoy hanging out with our friends. We live in Kaimuki and share a house with a great group of friends. Our hobbies include surfing, hiking, learning, exploring, and of course traveling.

How we met, as told by Kahi:

I was out surfing at Diamond Head and saw a gorgeous local girl surfing a shortboard. I was intrigued that such a pretty girl was surfing a shortboard and not a longboard. I gathered myself, caught a few waves to show her I kinda knew how to surf, and watched her catch a couple of waves, and was impressed because she surfed beautifully. During a break in the waves, I gathered up some courage and paddled over to her. I introduced myself, shot the shit, and then didn’t see her again for a few days. Then over the course of 5 weeks, I saw her surfing at Concessions, Big Rights, back at Diamond Head, and then the ultimate……I went for a surf out at Maili Point on the Westside. As I was paddling out, I saw a wahine drop into a steep jacking wave that was about to barrel. Although the wahine didn’t make the drop, it was insane that she went for it. That wahine was Louise. She was out there with a bunch of other girls, and they were having a day just surfing the Westside, had already surfed Makaha, and were winding up their session at Maili’s. I talked with them, really only Louise, and I was ready to ask her for her number. I let her catch one more wave while I settled the butterflies, but she didn’t paddle back out. I had missed my chance, the surf was pumpin and I figured I’d see her again if it was meant to be. I saw her a few days later out at Diamond Head. I got her number, but she said she would only give it to me once and that I’d better remember it. I wrote it in my wax and called her as soon as I got in. That night, we met up and went to the Kokua Festival together. We’ve been inseparable pretty much ever since. One dilemma was that I was going to be traveling or moving to Australia in about a year, so our relationship was complicated by her knowing that. I didn’t know whether I’d be able to take her, but after a few months, I knew I wanted to take her along. One night on Maui, after surfing Honolua Bay and eating at Ruth Chris, I told her I loved her and that I wanted her to come with me on my trip. Being the adventurous type, she right away said yes. This is the trip.

I was born and raised in Kaimuki on the island of Oahu. There weren’t too many girls in my neighborhood, so I grew up tagging along with my older brother Winston. We’d climb trees, have mud wars, and play those creative games like “stand against the wall and dodge this tennis ball while I try to beam you.” It seemed like my parents, Alec and Stella, were taking a trip to the emergency room at least once a year. During these years, I learned those lifelong lessons and skills that have helped shape me into the unique person that I am.