Like the humpback whales, I’ve spent much of my adult life migrating between Alaska and Hawaii. Summers were dedicated to building and restoring hiking trails around Juneau, AK, along with kayak adventures into the remote wilderness. The warmer waters of Kealakekua, HI welcomed me back each winter to volunteer on farms and steep in nature’s abundance. These seasonal rhythms of life have been instrumental to my evolution, offering an expanded perspective and allowing me to cultivate adaptability, strength, and perseverance.

 

In 2015, I began experiencing serious pain in my lower back while traveling in the Pacific Northwest. At first I ignored the pain, assuming it was a result of my active, nomadic lifestyle. But the pain progressed, quickly manifesting as testicular cancer and spreading to my left kidney, which forced me to stop. As someone who identifies with movement as medicine, this sudden sabotage of my wanderlusting ways was devastating.

 

I landed on a houseboat in Portland, OR, preparing for treatment with an army of friends supporting me. Any needs or wants were provided and offered before I could ask. Friends would appear next to me while I was passed out during chemo, my favorite breakfast sandwich in hand, and sit there until I woke. My good vibes tribe, in full action. After 6 months of chemotherapy, 4 surgeries, many gallons of mushroom tincture, and a 10-day dieta with ayahuasca, I managed to defy the odds and endure. By the spring of 2016, I was returning to Hawaii to begin the long recovery process, which feels nearly complete.

 

To me, recovery means being stronger than I was before - not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. I believe suppressed emotions were the breeding ground of my cancer, and my healing journey demanded I confront and transform both personal and ancestral patterns of wounding. This initiated a deep process of alchemy and self-inquiry, inviting me to embrace every experience as an opportunity and trust the gifts contained within each challenge. Instead of perceiving myself as an unfortunate victim in crisis, I see my journey with cancer like a rite of passage destined to reveal the indomitable spirit of the warrior within. This has provided me with a profound sense of empowerment, gratitude, and inspiration to explore what other limiting beliefs I might overcome. My experience also brought me immense lessons about vulnerability, asking for help, and letting go. These lessons have redefined the core foundation of who I am.

 

Now, 8 years later, I see my role as a guide and ally to help others embrace their hardships and transform them into the pearls of grace they truly are. With deep reverence for the natural world, I aspire to inspire communion with the mana of the Big Island utilizing wild life encounters, hikes and sound. 

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