Waipiʻo is important to my family because it is part of what makes us…itʻs who we are. The ocean is our livelihood, and Waipi’o is one of the nearest access to the ocean for my family. It allows us to live the lifestyle that we need to survive in the modern world. Waipi’o provides sustenance for our mind, body, and soul. Waipi’o is the ever carried story that most share and that we continue to live.

My name is Vasco Freitas and I am 13 years old. Waipio is where I go to surf with my family and friends and where I like to go to get away from the concrete world. It is also important to me because I have been going down there since I was very little. This is where I learned to surf and swim. Surfing makes me feel happy and when I am done I feel energized. The only thing that I wanted to do for my birthday was to go down and surf, but now that the road is closed I cannot. With the road closed it takes over an hour to go surfing. I miss it already.

It’s everything for me. Lived in valley 10+ yrs it’s where my two sons where born. Family farming taro /rare fruits for over 35 yrs. Family-owned/operated horseback ride in valley since1983. Church/play/gathering/surf/hunting/fishing. The ocean-front gathering place for a community of solid individuals cultivating joy, health, and appreciation of the natural cycles observed.