Story has always been a part of my life. I grew up on Kauai surrounded by jungle and majestic mountain ranges, hearing whispers of fables and myth. One of my earliest memories was of envisioning the splendor of middle earth while my mother read “The Lord of the Rings” to me late into the night. I vividly remember the deep scarlet hues of fire emanating from the belly of the Balrog, and the cold, mildewed depths of Mines of Moria. When I was introduced to the films, I was transfixed. The words of Tolkien, ripped from the pages, were placed before me in a vision grander even than my imagination. Soon, I attempted to access that medium, using only a camera and legos. I had made many short films by high school.

During high school I went from my first scuba dive to become a master diver in one year, where I learned to operate underwater cameras below the ocean’s surface, and drones above, culminating with a short documentary to educate people about the need for a coral nursery in Kauai. As a result of this project, I was asked to be on the board of the nonprofit I have been working with to save the coral reefs in Kauai and around the world. It also led to a meeting with the governor and a commitment to a home for the nursery.

I know there is a higher level yet to be grasped in film. I wish to pursue film and television production at college because of its unique creative gratifications. The opportunity to explore each of the symbiotic mediums that create a film will culminate into enriching my ultimate goal of directing, and imbue me with a greater understanding of that magic I experienced as a child.