the Hawaiian Ola community

Polina Carlson is Hawaii’s fastest female distance runner who has already ran under the Olympic Trials marathon qualifying standard. She started running in 2009 at the University of West Alabama where she was introduced to the sport of cross country. Finding running later than most professional runners, Polina has already seen success in her running career, taking victories at the 2014 Great Aloha Run, the 2013 XTERRA World Championship Half-Marathon and finishing 5th in the 2013 Honolulu Marathon. In December of 2014 Polina placed 6th at the California International Marathon with a time of 2:35:15, and has her sights now set on the Olympics.

WEBSITE: www.polinacarlson.com

The Yakuza Kayak Fishing team is made up of four stellar individuals who truly love what they do. Check out a full interview with their team on our blog April 2016. Until then follow them on Instagram at:

Tavis Kagawa, @waimeakauai Kyle Yokoyama, _yoko_ono_ Jason Luke, @good_luke_ing_braddah Llowen Liberato @Llowen #yakuza

Kepa Gaison is a Graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama studied at the University of Utah, for his Bachelors in Business Marketing and minor in Nutrition. Kepa went on to become a certified personal trainer and further to start his own fitness and nutrition company called Kepa Fitness & Nutrition or KepaFit. He now partners with LymanHeat under Hawaii Elite Athletic Training. Kepa is also a National Physique Competitor.

I love surfing because it’s a way to express myself while connecting with my Hawaiian roots. Surfing has always played a pivotal role in my family, everything we do revolves around it. Living on an island like Kaua’i, you grow up with an abundance of amazing waves. You’re raised in a lifestyle of being at the beach everyday and surfing until the sun goes down. Surfing is my passion and life wouldn’t be the same without it!

Kama, the legendary surfing pig, is a truly one-of-a-kind member of Hawaiian Ola’s community. Kama lives with his amazing human, Kai, on the North Shore of Oahu where he surfs, eats big sandwiches, and drinks organic Hawaiian Noni Juice. Kama found his love for the ocean at a young age and was a natural water pig. He reminds us that animals can be much more than just food and are, in fact, amazing friends with favorite foods and sports much like humans. If you support animal friends, like Kama, being treated with compassion and respect, share Kama’s story on the web using the hash tag #friendsnotfood and follow Kama’s adventures by visiting his website!

WEBSITE: www.kamathesurfingpig.com

I grew up with an Ohana that started Keahiakahoe Canoe Club, therefore outrigger paddling and being in the ocean has been in my blood for years. I’ve been blessed with a natural feel for the ocean when paddling in a canoe. Of course I will always be at peace when paddling an outrigger canoe, but, priorities have changed and I am currently fulfilling a challenging Olympic sport, Flat water Sprint Kayaking. Opportunities are endless for me, as I am an athlete who has the hunger to learn and soak up as much as possible to the best version of myself. This sport has exposed me to international level competition and elite level training. Representing hawaiian people, hawaiian culture, and best of all HawaiianOla is a huge motivation to achieve my goals; to show the future youth that you should never give up on any dreams that you have. “Kulia I ka nu’u”