CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Manuel Mejia
Crew Profile: Manuel Mejia
PVS Member Since
HOMETOWN:
Honolulu, Oʻahu
PRIMARY DUTY:
Science and Education
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED:
Leg 2: Hikianalia’s Voyage To California, Leg 24: New York to Virginia
Born in the Philippines and raised in Maryland, Manuel now calls Hawaiʻi his family's home. As an island boy, he was taught to respect the ocean and care for it since it takes care of us all. As a young teenager, he first learned to sail a Sunfish in the inner reaches of the Chesapeake Bay. Therefore, sailing on Hōkūleʻa on Leg 24 from New York to Virginia sharing messages of aloha and compassion through part of the Chesapeake is especially meaningful for Manuel.
Manuel first sailed on Hōkūleʻa in 2007 off Oʻahu and he immediately fell in love with PVS's mission and what the waʻa represents. Hōkūleʻa means a lot of things to Manuel. She represents the very best of Hawaiʻi and the world. Manuel has also noticed that Hōkūleʻa brings out the best in people, including himself, and inspires hope in our collective future. To Manuel, Hōkūleʻa ultimately symbolizes Mother Earth and is a living reminder of how we need to be kind and take care of each other and our waʻa, the planet Earth.
Through the Worldwide Voyage, Manuel would like to see communities around the world share their inspiring stories of how to care for our places and be inspired by the mālama honua message. Back in Hawaiʻi, he would love to see the fulfillment of the promises and pledges to mālama honua by the communities that he works with as a the Hawai‘i Community-Based Marine Program Manager with The Nature Conservancy.
When out at sea, he of course misses his family and wishes that they could experience the joy and wonder of sailing in our beautiful blue planet. He looks forward to missing his daily comforts as he thinks it is a good reminder that we really need very few material things to have a full life. When back on land, he thinks he will most miss the open ocean and the peaceful feeling of absolute oneness with nature and the elements.
Manuel first sailed on Hōkūleʻa in 2007 off Oʻahu and he immediately fell in love with PVS's mission and what the waʻa represents. Hōkūleʻa means a lot of things to Manuel. She represents the very best of Hawaiʻi and the world. Manuel has also noticed that Hōkūleʻa brings out the best in people, including himself, and inspires hope in our collective future. To Manuel, Hōkūleʻa ultimately symbolizes Mother Earth and is a living reminder of how we need to be kind and take care of each other and our waʻa, the planet Earth.
Through the Worldwide Voyage, Manuel would like to see communities around the world share their inspiring stories of how to care for our places and be inspired by the mālama honua message. Back in Hawaiʻi, he would love to see the fulfillment of the promises and pledges to mālama honua by the communities that he works with as a the Hawai‘i Community-Based Marine Program Manager with The Nature Conservancy.
When out at sea, he of course misses his family and wishes that they could experience the joy and wonder of sailing in our beautiful blue planet. He looks forward to missing his daily comforts as he thinks it is a good reminder that we really need very few material things to have a full life. When back on land, he thinks he will most miss the open ocean and the peaceful feeling of absolute oneness with nature and the elements.
