CREWMEMBER HIGHLIGHT: Jen Choi
Crew Profile: Jen Choi
PVS Member Since
HOMETOWN:
PRIMARY DUTY:
Crewmember
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
Education and Outreach
WORLDWIDE VOYAGE LEGS SAILED:
Leg 3: Hikianalia’s Voyage To California
I was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Rockville, MD. I moved to Honolulu in 2015 and just recently moved to Boston in mid 2018.
The first time I laid eyes on Hōkūleʻa was during her 2017 homecoming after the worldwide voyage. I was part of the kōkua crew escorting wa’a crew disembark onto land, so I had an up-close and from-the-water view. The whole day was unreal and unforgettable, and to be honest, I’m still a bit speechless.
To me, Hōkūleʻa represents the revival of the art and science of traditional Polynesian navigation. I’m so inspired by wayfinding and the ability to use natural observation and inner intuition to guide one’s way across thousands of miles of ocean. Even if one’s daily life doesn’t bring you out to sea, I strongly believe that these wayfinding values and principles are important for all of us to know as we navigate our way through life and times of uncertainty. From our navigators, we can learn focus, patience, mental strength, and resilience: No matter what each day’s weather brings, the navigator figures out the best path to where the crew needs to go. As an engineer in daily life, I love that the navigator is one of the ultimate problem-solvers.
I hope the WWV will continue to inspire all generations to care for each other, our communities, and our environment. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this voyage and learning from fellow crew and the different communities we’ve been connecting with. Each individual can make a difference, and it’s truly amazing to see how much we all have in common.
The first time I laid eyes on Hōkūleʻa was during her 2017 homecoming after the worldwide voyage. I was part of the kōkua crew escorting wa’a crew disembark onto land, so I had an up-close and from-the-water view. The whole day was unreal and unforgettable, and to be honest, I’m still a bit speechless.
To me, Hōkūleʻa represents the revival of the art and science of traditional Polynesian navigation. I’m so inspired by wayfinding and the ability to use natural observation and inner intuition to guide one’s way across thousands of miles of ocean. Even if one’s daily life doesn’t bring you out to sea, I strongly believe that these wayfinding values and principles are important for all of us to know as we navigate our way through life and times of uncertainty. From our navigators, we can learn focus, patience, mental strength, and resilience: No matter what each day’s weather brings, the navigator figures out the best path to where the crew needs to go. As an engineer in daily life, I love that the navigator is one of the ultimate problem-solvers.
I hope the WWV will continue to inspire all generations to care for each other, our communities, and our environment. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this voyage and learning from fellow crew and the different communities we’ve been connecting with. Each individual can make a difference, and it’s truly amazing to see how much we all have in common.
