i took Satoko-san free diving a few times last year in hawaii. that was the seed. since then, i could see her so happy and so interested in the underwater world. then she went back to japan and got into it even deeper. i was so stoked to see these photos of a newborn mermaid!

things like this make me very happy. to see people get so fascinated with the ocean and continue to go deeper is cool. a great confidence builder and i’m sure she’s feeling pretty good down there. hey Satoko-san, can’t wait to go free diving with you next time in hawaii. let’s go deep!

last time when i was on the train in japan, i was so bored. so i started to have a bubble blowing contest. me vs. me. guess who won? me! haha.

my little grand nephew still cries when i carry him. so i just cry back. he must be thinking something is wrong with this uncle.

Yagi-san father and son. so cool!

i think it’s been 24 days straight of perfect south swell surf? i’ve been having the best sessions ever! just perfect waves and everybody so happy. another south swell on the way and i’m not too sure this summer will ever end. pure stoke!

after the tsunami hit ishinomaki back in 3/11, some people thought it was the end of the world. well, it might have looked that way, but throughout the past 3.5 years, the people in ishinomaki fought back. they got up, rebuilt, and are fighting strong. so many survival stories, and so much inspiration.

so the other night i was eating sushi at my favorite sushi restaurant in hawaii, the chef put a sushi in front of me and said “Uni from Ishinomaki.” what? i had to stop and think. Ishinomaki? wow! i still remember eating the uni from the first harvest after the tsunami 3 years ago. the Kimura-san family went out to pick uni and we happened to be there for a mission. the came back, we tried it, and it was delicious! it was a moment of transition and we were all happy to be there to experience it!

i asked to see the box and here it is. i’m not sure what part of ishinomaki the uni came from, but i was so happy to be eating the best uni in the world right here in hawaii. this sushi restaurant only imports the best so this is the best. so happy!

then the desert came out. homemade pineapple sherbet. so good!

a great way to end an awesome sushi session.
eat healthy and keep on surfing!

Great surfing Hirobe-san! See you again Hawaii!