"I feel like I'm starting a new life. Looking back I've definitely made a journey much deeper than just physical. My mind is clear, my spirit feels free and I'm physically tired but I cannot wait to go back home and share. -Tuff Turner, 2015 CA-HI Participant; Payomkawichum, Rincon  Reservation, San Diego California

California and U.S. coastal peoples have a mutual relationship with the Hawaiian Kingdom that goes back farther than colonialism. Lessons from the Hokulea World Wide Voyage and Na Kama Kai's Alaka’i Mentor-ship Program are priceless gems in the contemporary world of water people. We are eternally grateful for sharing in this knowledge and see Makaha Ohana great knowledge barers.

Since 2015, Native Like Water has held exchange in Hawaii. Since then, Hawaiian Mentors and Youth have also come to California, Panama, Mexico, Belize and beyond with NLW for Cultural/Educational Programming.

This 2024 we share Hawaiian knowledge with our newly formed Native Like Water Crew Ambassadors. Some of the best ocean and surf knowledge on the planet, our greatest current teachers are born from Makaha Beach. Water safety and big hearted champions on island take shape from these training grounds and waters. Out of these shores, Na Kama Kai is praised for its commitment to conservation and stewardship of the ocean. Concepts of mālama ‘āina and mālama kai (stewardship of the land and sea) are taught and practiced. This program is tailored to help meet the needs of the Native Like Water Crew Ambassador Safety Training. `Helping NLW for its 2024 service year training and beyond. A community leadership between Native American Sovereign Nations and Hawaiian Kingdom. The relation to surfing, environmental sciences, culture and Indigenous maritime history.

Mentors and Elders carefully guide our youth to develop self-respect and self-reliance necessary to accomplish long-term goals. Ocean history, navigational and canoe skills are acquired through NKK;s and NLW’s relationship with the Polynesian Voyaging Society.  Na Kama Kai Clinics also introduce ocean related career and educational opportunities through interaction with professionals working in the marine environment.
Exchange with indigenous scientists, cultural experts, Indigenous Surf Coaching, native organic foods and an exchange of ancestral and modern song.

Native Like Water Surf Crew Ambassadors will have the opportunity to participate in the Buffalo Classic as competitors or spectators, the longest Hawaiian Native Surf Contest and pride at Makaha Beach. Even Kelly Slater comes. Here with Uncle Archie during one of the many board contest divisions.

According to Magic Seaweed, “Mechanically speaking, Makaha can be sliced into four righthand-dominant sections - Point, Bowl, Blowhole and Inside Reef - though when a big winter NW fills into the bay, the lines become blurred.

Sometimes a short left appears as swell. Makaha is fun small to holding large big waves out the back. Westside has a number of fun waves and can be surfed by all levels.

Glimpse of lessons and testimony shared during NLW visit to Hawaii, hosted by Na Kama Kai.

Years ago, Indigenous people on U.S. coasts were removed from their coastal homes and way of life. Loss of habitat, for any species, is the largest cause for extinction. A re-introduction to ocean recreation, earth sciences, indigenous science, and cultural research benefits all and contributes to the human family’s context on diversity.

"I know I only got to spend a week with these amazing people but in that week I really have a new perspective on life. Every single person I met was so kind hearted and automatically made me feel like I was family. This trip and the amazing people really inspire me to learn more about my culture and my connection with water because of how compassionate they were about their culture."  Cheyenne Bactad, Viejas Reservation of the Kumeyaay Nation

"For many of us who are from reservations in San Diego we weren't taught the value of the ocean. But seeing the Hawaiians and how connected they are to the ocean makes me sad knowing we once had a strong  connection with the ocean as well. Although the known connections with the oceans is little to none, I want to learn all I can about my culture tied to the ocean. Having a program like Na Kama Kai would be great in San Diego, it would encourage young Native Americans to step out of their comfort zone and get in the ocean and learn all their is to know about it. We would create new friendships and strengthen existing ones."  -Silent Rain, Viejas Reservation of the Kumeyaay Nation

"We went to METC school where they taught their students how to refurbish boats. This made me think of how I'm going to Evergreen State College for Marine biology. After I graduate and i would absolutely adore to come back to Oahu to spend a few years and make my own boat to do my studies on that." -Erin La Chappa, Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation

"When we arrived in Oahu, Hawaii for the "Native Like Water" trip, we were greeted by the Hawaiian youth group with a traditional welcoming song. [Which happened with each new group we visited] We learned that before they enter an important place or the ocean they sing a "permission song" and only enter after.  I am a member of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians from Palm Springs, CA and I shared a song named "Powaaenya". This is one song about our migration from our ancestral lands and back home. I learned this song from my dad, Tim, who sings with my Uncle Joseph Saubel. My uncle is the lead singer for the Hot Water Birdsingers. Out of respect for their elders they refer to each as aunty or uncle.  We were taught about their royal hierarchy and many other cultural traditions kept alive, like their language and dance." Timothy Siva, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

"Youth became ambassadors or their cultures via impromptu cultural sharing. Youth relied on their own knowledge of dances and shared the significance of the moves. The students became the teachers. Aboard the Hawaii Loa Traditional Voyage Vessel (part of the Hokule'a family of canoes), you could feel the presence of positive energy which has carried crews safety through the ocean without modern technology. The vessel is testament to the genius indigenous cultures carry." Manny Lieras, Mentor, Dine/Comanche continues “Safety broke down fears and insecurities to foster love and support. Once strangers became extensions of families through meaningful exchanges and challenges to function as a supportive force of positivity." Manny Lieras, Mentor

"I realize how important our traditional knowledge is to our youth as well as the importance of continuing to practice our culture on a daily basis. From a Southern California native perspective, I was impressed with the talent and enthusiasm that the selected youth have for preserving their culture.  I think it is very important to continue these types of cultural exchange programs in order to carry on for future generations.   It was an honor and privilege to participate as an "Honored Elder" in the Winter 2015 Native Like Water program. As a result of participating in the Native Like Water program, we are planning family gatherings to continue the sharing of our culture and traditions. Aahan, Larry "Moto" Banegas, Barona

Visiting Na Kama Kai has enforced our concept of initiating a renew-ed "Native Like Water" Indigenous Surfer Coastal Culture. One of our lessons is that surf and food is medicine and that each of us has the power to rewrite our genetic history. We have the power to heal and sustain health, provided we have access to correct information, recreational opportunities, and are able to see the connection to all living things - to water -to the aina (land)- and to organic native surf and foods as medicine." Marc Chavez, InterTribal Youth Director/Founder

Thank you to the great
List of Ohana (people of the same root)
for making the Exchange Possible (more to be announced):

Na Kama Kai Ohana
Makaha Beach Ohana

Native Like Water & One World BRIDGE 501c3
Ital Kitchen and Mama T
Olukai