Influence

That’s me. Writing in the third person is weird… a native of Hawai’i, - I - do love the outdoors but have always been drawn to the cold and snow. Graduating from Boston University with a most expensive piece of parchment that I know is here somewhere, I began climbing the corporate ladder in marketing for several years. That was until, while trying to better integrate more creativity in my life, a random audition in 2010 landed me on a TV show called Teen Wolf.

Shortly thereafter, I was swept away to Hollywood where my full time career went from desk job to performing arts. I then spent nearly a decade learning how to tell stories through acting and filmmaking in LA but I wanted to be more involved in the creative process so I eventually packed up my bountiful bag of crafts I had picked up working in film and television and committed them to designing a life in visual design in New York City.

Since then, I have helped bring diversity, authenticity and community to consumer products and services — working with top global and small local brands to design and produce content that is compelling and meaningful to their audiences.

In my spare time, I usually have a camera (or five) on my person - while jumping out of planes, long distance cycling, trekking through forests or e-boarding around the city. I’m active. To keep from keeling over, I train my body like the fine tuned, VERY lactose intolerant vessel it was meant to be. Counting every day as a blessing, I also do my best to express my gratitude in ways that support people and causes I care about; LGBTQIA+ communities, assistance for homeless youth and charities for hospitalized children.

With a mix of sarcasm, tv notoriety, kindness and general oversharing of my disdain of impractical design, I’d like to think I’m the catalyst that has brought together an incredibly intelligent, supportive and witty following of over 671,000. They’re not only awesome, they trust that when I do partner with a brand, business or person, it’s going to be interesting, useful and/or at the very least entertaining.

Still reading? Well, alright, ok... Here’s a little more:

On Making Content That Stands Out

Did those shots for your product on a beautiful, exotic beach not get as much attention as you thought it would? Is your content not connecting with your audience? Just because content LOOKS good, doesn’t mean it tells a story people are going to remember, feel or share. I spend a lot of time experimenting, trying new things and exploring ideas because even reviving classic art requires at least a touch of innovation to make it have impact.

On Community; Ohana

Real people. Real community. Real engagement. You need to get to know who is giving you their time, attention and why. My digital family discusses tech, workouts, life, video games but I keep the forum open. It fosters a supportive environment for everyone, provides invaluable feedback, cultivates room for powerful discussions and builds trust between all of us. It also means they know that when I rave about something - good or bad - I’m being honest and have their interests in mind.

The platforms we meet on - Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Discord, Twitch - we call it the K2O.