Our mission is to serve the military and public communities of Hawaiʻi with educational experiences in Hawaiian ocean recreation, cultural activities, and aquatic safety training. Our goal is to inspire lifelong learning by providing safe, high-quality instruction, education and training activities that improve quality of life for our military patrons, local residents, and public visitors while on Oʻahu. Our passion is teaching the children to value the natural world. As a company born and bred in Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu Ocean Edventures is committed to Hawaiian cultural values and practices, operating under the governing principles of the Aloha Spirit Law as shared with us by our Hawaiian kūpuna and recognized by the State of Hawaiʻi:
(a) “Aloha Spirit” is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others. In the contemplation and presence of the life force, “Aloha”, the following unuhi laula loa may be used:
“Akahai”, meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness;
“Lōkahi”, meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony;
“ʻOluʻolu”, meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness;
“Haʻahaʻa”, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty;
“Ahonui”, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance.
These are traits of character that express the charm, warmth and sincerity of Hawaii’s people. It was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians and was presented as a gift to the people of Hawaii.
”Aloha” is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation. “Aloha” means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return.
“Aloha” is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.
“Aloha” means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable. (Gifted to the State of Hawaiʻi by Hawaiian kupuna Aunty Pilahi Pā
(b) In exercising their power on behalf of the people and in fulfillment of their responsibilities, obligations and service to the people, the legislature, governor, lieutenant governor, executive officers of each department, the chief justice, associate justices, and judges of the appellate, circuit, and district courts may contemplate and reside with the life force and give consideration to the “Aloha Spirit”. [L 1986, c 202, §1]
In addition, our guiding values are Ka ʻimi ʻike—to seek knowledge, Ola kino maikaʻi—promote health and well being, Mālama honua, care for our earth, and Kuleana—honor the privileges and responsibilities bestowed upon us. Finally, we stand by the words of our King Kamehameha III, Kauʻikeaouli, whose charge upon us echoes through the millennia as motto of the State of Hawaiʻi:
ʻUa mau ke ʻea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.
Oʻahu Ocean EDventures kī
Don Isaacs - CEO
Don has over five decades of ocean experience. It ranges from bodysurfing as a youth waterman when he was 10 years old. He moved on to surfing, canoe paddling competitions, outrigger canoe sail races, and lifeguarding over the course of his life. Don has worked as Beach Services Manager with Outrigger Canoe Club for 30 years where he was responsible for creating and administering several youth and adult ocean enrichment programs. Don has captained outrigger sailing canoes across every major channel in the Hawaiian Islands from the Big Island to Kauai on several occasions. For the past 20 years, he has worked as a lifeguard at Bellows AFB in Waimanalo as well as CPR and First Aid Instructor for American Heart Association. He is highly passionate to pass on his ocean knowledge, skills, and cultural awareness he has learned over the course of his career down to our Ohana and those in the industry.
Ian 'Akahi Masterson - COO
Originally from Morocco, this Portuguese surfer has made his mark in the Hawaiian Islands as The Surf Professor. As University of Hawaii alumni, Ian Masterson pioneered Surf Studies as a legitimate academic subject with the University of Hawaii. He has traveled extensively throughout the Hawaiian Islands doing contract archaeology since 1987 and worked as a USLA beach lifeguard for Water Safety at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Headquarter for over ten years. Ian is an Oʻahu lifelong learner spending over twenty years as an educator. Ian Masterson has surfed over 200 surfing spots worldwide and has a surfboard collection of over 100 vintage surfboards. The Surf Professor is guiding people to rediscover themselves as vibrant beings in nature, utilizing surfing as the medium! Ian Masterson stand-ups to his name as the “The Surf Professor” both on and off the water.
Sam Clemens - CTO
Outrigger Canoe Captain
Glenn Pang
Red Cross Instructor and Ocean Safety Mentor
Anacani Walters
Marketing Assistant and SUP Instructor