05/04/2025
I’m not the only believer in the mission!
For the past 4-5 months, I've been working tirelessly, juggling editing and seeking grants to fund One Ocean, One People now that it's a 501(c)(3). I wake up, coffee up, catch the bus, hit my café for more coffee, and grind for 5, 7, 8 hours behind the laptop. Then I catch the bus home, finish what I couldn’t, kick it with my hosts, sleep, and repeat. The café workers know my life story by now ;), and a fraction of the island has seen me there just about every day.
Doing this rhythm while I’m in the middle of voyaging has been one of the most challenging phases of my life. Most of that time was spent setting up the nonprofit and trying to work on a documentary that’s now been postponed—though I believe it's meant to be that way for a solid project down the line.
Lest I be honest, though...
⛵I miss voyaging like crazy.
⛵I miss being behind the camera and capturing moments on the go.
⛵I miss the wild change of something new happening every moment on that journey.
I often wake up thinking, “Damn, another café day?”
But, those café days are fundamental to establishing a foundation for strong, interconnected storytelling across the world’s largest ocean. It’s a mental reminder that kicks in with that first cup of coffee. Then, I’m off to work!
Often, despite the progress I make every day, it still feels like the summit of the mountain I’m climbing is so far. It puts me in this weird balance of “LFG” vs “What am I doing?” But no matter the mood, I’m just so tired. Exhausted from the building phase and pitching projects globally and locally. The emails to sponsors, institutions, and applications to grant portals. Optimistically, rejection letters don’t upset me anymore as I’ve humbly grown used to them by now....Yet, I keep trying.
Today, I switched things up and prioritized beach time. Even if Leala’s waters were rough, I still plopped in and felt the tension flow from my head through my fingers as my body dipped into the ocean. I had five noticeable exhales throughout my time in the water, and while lying on my ie, listening to U2 and other songs that remind me of motorbiking through New Zealand’s South Island 8 years ago.
Eventually, I ended up at my café to wrap up some work and submit a grant for the American Samoa DOCO. As I was ordering, someone asked if my name was Anthony. After 10 minutes passed by welcoming me over to sit and talk with this friendly face were nothing but deep loving and supporting words about my entire story, journey, and passions here in the territory as well as the Pacific. It was as i said in these words, "I needed to hear that.
Thirty minutes later, halfway through my coffee and application, I received an email from Venmo. Turns out, it was a donation from the friendly face I’d just met. For someone to take the time to comb through my links and make a donation in such a way, paired with their words of support, was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Sadly, i'm so exhausted, I couldn't full cry. Trust me, I wanted to.
To continue the humble honesty, this isn’t the first time someone has pulled through at my beloved café as I grind away and shared those words of love and support. And despite the fatigue and efforts in my little corner, it’s those interactions that have been sparks to keep me going.
The reason I’m sharing this is because these interactions are a firm reminder: My passion drives this journey, but the community fuels it. I’m not the only believer in the mission. Thousands of kind souls believe in it too, and that number seems to keep growing every day.
What began as an innocent trip has turned into an initiative, into a non-profit, and now a mission!
Yes, im exhausted. But the success that this will all be is not juat a feeling I have. WE all have it!
Thank you all for your unwavering support in these passion-rooted efforts.
