Team Members

Meet some our wonderful surf camp volunteers..

Colleen Kudo, camp founder and coordinator.
Occupation: Ocean Girl Fundraiser, Surf instructor, Website builder, Saving the Planet

Do you currently or have you worked with kids: I was the director of a kids non-profit program for 18 yrs. Now we do Ocean Girl Surf camps!

How do you currently work for bettering the planet: started becausewesurf.com, ocean girl project, participate in beach cleanups, recycle, take and carry reusable water bottle and bags.

Hobbies: surfing (of course!), organic gardening, eating ono food with my honey, fish and reef monitoring

Places you’ve surfed: Mexico, Hawaii, California

Favorite Surf break: where the waves are breaking and the line up is empty

One thing you do to help save the planet? compost

What has surfing taught you or done for you in your life? I love that being a surfer transcends gender, age, economic status and culture.

Surfing is my sanctuary, strength, stoke & peace. Surfing instills a unified sense of community in me; and is what I love about it. Being where my heart belongs.. I have found peace and bold empowerment, so many tremendous gifts that I  can’t quite express in words, but I do on waves..

Something I always remember: Paddle back from catching a wave calmly.. it shows honor, respect, dignity and gratitude. I try my hardest to remember, I have nothing to prove.. If I find myself being dumb and competing I usually move inside to another peak or get out, it is totally the opposite of what I am surfing for and what I am about. There are always more waves and uncrowded (still secret) surf spots!

This is the other Colleen C. or “Leenie” as I like to call her. Ever wish there were two of you? Lucky us, there are two Colleen’s on our team. Leenie is my right hand woman and the creative force for our team. She created the graphic for the surf camp from Allana’s art, how awesome! Colleen has worked for The Green House and volunteered with becausewesurf.com for many years, we are so fortunate to have her experience, smarts and artistic talents for the girls, we love you Leenie!

Her Favorite surf spot mostly at 3′s.

Keli Rae..wonderful friend, volunteer and supporter for many years. She does amazing work with butterflies and caterpillars and she hikes all over Hawaii with her husband Steve. She has an environmental warrior spirit and of course loves to surf with friends. We love her passion for helping the girls at camp and for all the many ways she has helped the camp develop and come to life. She is the rascal of our team, everyone who knows her will agree! Mahalo Keli!
Have you worked with kids: volunteered working with kids while in school for a teaching degree.
How do you currently work for bettering the planet: I’m learning new things everyday and teach others around me. I’ve raised butterflies (doesn’t that count?) they will be extinct in 10 years…sad but true

Interests: cars, cooking, and life
Hobbies: anything outdoors…. surfing, hiking, and fun in the sun
Places you’ve surfed: Oahu!
Favorite Surf break: rock piles
One thing you do to help save the planet? save and raise butterflies. its a beautiful process!
What got you interested in volunteering for Ocean Girl Project? helping girls with the things that will help them become beautiful on the inside as well the outside. because they are OUR future.
What has surfing taught you? respect

Billie.. among other things, Billie is a rippin surfer and talented environmental artist, “We have to think about sustaining the Earth for the future, not just for the present.”

Interests: SURFING, surfing and surfing! Also relaxing with friends and family,eating ono kine grinds, and creating in any way I can.

Favorite Surf break: It is a beauty, the waves always line up, it is spread out and the people are pretty mellow, it is not a long paddle out but you can get some long rides. . .and it is definitely my favorite; but if I tell you, isn’t it gonna get a lot more crowded? (that was a trick question, darn it Billie!)

What has surfing done for you? Surfing has done wonders for my life. Not only do I feel fit and tan and feel good everyday in the water, I have found that the good vibrations of surfing don’t go away when you leave the beach they linger with you and cross-step over your thoughts all day long.

For me, finding your balance on a surfboard and the flow of the
wave and the ocean is like finding yourself and realizing
who you are. When you paddle for a wave or are riding a
wave, it is just you and the water, and is the most amazing feeling I have ever felt. I didn’t start surfing until I was 21, and for being born and raised here on the island that is pretty much unheard of!

I never understood what surfing was about until I tried it and now I realize why people do it and why people never stop doing it. Surfing is a lifelong sport for all ages and I am so happy to have discovered it, even if I was a little late.

Alanna with surf sister Leona, another volunteer living off island right now.
Alanna is a surf artist and surfer girl jewelry maker, she surfs a short board and attends college, in her spare time she volunteers for Ocean Girl Project camp and coaches outrigger canoe paddling for 13 yr old boys. She brings smiles of joy to everyone she meets!
Her sustainable policies: recycle, don’t take plastic bags, buy local organic products.
Her Interests: surfing, paddling, art, music, Alanna created the original art for the Ocean Girl Project and Colleen Conlan transformed her black and white art drawing to our current graphic logo, what a talented team!

Places she surfed: Hawaii, California Favorite Surf break: Rockpiles
One thing you do to help save the planet? Recycle, work at Ocean Girl Project
What has surfing taught you? Surfing has taught me a lot about the ocean, reefs, beaches, and how to respect the water.

Roclynn we are happy to say is one of our newest volunteers. She enjoys surfing, Hula, volunteering and paddling. Roclynn has taught keiki classes for Hula and she currently works for Oiwi Ocean Gear. She is also a student of Hawaiian Studies at UH and one of the camps Hawaiian cultural guide.
Favorite Surf break: Castles (Kailua)
One thing she does to help save the planet? i recycle
What has surfing taught you or done for you in your life?
Surfing helps me release anger, it helps me be the person I want to be without being held back..
Dusty Kaonohialii with his (first) brand new surfboard, sweet! Dustin is one of our Jr. Lifeguard volunteers. He has been active in the Jr. Lifeguard program and surfing for about two years. He also body surfs and boogie boards. Favorite Surf Spots: Rock Piles, Sandy’s and Makapuu. Interests: :besides surfing, Volleyball! Only in 9th grade and already playing on the Varsity Team for his high school. Someone to watch.
One thing you do to help save the planet? Recycle. Actually we know for a fact that he is better at recycling than anyone we know, thanks for volunteering and for being such a great example to others!

Faryn our volunteer with a totally awesome sense of humor, previously and participated in beach clean-ups and fundraisers. “I’m always down to help a better cause, lend a helping hand, and keep the world revolving one push at a time”, says Miss Faryn.
Interests: Drawing, writing, skating, surfing, EATING, learning, massaging, experiencing, meeting new people, trying new things, expanding my horizons.
Favorite Surf break: Tongg’s!
One thing you do to help save the planet? BE LOVING, CARING, OPEN, AND WILLING.
What got you interested in volunteering for Ocean Girl Project? My sisters. I saw this as a great opportunity for their mediocre lifestyles. Getting them out and showing them what more life and the ocean has to offer is one of my main objectives.
What has surfing done for you in your life? Surfing has taught me that good things (and I mean really good things…..like standing on a never-ending wave above miles of gleaming glass and colors of coral mixed with a splash of fish and painted toenails) come in time. I was never a great surfer, and I still don’t consider myself a GOOD surfer, but I enjoy myself out in the water now. I started only 3 years ago and in time got to a point I dreamed myself reaching. With a lot of practice, good intentions, great friends, and a will to learn, I can go out in the water with confidence, a happy face, and a lot of vana in my toenail!

Talented & beautiful Donna Welch Photographer, becausewesurf and Ocean Girl Project photographer.

Hawaii Surfing icon, Jeannie Chesser

Rob Barreca ocean saving warrior! Thanks Rob for all you do and for your humor, it reminds us all to be lighthearted. Rob is the person to see for Surfrider memberships!

Related Articles

• Sustainable Goals-Ocean Girl Project (oceangirlproject.com)
• Sustainable Surf Camp Hawaii Volunteers (oceangirlproject.com)
• Surfers, Plastic Pollution, & Sustainable Solutions (oceangirlproject.com)