"After every session, I feel restored, happy, and able to tackle anything else life throws at me!"  Growing up in Washington State and Kauai forged a lifelong love of being out in nature. Today Brooke balances her life as a critical care nurse with instructing others in the intricacies of free diving. Whether in the cenotes of Mexico or in the deeps of the Pacific Brooke finds her happy meditative state holding her breath 45 meters down. Meet Outdoor Lover Brooke Kendzior.

"Fishing is a discipline in equality, for all people are equal before fish." In the last year he has fished 52 rivers, caught 50 species on the fly and completed the first stage of the Western Native Trout Challenge! 

Jasmine Cho's journey shows how with determination, dedication, and plenty of practice you can reach new heights and highs. A true Outdoor Lover.

Rene Wiley is not only a highly accomplished trainer and wellness coach for Nike, he is also a fountain of positive energy and community builder. 

"To me, nature is not an escape, it is an entrance into the truest essence of all that is."

"I am Rio Lakeshore, Earth empath, embodying movement by way of terrestrial locomotion, trail-dancin’, words, visuals, and soul... I don't run, I dance onward. I was born for this movement, I can cry, laugh, suffer, and my body can symbolize what the Spirit wants to express through my physical form."

"I believe connecting with nature is an essential part of learning how to take better care of nature and ourselves."

"Through surfing, the connection with the forces of nature connects me with myself, holding a mirror and showing me what's up at that given moment. It also makes me feel connected to a life force and energy that's way beyond what I can control."

“My dad was a paraglider so a lot of time was spent in the outdoors and I was always running around and climbing up trees, boulders, anything really and these are my fondest memories of my childhood.”

In 2021 Hawaii became the first state in the United States to ban certain chemical sunscreens in an effort to protect its fragile marine ecosystems. At Utu we are committed to only using non-nano zinc oxide, read more to find out why. 

"Spending time in nature with my queer community has been extremely healing. It’s given me space to think, explore and discuss sensitive topics with those who are close to me. It’s a place that I feel like myself."

"There’s just so much beauty in nature if you let yourself see it. I tend to need to be in a constant state of movement or activity, but I’ve been trying to remember to pause and embrace the moment. I think the outdoors is where I can most effectively practice that because it’s the easiest place for me to tap into a sense of calm. I think nature facilitates a place where people can revert back to childhood innocence and exploration." 

“It was hard at first being gay in the water. There was a good amount of homophobic comments but with time I’ve been in the water everyday, not backing down, and improving my surf and no one can really say anything now. There is still the occasional visitor, or group of visitors, that makes comments or has a really outdated macho bro view of surf, but I can honestly say I have the support here of the Saladita community, wonderful friends, and I know also the support of the LGBTQ community”