Ethan Lau, Listen to the Trees
In Honolulu, Ethan Lau moves barefoot between concrete and canopy, skating not to perform but to connect. Once a professional skater, he left trophies and shoes behind to follow a simpler path — one guided by trees, fruit, and presence. In this conversation, he shares what nature means to him, and how it continues to shape the way he lives.
What does nature mean to you?
Nature is a book whose pages stretch into infinity. But if you’re paying attention , you can read it. It begins just outside your door: noticing the wind, identifying a few plants or insects, and tuning into the subtleties. That’s nature. It’s not something far away ; it’s right here, whispering.
How does nature shape your lifestyle?
For me, it starts with what I eat. I want the best, most real food ; always. Nature gives it to us in rhythm. Mangoes come right when they’re meant to. Citrus arrives in perfect time. When you live with the trees, you begin to follow the seasons not on a calendar, but through your body.
What about nature in the city?
It’s funny ; we plant nature in the city to make ourselves more comfortable. But real nature ; it’s wilder than that. Like fruit hunting: sometimes I walk miles just to find a mango tree. You end up meeting people, asking questions, discovering places you didn’t expect. It’s not just about the fruit. It’s about the connection.
What role does movement play in your relationship with nature?
I used to skateboard every day. That was my introduction to flow ; finding lines through the city, navigating space with intuition. Surfing came later. It was like the ocean told me: “Slow down. Breathe. You’re part of this now.” When you’re on a wave, you’re just a punctuation mark in the ocean’s sentence.
Do you craft or grow anything yourself?
I’ve been learning to grow food and carve wood. One of the most beautiful things is making something from nothing ; something useful, with your hands. I believe every act of making is a way to root yourself deeper into the land.
Any advice for someone trying to reconnect with nature?
Start small. Go outside and be quiet. Ask yourself what’s growing near you. What birds do you hear? What phase is the moon in? It doesn’t have to be radical. Just present. Start noticing, and nature will notice you back.
And what has this path taught you?
That you don’t need much. That beauty isn’t in what you have : it’s in how you see. Nature teaches you how to let go, how to be humble, how to stay curious. And when you feel lost, it reminds you: you were never separate.