ITW -The life of Chris Miyashiro
On the shores of O‘ahu, Chris Miyashiro does not surf against the elements , he enters into dialogue with them.
Since his earliest days, the ocean has been his home. He learned to listen to the wind, to read the curve of a wave like one reads the lines on the face of the world ; so that, like in life and surfing alike, he might find his balance.
In Hawai‘i, the native people have a word for this: Pono.
A philosophy in itself, embraced by the islands for centuries. The pursuit of harmony , in life and with all that surrounds it , is one of the foundations of Hawaiian culture. It is the culture that shaped Chris Myashiro into the man he is today.
Chris is a painter, navigator, shaper, filmmaker, surfer.
He moves between the lines of preconceived ideas, leaning on ancestral knowledge to approach the unknown and reshape its contours.
Through his Alaia boards, hand-carved from invasive trees, he transforms what destroys into what connects. It’s not just about riding , it’s about riding with intention. Each board is an offering. Each session, a silent prayer.
Ho‘oponopono, the elders say , a phrase that can be translated as “to correct what is out of balance.” A virtuous circle, not unlike the tumultuous movement of life and waves.
Chris knows it well: every time he’s set out to sea, it was so he could return to land with greater understanding.
And so, between action and surrender, Chris finds himself at home.
Balanced between two worlds.
Pono — because that is the word.
Can you introduce yourself and share what the ocean means to you?
Aloha, my name is Chris. I grew up on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawai'i. Since before I can remember, the ocean has always felt like home. Surfing was naturally woven into every part of my life — it taught me to appreciate change, to slow down when life moves too fast, and to really listen.
Tell us about the Alaia and its role in your life.
The Alaia has been pivotal in my surfing journey. Since I was young, it taught me how to read the ocean
not just to ride the wave, but to become one with it -
. It’s incredible to think it was once a living tree, and that its energy is now carried into the ocean. Riding an Alaia feels like dancing between the uplands and the sea — between two worlds.
You craft your own boards — what kind of wood do you use?
I make my Alaias from an invasive tree we call albizia. It grows fast, absorbs too much moisture from the soil, gets huge, falls down, and destroys everything around it. Thankfully, I have people in my life involved in reforestation who help remove these invasive trees and replace them with native ones. Turning albizia into surfboards feels like an act of circular design — giving life to what once took it away.
What other nature-based practices are part of your life?
Lately, voyaging has entered my world. It changed the way I see the ocean. Now the wind speaks to me — it teaches me how far I can go, how rare it is that we came to inhabit these islands, and how important it is to know our place. We are visitors here.
How do people usually react when they see you riding an Alaia you’ve built yourself?
Most people say, “You can actually surf that?” It takes patience and understanding. But once you ride something handmade and fully compostable, you start to see the world differently — as a connected, living being.
What’s your greatest memory so far?
The first time I went down the face of a wave on an Alaia — I realized space has rhythm, stillness holds energy, and water has no boundaries. The Alaia changed my perspective completely. You’re not just riding a wave, you’re dancing with its last breath. When the wave ends and you’re full of joy, you suddenly realize your breath matters. Everything you do has meaning. And kindness — always kindness — moves us forward. That’s what the Alaia teaches me: grace is everything.
What have been your biggest challenges, and what advice would you give to others?
The biggest challenge is sourcing wood responsibly. But my advice? Just start. Circularity isn’t about a specific culture — it’s about using what’s available and honoring it. Stop worrying about who might judge you. Everything you do matters. When you start, you learn what you really need — and what you don’t.
What message would you like to share with the people reading or watching this?
Love every little detail. Everything has a purpose — even imbalance. See what is good. Find what is beautiful. Let that guide your creativity. And love people.
Always, love people.
