RTFOTO: What agency are you listed with? ADR
RTFOTO: What is your occupation? I'm a full time student at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, but I work as skills trainer part time with Child and Family Services.
RTFOTO: What nationality are you? I guess culturally I mostly identify with my Hawaiian ancestry, but I am also Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, Haole.
RTFOTO: Where are you originally from? I'm originally from Washington, but I would consider Hawaii'i to be my home.
RTFOTO: Describe yourself in 3 words? Caring, Genuine, Considerate
RTFOTO: Who was or is your mentor? That's a tough one, there has been so many people that have been a ‘mentor’ per se and have influenced my life. If I had to select one name I would not know which to choose. I would have to say that both of my parents though, have had such a positive impact in my life and something like that is becoming so rare these days.
RTFOTO: What was your first paying job? My first paying job initially was painting houses during my first summer out of high school for minimum wage. I worked three days and then took another job that my aunty had told me about that paid a little bit better. As far as modeling, my first job was in working with Island Heritage for a calendar shoot.
RTFOTO: What inspired you to become a model? Well, to be completely honest I would have never had the confidence to go out and pursue a career in modeling on my own, but since I was given the opportunity to work with ADR, I’ve really just enjoyed being able to meet and work with new people for different jobs.
RTFOTO: How would you describe your style in fashion? I would have to say that I would not consider myself a fashion guru, but I guess my style in fashion is a cool, really casual, just relaxed look. Pretty much what I'm most comfortable in, and what I came in wearing the day of our shoot was just jeans and a white t-shirt. Maybe that's my look, I don’t know, just classic comfort and nothing too fancy, just right for me.
RTFOTO: How many years have you been doing what you do? I was signed with an agency before ADR and I was with them for about 8 or 9 months, but really never got any jobs. It was kind of sad, but then I met up with Ryan at ADR and since then have been more active in pursuing a career as a model and I've had some decent jobs. So all together it's been almost a year now.
RTFOTO: If you could do one thing different growing up, what would that be? Really, I’m not too sure. I'm very happy now, the way my life is today and the road that I've traveled up to this point in my life has been a good one. I'm very grateful for everything that I've been blessed with, especially my family. On a side note, if I would have known better at a younger age I would definitely have tried to have a greater appreciation for my parents and the summers that we spent here in Hawaii with other family and in enjoying my grandparents more while they were here and we were all together.
RTFOTO: What drives you to continue doing what you do? I think knowing where I've been and what I have yet to accomplish in this life is a true inspiration. Once you have a testimony of something like that it's difficult to deny it and not try to strive for it.
RTFOTO: What do you like best about the modeling industry? I enjoy meeting real people, not the ones you would imagine to be on huge billboards or on the walls of Ala Moana Shopping Center, but the one's who put everything together. The photographers, the other models, the crew, the producers, everyone. Just meeting models at a shoot, I think it’s a lot different and you can gain perspective. I'm humbled that not everyone in the industry has a huge ego or go around boasting about themselves. There are a lot of good people out there in the industry that are not caught up in their pride, they’re a lot of fun to work with, and so far it’s just been a good time. Also, I really like the idea of traveling, though I haven’t had the opportunity yet, I think that’s another nice thing about modeling is to be able to travel for different jobs.
RTFOTO: What don't you like about the industry? On the other hand, there are some people out there that are just trying to make a buck and use a model, but if you meet the right people they’ll help you to stay away from the ones that could hurt your career.
RTFOTO: If you weren't doing what you do today, what would you be doing? If I weren't modeling I would probably be putting more hours in at my other job as a skills trainer. Although it can be a quite a challenge sometimes, working with children is really fun.
RTFOTO: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Ten years, wow that’s a good ways away. I’ll be 32 by then. That’s crazy to think about, but I’m sure it’ll come all too soon. I know for sure that I’ll be done with school here shortly so by then I would hope that I would have established myself in a solid career, modeling has just kind of been a side thing for fun and new experiences, the extra cash is good now, but hopefully in ten years I’ll be working and saving money, maybe even have met someone to start a family with.
RTFOTO: What is a good day like for you? A good day for me is waking up to an early morning session at the beach with my closest friends just before the sun rise… clean solid waves and no crowds anywhere. Then maybe lunch with my family and catching up like we use to. Squeezing in a shoot with an awesome photographer friend, RT. And then hanging out with that special lady, and playing music at the beach… well, ok so I’m still waiting on that last one... heh. Sorry about that, I thought you meant “perfect day” heh, jk. Anyway, moving on…
RTFOTO: What embarrassing moment have you had in your career? I can’t think of anything that has been all that embarrassing yet, but while on my last shoot we were supposed to be dancing at this little luau, but the music was really soft, just really difficult to hear. It was pretty funny, the crew was laughing at us and pretending to dance around even though they definitelty couldn't hear the music. It super fun though.
RTFOTO: What would you say is the most difficult part of your job? As a model being confident when you go into an audition before you even get any job, to know that ‘you can’ get the part is tough sometimes. There are a lot of beautiful people out there both inside and out, it can be intimidating. I guess so long as you feel comfortable with yourself and accept your special look, whatever that is the way that you are, I think you’ll be alright. Realizing you have just as good of a chance to get the part as anyone else is key. If you don’t get it just move on and accept it. Someone else out there is going to love your look and put you out there to represent their image or product, etc. So I try to enjoy the experience I get from each audition/job.
RTFOTO: What was your most happiest moment in your career? The happiest moment in my career so far as a model has been in shooting with you recently. You’ve helped me to develop some skills and confidence that I had lacked before and since then I was cast for a good job. It was definitely a defining moment in my career.

RTFOTO: What makes you different from your peers? The thing that makes me different from some of my peers would have to be my life in the gospel. I’m not a big partier. I don’t really drink, not that I look down on it, but it’s just my personal preference and what the church teaches. Don’t get me wrong I like to have fun just like any one else. I have a good understanding of what happiness is to me and I don’t need anything else to make me happy. I just love the ocean, my friends and family. They are my happiness and the gospel is where I find peace.
RTFOTO: If you could pick any city to live in other than the city you are currently in, what city would that be and why? That’s a tough one. I love where I grew up in Washington. A little town called Graham. It’s just so familiar, and the memories that I had growing up with my two older brothers are great. However, now I’m not sure where I’d like to live. I think it’d have to be another city somewhere in the islands, maybe not even a city… preferably just somewhere away from the city.
RTFOTO: What advice can you give to those aspiring what you do? Just accept who you are and try your best. That’s all you have to do. So long as you’re always true to yourself and respect that, don’t let anything that anyone says keep you down and you can do it, just believe it, and know that you can.
RTFOTO: What is your message to teens today? …To take their education seriously and go to college, to avoid doing drugs, and to play an active role in deciding what their future holds for them. Just truly believe you can and you will.
RTFOTO: If you had the power to change the world, what would you do? If I could change the world I wouldn’t know where to begin. I would definitely feed the hungry, supply the needy, stop the fighting, and stop the destruction of our beautiful environment, especially here in Hawaii’i.
RTFOTO: What was your experience working with Russell Tanoue? First off, I think Russell is an amazing photographer. Working with him on this past shoot was terrific. He’s very personable and professional. I haven’t had a lot of experience in front of the camera, but I felt really comfortable and I think it helped for the photos. I can completely understand why RT is so well known and for those whom do not know him or haven’t have the great opportunity to shoot with him, I would strongly encourage you to.
RTFOTO: Finally, tell me something about you I don't know about? Aside from my education and the career that I will most likely soon be working in I would love to be able to model as my career, travel, and just experience life little more for a while before settling down.
RTFOTO: Anything you'd like to say?

I would just like to thank you again for the opportunity to work with you and also for that solid positive vibe that you give off while working on a shoot. It was a great experience working with you and definitely a pleasure. Aloha.