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Talk Story
Jamien Chee Interview
By Gabriel Mizunaka
Nearly everyday my family packs up and heads to the surf break called Kaiser Bowls, which is right across from Ala Moana Bowls. There I found two young stand up paddleboarders, Jamien Chee and Riggs Napoleon, unnoticed and unseen. They also surf with their families at Kaiser Bowls, enjoying the ocean just like everyone else. I got a chance to interview both of them, and see what they had to say about paddleboarding.
The first person I interviewed was Jamien Chee, along with his dad Jerard Chee. They come to Kaisers nearly every day to paddleboard or canoe surf.
ME: How old are you? And where do you live?
Jamien: I’m 9 years old, going into 4th grade.
ME: Why do you paddleboard? What made you decide to try it?
Jamien: my dad
Gerard: I started teaching him around may this year and he just took to it like ( snaps fingers) that.
ME: Where do you like to paddle?
Jamien: here at Kaiser bowls.
ME: what other ocean activities do you do?
Jamien: I like to paddle canoe, go fishing. . .
Gerard: he’s also learning to surf too.
ME: Do you think you’ll be paddleboarding in the future?
Jamien: . . .maybe a little bit.
ME: DO you think paddleboarding is a positive thing in your life?
Jamien: yeah it’s fun!
Gerard: it also helps him appreciate the ocean and be healthy.
ME: do you think more people you age should paddleboard?
Gerard: (answering for Jamien) Definitely, because then they have a better chance staying out of trouble and away from stuff like drugs or parties. My wife’s cousin is from the Philippines and he doesn’t know anything about the ocean. Jamien just learned to swim a couple months ago.
ME: what do you think about how some surfers look down on paddleboarding?
Jamien: can I go now?
Gerard: (laughing) Nah I don’t know about that stuff. I don’t have any beef with anybody. I mean, were all on a board, all in the ocean. I’m just doing what I love.
ME: any last words?
Jamien: I can go now right?
Gerard: ( still laghing) just have fun and don’t look down on paddleboarding.
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