Cliff Kapono on Science and Education, Kaiser Bowls, Environmental Activism, and Traditional Craft

A molecular scientist with a PhD in marine conservation and sustainability from UC San Diego, Cliff Kapono devotes himself to putting his two greatest passions-science and surfing-into productive conversation. For Kapono, a Native Hawaiian from the Big Island, surfing necessitates meaningful, intimate care for one’s environment and is a practice deeply embedded in the familial and social histories that informed his upbringing. Kapono currently serves as an ambassador for the Save the Waves Coalition, a nonprofit that protects surf ecosystems globally, and his environmental activism and study range from microbiome dynamics to coral health. In this episode, Kapono sits down with Jamie Brisick to talk about surfing as a means of combating trauma, finding one’s identity, sublime connection, high-performance surf zones, commodification of the sacred, the nuances of inclusivity, and growing up in Hawaii.
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Produced by Jonathan Shifflett.
Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin).
Feature image by Todd Glaser

[@Jaimesebe]

Cliff should go down in surfing history as one of the most respected surfers. What a great role model of what a human should be, one that is connected to humanity, his ancestors and the wonderful gift that life is. Greetings and respect from the Canary Islands, Spain.

[@jamespardue3055]

Good insight, well done Gentlemen. Surfing matters.

[@davidgough3512]

Surfing has a quality that rightly invokes resonance between intellect and aesthetics, science and art, given depth by a timeless regard for earth and healing.

[@markrichards4263]

Among the first Hawaiians at Santa Cruz was Prince Kuhio - more than just an average guy . He mentions them in an aside way.