Kaesha Purdy
Seabury Hall graduate, Kaesha Purdy, is studying criminal justice, law, & society at Pacific University. She is currently rowing and continues to perpetuate the sport and culture of outrigger canoe paddling!
In her application essay, Kaesha shares her experiences with Hawaiian Canoe Club and how this award will help her advance towards her goals…
I never thought I would ever be paddling in my life as I was a hula dancer for most of it. I only started to paddle because my older sister complained to our mom that she had to go to practice from 2:45 to 3:45 everyday while I just had to go to hula on Mondays and Wednesdays for an hour a night. However I could have never imagined myself still paddling for Hawaiian canoe club for this many years. I have seen so many people leave after maybe a year or two but I have also seen the people who stayed until they went to college. So, being a member of Hawaiian canoe club has allowed me to be a part of the Kamali’i program and to travel to different places and to form connections with people from different places.
I started in the Kamali’i program shortly after registering for paddling. It allowed me to not only learn the history surrounding Hawaiian canoe club and its founders but it also allowed me to learn about Hawaiian values and traditions. Through this program I learned about the year it was founded and who founded it. I also learned about each of the canoes we have and how each of them have specific names due to the meaning behind them. Additionally I have learned about Kahoolawe and its history before and after the bombing of it. In this program I also learned different hulas while we were preparing for ‘Aha ‘Aina towards the end of July and it helped me not only stay connected to an integral part of my Hawaiian culture but also see how well stories can be told through these different movements. Furthermore I was fortunate enough to go on field trips where we helped build a wall for a fishpond and helped clean lo’i patches and so much more.
I also got opportunities to travel and to visit one of our sacred islands. I participated in World Sprints in 2022 in London and met people from other countries while also paddling with people from Kauai. Through this experience I gained new friends from Kauai and it is always good to see them during states for summer or s school. Additionally I was offered an opportunity to go to Kahoolawe this year with the canoe club to help with the trail and set up a new camp on the island. This experience has allowed me to appreciate the little things in my life including ice water. I have truly been able to understand why Kaho’olawe is so special to Hawaii as it is a beautiful island that had gone through something tragic and it didn’t deserve any of it.
Ultimately being a member of Hawaiian canoe club has been the main reason why I have been able to experience these many different opportunities and I will forever be grateful for being able to be a part of a great canoe club and for all the people that I have crossed paths with due to the club. I have had so much fun while I was in the Kamali’i program as I got to get closer to many of my teammates. Furthermore I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go to World Sprints had I not been paddling with Hawaiian canoe club. So, all of these different experiences have made me love paddling all the more and I have the Hawaiian canoe club to thank for all these great memories with everyone I have encountered.
I plan on using the Lake ‘Ohana scholarship to help me further my education at Pacific University where I plan on majoring in Criminal Justice, Law & Society.
