Shaping surfboards to heal my heart
Intersections
In this mini-documentary series, six stories open a window into the complexities of Filipino identities taking shape as migrants and new citizens in the USA.
Isaiah Jimenez began shaping surfboards to cut down costs and to heal from a broken heart. He makes each piece by hand, guided by his understanding of how surfboard shapes must fit into the pocket of a wave, as well as the style of the surfer.
Isaiah shares in Shaper his customers have encouraged him to explore his creativity, Living in Kauiai can be tough, however. Isaiah and Mayor Derek Kawakami discuss the grave costs that come with the price of paradise and how hope can be seen in the efforts of locals who merge a devotion to their community with a deep respect for nature.
“I’m a little shy of how people would view my shaping because it’s unconventional. But I’m thankful to my customer because they’re the ones that keep my craft going. They make me progress, find different things.”
“A lot of people from the city think, ‘Oh, you’re going to stay on this rock and get old. This place is only for retirees.’ But, man, this is a playground if you take advantage of everything around, especially the community. And surf is free! I don’t gotta pay nobody.”
“Bringing something that was void into an art piece or something that’s beautiful — that’s pretty much my life: broken, worthless, just amounted to nothing. Then all of a sudden God could take me and shape me into something beautiful.”
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Isaiah Jimenez is a surfboard shaper from Kauai and the entrepreneur behind Hemingway Surfboards.