ISSUE 57: Cathy Chin
And her waterproof bags for surfing 🏄
THE YELLOW PAGES is a newsletter recommending Asian and AAPI films, music, writing, and other inspiration — all the artsy things I wished for growing up!
Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!!!! Of course, here at TYP every month is APAHM. Thank you so much for subscribing and supporting.
I was introduced to Cathy Chin via her cousin (previous TYP guest Helenna Santos) who told me about how Cathy had co-founded a product using up-cycled expired aviation life vests, for surfers to keep their valuables safe/dry. I included this in a recent vlog, but here is the part of the video just about Think Blue Surf Bags.
Today Cathy is sharing some of her favorites. And at the bottom are my AAPI recommendations for paid subscribers. Thank you!
Name/Pronouns:
Cathy Chin (She/Her)
Where are you?
Honolulu, Hawaii
What do you do?
After retiring from the Air Force, I traveled around the world running marathons. I came to Hawaii on vacation, learned to surf and fell in love with the people, culture and natural beauty of the islands. That was seven years ago and I never left. I started my own management consulting company and am also the co-founder of Think Blue Surf Bags.
How do you identify?
Chinese/American
Anything coming up you’d like to promote?
My co-founder Marlene Smith and I just launched our new waterproof surf bags in stores in Hawaii. In keeping with this blog, they are yellow since they are made of expired aviation life vests. We like to say when you buy a yellow surf bag from Think Blue, you are being green...
🎬 Movie: Crazy Rich Asians. I’ve always loved this movie, but it was also the last movie I watched with my Mom before she passed away. It reminds me of what an amazing person she was and the special time we spent together.
📖 Writer: Amy Tan was the first Asian author I read and reading The Joy Luck Club was first time I could really relate to the characters and situations in a novel. I grew up in Ohio in the 1970s – 80s There were exactly four Asian families in our suburb. It was a revelation to me that my experiences were not unique.
🌊 Exercise: I love to surf. Since I live in Hawaii most of the people in the line-up are local (Asian).
🍬 Snacks: It’s a tie between Carousel Candyland’s lemon peel gummy coke bottles and Nisshodo Candy Store’s chichi dango (mochi)
🍽️ Restaurant: It’s more of a storefront than a restaurant, but Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery has the most delicious manapua and rice cakes! Every morning there is a line down the street with people waiting.
🍨 Dessert: Halo-halos from Magnolia Bakery with ube ice cream are the best!
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