Aloha! My name is Puamakamae DeSoto I'm the daughter of Mālia Ka'aihue & Duane DeSoto. My kulaiwi (ancestral lands) are Wai'ohinu, Kaimukī & Mākaha. I come from a long lineage of ocean people. On my mom's side, fishermen from Hawai'i Island. On my dad's, watermen & waterwomen from Mākaha. When I'm in the ocean I'm at home.
The greatest honor Iʻve received was being named the Buffalo Keaulana Waterwoman in 2018 after competing in 9 events in this contest known as the waterman olympics.
Iʻm pursuing a career in professional short boarding but consider myself a waterwoman by design so I love all ocean sports. Iʻm currently the 2019 State Champion in shortboard & longboard. Iʻm also the 2018 NSSA Regional Champion. I will represent Hawaiʻi in the National Championships in June and July in California in three age divisions under 14, under 16 & under 18.
As a Native Hawaiian I have kuleana (responsibility & privilege) to share the legacy of Hawaiʻiʻs surfing history. We continue in old and new ways to define surfing, not just the sport, but the cultural practice. I also have strong ties to my communuty through my volunteer work at Nā Kama Kai.
Profile
• HOME BREAK / MĀKAHA
• 'IOLANI SCHOOL / 8TH GRADE
• FLUENT IN HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE
• PUBLISHED POET
• PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER
Surf
• 2019 NSSA Explorer Girls Hawaii Regional Champ
• 2019 NSSA Open Girls Hawaii Regional Champ
• 2019 HSA State Champion (shortboard)
• 2019 HSA State Champion (longboard)
• 2018 Buffalo Big Board WATERWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Community
• NĀ KAMA KAI / 780HRS SERVED
nakamakai.org