Welcome Kane Shimabukuro in our new role as Production Assistant!

Tosha: Tell us a little about yourself outside of the career bio, what would you want the audience to know about you?

Kane: I enjoy writing songs, playing the ukulele, guitar, piano and singing. At one point I was even signed to an indie label. Another passion I also enjoy is cooking and learning new recipes.

Tosha: Oftentimes we are involved in JEDI work long before it’s realized, especially for folx of color. How have you seen your journey in this type of work?

Kane: Growing up I struggled with self identity. My mother (African American) would always tell my siblings and I how to operate and navigate in spaces where we would be the minority. Growing up in a Hawaiian community, we were also taught about indigenous sovereignty and the importance of perpetuating those cultures.

Tosha: What is your first memory in your career do you recall doing Justice work?

Kane: As a kid I would often shrug off those lessons and pretend like they didn’t apply to me. It wasn’t until the passing of Trayvon Martin that I realized just how important the lessons that my mother and other elders tried to instill in us was. I realized that there were so many voices and perspectives I had the privilege of ignoring. From that point on, I was proud to be myself completely and felt the need to speak up on behalf of marginalized communities, especially black and brown communities.

Tosha: What spoke to you most about Tosha prior to joining the team?

Kane: I had the privilege of speaking with Trinity and Jasmine prior to taking on my current position. I did my own research on TOSHA’s mission, and it spoke to some core values that I have in my personal life.

Tosha: How do you imagine growing within Tosha alongside its Founder and Managing partner?

Kane: As I continue to grow within TOSHA, I hope to one day be able to offer my own perspective from my intersectionalities as a gay, biracial, cultural adoptee.

Tosha: What curiosities around this work speaks most to you in the moment?

Kane: Seeing that this value of elevating voices that are often ignored or silenced was present here at TOSHA excited me, and I’m so happy to work with people who share the same values as myself.

Tosha: What in your career so far has brought you the most joy?

Kane: Prior to working at TOSHA, I had the opportunity to share my cultural knowledge and expertise in Polynesian cultures onboard a number of cruise lines. Working onboard and being able to give outsiders a better understanding of various Polynesian cultures filled me with a sense of fulfillment like I had never known. Guests would often let us know that our lectures were the highlight of their trips and that learning more about the culture and places they were visiting was better than any sightseeing shore excursion could have been.