Sea Inspiration is a wonderful organization. Their approach to educating young minds is terrific with "My Beach Reports". They are refreshing and innovative with their video capture. One can only imagine what it feels like being up close to sea life. Watching the videos take you into a magical underwater world. It's important to become familiar with the habitat of the honu, dolphins and whales in the Hawaiian waters and make sure we keep the ocean as pristine as possible. The Healing Adventures program is so special. What an opportunity for physically disadvantaged young people to feel the thrill and power of the ocean which they otherwise would not have the chance to experience. Sea Inspirations is a worthwhile non-profit to support and participate in. Start watching their videos and get involved. Aloha, Makk Studios
This organization's mission is to protect our oceans by inspiring others to take care of it. The people at Sea Inspiration are energized, committed and motivated to educate and inspire everyone to get involved.
I have known Ray for over 45 years, from back when we were surfing the fragile barrier islands of North Carolina's Outer Banks. His passion for our marine environment and for helping others is a commitment that has only grown over the years. Everyone associated with SEA INSPIRATIONS is genuine and does a top notch job on all of their projects.
I have only good and wonderful things to say about this group of people. Their ability to inspire respect and awe for the oceans surrounding Hawaii is truly a gift to behold. I hope that they continue to bring people and oceans together for many years. Keep up the good work!!
I am so impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the Sea Inspiration staff. We are able to enjoy the beauty of Hawaii and our beautiful ocean through outstanding videos and the inspiring stories of individuals supporting our veterans and our pristine habitat. Ray Hollowell is a gifted videographer who shares his love for our oceans and marine life. The challenge is to inspire others to appreciate our environment and to enjoy it with others. Sea Inspiration reaches out to children and adults through magnificent videos, special projects such as sponsoring “Make a Wish” recipients and honors our veterans who sacrificed so much for our nation. I am a proud sponsor of Sea Inspiration and encourage all to support their mission statement of “People and Oceans healing each other”.
My earliest efforts working with this group was in the mid 1990s when they were beginning to develop ocean stories to engage the public in Hawaii in taking better care of the coastal waters and beaches. These were mostly public service efforts and contributed to community awareness and responsibility working with government agencies like NOAA, schools, and community organizations.
In 2008, they were among the first in the world to begin to work with Google Earth inspried by Dr. Sylvia Earle building out the ocean in Google Earth with stories and lessons about stewardship, living treasures in the ocean including dolphins, sharks, squid, coral and the dangers that human carelessness can bring to the life in the ocean. These stories were published in Google Earth for eight years and were viewed millions of times by people around the world.
Over the last 10 years, they have introduced the ocean to many who would not have been able to do it alone and captured stories of wounded veterans who have found joy in being able to return to the ocean or are empowered to enter and see the sea for the first time and have a record of their story and what it meant to them. In addition, they have produced biographies of some extraordinary individuals who have devoted their lives to the ocean and enabled children and adults with disabilities or serious illness to have the experience and story of their own ocean inspirations.
Sea Inspiration is comprised of dedicated, passionate, proactive, extremely hardworking team who are tirelessly dedicated to protecting our ocean and inspiring others. I am PROUD to be a member and honored to be associated with this team. Think globally, act and support locally.
It was an easy decision to become involved with Sea Inspiration, and I have served as a board member with great pride because the organization's mission is so very worthwhile. Ray and his network have brought joy to children suffering the effects of horrible illness, and supported wounded veterans, offering them an opportunity to forget their injuries for a while. Much of this involves the ocean, sharing its beauty and the life within it, in the hope that more people will become dedicated to its stewardship. Youngsters have made contributions to teach their peers via "My Beach Report". It is worth exploring Sea Inspiration's website - it is indeed an inspiring organization.
https://www.seainspiration.org/
Sea Inspiration is a phenomenal organization! Their three focus areas: My Beach Report (MBR), Healing Adventures and Inspiring Ocean Videos (See Inspiration!) are performing above and beyond and are having a true and lasting impact. Watch the videos to see the amazing stories and watch faces light up with delight and joy. Ray and his team are doing great things for our oceans and our heroes!
I became familiar and a friend of Ray's after he invited my son Brian Kolfage Jr a triple amputee wounded warrior to Hawaii. Ray and his organization provided Brian the chance and opportunity to scuba dive and surf. Brian has always liked the ocean and Ray helped Brian to reconnect with it after his catastrophic injuries on 9 11 04.
As a Hospitality Manager for Make-A-Wish Hawaii, we often reach out to the talented team at Sea Inspiration to help preserve memories when granting ocean related Wishes. Ray and Patti go above and beyond to assure that our families feel the warm Aloha spirit. We have granted some truly incredible wishes together; including 5 year old Eli who loves Lilo and Stitch. Young Eli said he can relate to Stitch because they both have alien hearts. ( Eli has a life-threatening heart condition). He loves Lilo because she takes care of Stitch like his dad takes care of him.
Eli had the chance to catch waves in the beautiful waters on Oahu with three time surfing wold champion Carissa Moore, who was dressed as Lilo. Sea Inspiration captured the joy of this wish on video from many angles.
They really live up to their name as Sea Inspiration.
My family and I have had the pleasure of getting to know Ray Hollowell through different ventures. Since getting to know him, he has sent my family countless pictures and videos involving his great mission to save the planet and help the disabled through the healing ministry of the Ocean. My daughter, Jenny, suffers from anxiety, and was moved to tears when she watched some of Ray's educational and inspiring documentaries and videos. They made her relax and now has her interested in underwater photography as a cure for her anxiety.
My family and I are looking forward to becoming more involved with Ray's mission and learning more about what we can do to help save our oceans and help others with problems by introducing them to the therapies the sea provides.
Sea Inspiration has brought so much healing to our family! We met Ray and Patti in September, 2015 when they helped document our daughter, a leukemia survivor, meeting Kama the Surfing Pig. They went above and beyond our dreams to help make her day perfect. Ray and Patti have kept in touch since our first trip and are now a part of our family. We have been back to visit them a second time and their aloha was just a sincere and heart warming as the first visit. The work they are doing to bring awareness to our oceans and the healing capabilities within is outstanding! We're so grateful to them for everything they have done for us!
I became first aware of Sea Inspiration in 2011 when Ray Hollowell, founder of the organization, was interviewing Cpl Todd Love USMC (medically retired), a triple amputee, who had lost both legs and his left arm in an IED blast in Iraq. As a camera flyer and skydiver, I had just landed from videoing Cpl Love as he did a tandem skydive into Kualoa Ranch, on the North Shore of Oahu to signal the start of the X-Terra Games.
Ray spent the week with Todd and coordinated his swim with the dolfins, surfing, and other high adrenaline activities. I was beyond impressed when I saw the final product. Ray captured the "can do" spirit of the first of now many severely wounded warriors that just want to live their life to the fullest each day.
Interestingly, what began as a "Save Our Oceans" for Hawaii students, has morphed into an international effort to connect America's Wounded Warriors and students as they both take responsibility and stewardship of our seas. Now broadcast world wide through Armed Forces Entertainment on military bases everywhere, Sea Inspiration has become a favorite of students everywhere. The program is educational, informational and entertaining.
A snappy salute to Ray Hollowell and Sea Inspiration for a job exceedingly well done.
Our Sea Life is in jeopardy. Sea Inspiration gives a real life and hands on experience for people to conserve in all ways from daily habits to vacation habits to volunteering.
We had the pleasure of meeting RayHollowell and Patti Mitchell from Sea of Inspiration just over 3 years ago while we were living in Hawaii on a work visa. We instantly connected and realized that we had very similar thoughts, values and dreams. When Ray shared his story about his life, his work and his nonprofit, Sea of Inspiration, we were inspired by the positive change and awareness he is creating about sustaining our earth and specifically the oceans/marine life. Ray's passion of providing adventures & experiences to others, regardless of their ability is heart-warming. This non-profit is perfect alignment with the mission of our company, Live Aloha and we are very pleased to be a supporter & sponsor for Sea of Inspiration's initiatives and projects. And of course, we are grateful for the friendship of both Patti & Ray.
With aloha,
Caron and Rob Keens
Live Aloha
www.livealoha.com
In 2012, I had the remarkable experience of videoing Cpl Todd Love USMC (ret)'s Skydive into Kualoa Ranch, to kick off the X-Terra Games. Cpl Love is a triple amputee. He is missing both legs at the crotch and his left arm. On the ground capturing the entire event was Ray Hollowell, lead of Sea Inspiration. Liking his work, I found that he was doing this for many of our severely wounded veterans. He would also take them surfing, swimming with the dolphins and connecting them with the sea. That was the beginning of the relationship. Since then, I've been involved with many other events Ray has coordinated. At this stage, I do nothing for profit. I volunteer frequently, and find myself wanting to do more and more with Sea Inspiration as they connect the public and some of our most deserving American protectors with our healing oceans. Col John R. Bates USMC (ret)
Sea Inspiration is a wonderful organization that does a great job of showcasing the beauty of the seas. Ray Hollowell is a top-notch videographer, who gives young people and military veterans an opportunity to participate in ocean related activities and gets them in front of the camera so we can hear how they are affected by their interactions with our marine environment. Very uplifting programs!
Great to work with! Very passionate and dedicated to marine conservation and helping people in need. Thank you for all you do!
Sea Inspiration has a crew of lifelong dedicated members that will continue to do important work for the world by getting people excited to help the sea.
This organization is absolutely in the elitist category for all the absolutely wonderful and educational work they do and for all the educational opportunities they provide to all - and especially I love their involvement in teaching us how to care for the ocean and all its beautiful inhabitants. The showcase of learning for young people is phenomenal and one of the most awesome attributes of what they promote. This organization is truly about education for all along with giving us some of the most beautiful glimpses into the creatures of our wonderful oceans and how we can help promote awareness about caring for them and the oceans they call home. I applaud and give my full support to this wonderful, caring organization headed by a true "WATERMAN". Tina Rendon
Awesome group of people truly dedicated to saving the environment and educating children. Their projects are truly inspirational and have moved countless people to become better stewards of the oceans. Thank you for everything and keep up the great work!
Sea Inspiration is doing amazing things by sharing the marine environment with so many! Through their combination of marine wildlife videos, student educators, young scientists, and veterans, this organization is a "WIN WIN" for the planet AND the people. Stewardship of our oceans is an integral part of protecting this vital resource and Sea Inspiration is educating so many through their unique multi-media programming. Well done!
Talk about heart!! This organization REALLY cares about people and the oceans. I know two of the board members, (Patti and Ray), and they are very sincere in their efforts to help people who are facing physical and emotional challenges. They become dear friends with everyone they help. And on top of that they are HUGE ocean lovers and are passionate about inspiring people to be great stewards of our seas.
I've only known about Sea Inspiration for a short time, but what I've learned about them is awe-inspiring. I'm excited to continue following their unique programs and look forward to watching Sea Inspiration grow.
I've had the pleasure of working with Sea Inspirations Executive Director. He's always worked hard for small grassroot nonprofits, he gives 200% to all of his projects. If your looking for someone that has knowledge and experience, and someone who loves his family, friends, nature and all living things. I recommend this organization! Chuck has passion and a kind heart, so check them out!
Kim Jardine Reiley