Kia ora, Konnichiwa! I’m Elina.
I’m an early-career filmmaker with a love for adventure, people, and writing.
I have this belief that the best way to understand a people is to walk their land.
And I love telling stories in this context.

We exist in an era with information at the end of a Google search, we’re in the “age of enlightenment” yet somehow, it feels like anything but. I like to tell stories that highlight our innate desire for connection.

As a half-Japanese female filmmaker in the outdoor space, I am aware that I am an anomaly.
I’m also aware that I’m just like everyone else… who loves Studio Ghibli.
So! In the words of Hayao Miyazaki— 
“You have to be determined to change the world with your film. Even if nothings changes.” 

You’ll find me telling stories on YouTube, mostly about hiking, and exploring new places. (I call it adventure propaganda).

I’m currently working on two other projects you won’t find online for a little bit. One is about hiking 800 miles through the desert, canyons, and wash of Utah and Arizona, and one… about a Korean Jesus.

You throw yourself in… then days, weeks, over a month has passed since you moved from one island to another. The duality of familiarity in a culture, met with an unfamiliar everyday means re-finding your feet, a lot of Google translate. Deep
Whenever I’m asked the question, my thoughts scream: it’s rhetorical! Look at where we are!! “Why do you hike?” …the mountain oyaki’s also pretty good up here. (thanks for nabbing the first & last shots @edd
I met both JK and Edbeard how I meet a lot of new friends these days… through a mutual fling. That old long dirt path that goes from Mexico to Canada; a long-distance love from years gone by. One, I’d recently revisited. It was like goi
I entered 31 eating pocky and dorayaki on a hike in Japan. I tend to enjoy my birthdays how I live my life; a little ad hoc, a little chaotic, but ultimately, with some form of intention. It’s also how I find my people. 
 Here, sharing film f
The last time I was in the Sierra was five years back. 
 No dirt, no trail, Just the final dregs
of my soul 
after sun cups and soft snow Had been my world for four weeks straight. 
 The last time I was with Renee was New Zealand last year, we me
I went out and hiked on the PCT southbound for a day. It was like seeing an old friend— Reminiscing over days goneby, Laughing at the dirt that held us up through the time we all… Like seeing an old friend— Sharing the same st
Just one more five-year-later-post then I’m done again for the year, I swear. You kiddos hyping me up from that reel prompted this… Minus the first and last shot, these are some of my favourites that I captured… I kinda forgot h
Thru hiking season in North America is on… The degradation of sole* as passage to another existence. One where dirt is both comfort and pain, rhythm is bound to light— A light that lingers long in those eyes of yours Whenever you hea