Daniel is at home in Hawai’i – inspired by the Polynesian Voyaging Society (as well as other indigenous movements around the world); their traditional Polynesian wa’a, or voyaging canoes; and the story of Hōkūle’a and her worldwide voyage. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Biomimicry – innovation inspired by Nature -and is a Biomimicry Professional with Biomimicry 3.8 where he’s concentrated on marine ecology and innovative solutions to climate change and ocean-related challenges, as well as applying biomimicry to complex social issues, especially reimagining education. He is fascinated by the natural world, and particularly the Ocean and other wild places, and the intersections of these places and human culture and consciousness.
Since graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Psychology and Neuroscience, he has been nurturing a global network of explorers and change makers by growing a learning ecosystem that can inspire and empower them. An avid traveler and adventurer, Daniel has spent the past two decades living, working and learning in international schools, nonprofits and social enterprises across more than 80 countries, all 7 continents, and all 5 of our planet’s oceans, including an expedition to Antarctica in December 2018 as part of his fellowship with National Geographic and expeditions to map and explore remote parts of the Pacific in 2023, 2024 and 2025 on board E/V Nautilus.
Daniel has led sustainability and innovation programs at Punahou School and Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu; served as a Teacher Fellow for National Geographic, Ecology Project International and Ocean Exploration Trust; and co-created place-based innovation platforms with Hawai’i based organizations such as Purple Mai’a Foundation, Mālama Maunalua and Polynesian Voyaging Society as well as many schools, innovation programs and environmental organizations around the world.
From his place in Hawai’i, Daniel launched Pacific Blue Studios: a network of community and place-based, youth-powered, design and impact studios leveraging biomimicry, indigenous perspective and cutting-edge technologies as vehicles to grow, connect and amplify a (k)new intergenerational learning ecosystem and help realize a resilient, regenerative and inclusive future in Hawai’i, around the Pacific, and across our Blue Planet.