Olympian Carissa Moore thanks the people of Hawai‘i
Posted on Aug 25, 2021 in Capitol Connection, Featured, Main
Governor and Mrs. Ige honor Olympic gold medal winner and surfing champion Carissa Moore.
She’s a gold medal winner, a four-time world surfing champion, an ambassador of aloha and an inspiration to girls and young women everywhere. But for all that, Carissa Moore spoke with humility and heart as a keiki o ka‘āina when she was honored by Governor Ige at a ceremony proclaiming Aug. 5 as “Carissa Moore Day” in Hawai‘i. “I am truly overwhelmed with all the love I’ve been shown,” said Moore. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my ‘ohana, my friends and family, the community of people in Hawai‘i that raised me to represent the United States, but especially Hawai‘i. My home, my heart is Hawai‘i.”
The governor, joined by First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige and Hawai‘i Tourism Authority CEO John DeFries, described the pride people in the islands feel for their homegrown hero after her performance at the Tokyo Olympics. “Your Olympic spirit is matched only by your spirit of aloha,” said the governor. “Carissa gives us hope in these challenging times that when you do what you love with passion and commitment, nothing is impossible. Thank you for making all of Hawai‘i proud.”
Moore recalled feeling inspired by a documentary about Duke Kahanamoku that she watched before she left for the Olympic games in Tokyo. “He was an Olympic champion, but more so a champion human and how he treated people with kindness,” she said. “I hope we can all live his way. To be a Native Hawaiian, to be part of his story, to bring the gold medal back home to the birthplace of surfing — I feel so honored. I just hope I can continue to make you guys proud.”