Tatiana Howard from Maui has made a name for herself as not just a talented windsurfer, kitesurfer and surfer but the organiser of “The Butterfly Effect” – a unique social enterprise for empowering women through windsurfing and watersports. Talented on and off the water with entrepreneurial skills that have let her travel the world and spread her ideas, we sat down with Tatiana in her home in Maui to learn more about the gifted waterwoman and her innovative project.
Words & Photos John Carter
Originally published within the September ’16 edition.
Roots
“I have been lucky enough to live on Maui my entire life. My parents were originally from California where my dad always enjoyed surfing but being the hippies of the 70’s they moved out of the city to Northern Idaho, where they married and enjoyed the more rugged country life. The story is that my dad missed surfing so much that he converted his old surfboards into windsurfing boards so that when the crazy winds blew over Lake Pend Oreille, he would be out there catching the waves on the lake. I guess it wasn’t consistent enough to satisfy him, so they soon moved to Maui to raise my three older brothers and myself. We could always be found on the beaches of Maui every weekend. I learned to sail at Kanaha Beach Park when I was 14 years old. In my high school there were several surfers but not a lot of local kids windsurfed. My family moved here for this sport and when I found out that Maui is one of the best places in the world to practice, I thought I should give it a try. It was difficult to learn on small wave boards and having no uphaul, but the challenge was fun and kept me coming back for more. Windsurfing has allowed me to meet so many amazing people and travel the world. It also inspired me to create a non-competitive down-winder, later turning into a women empowerment movement and global event called ‘The Butterfly Effect’.
Alpha Females
Being a women out amongst all the men at Ho’okipa these days is not too bad, because although guys can ride stronger and faster, if you catch the wave far out and upwind, the wave is yours and everyone is pretty good about following the rules out there since it is more of an advanced break. Lately, there has been so many women out there charging that we are all treated equally. Over the years I am excited to see so many new women windsurfing in waves. It is a tight community for all of us ladies and we get together for fun times off the water as well.
Butterfly Effect
I like to say “The Butterfly Effect” is an event of “Aloha”. Aloha is Hawaiian for love, respect, greetings, farewells and a conscious way of life. It is about caring for each other and for all living things on the earth. Aloha is felt and shared by the heart. The Butterfly Effect is about sharing the passion of water sports with the community, encouraging and helping others, leaving no trash trace behind. We are striving for a “green” event and leaving a big path of Aloha and inspired minds ahead. We focus on a non-competitive water sport event for women and then add in more fun and awareness like guest speakers, athletes, artists, music, healthy organic foods, drinks and more. The Butterfly Effect started at Ho’okipa Beach Park in 2007 with about a dozen women. I returned home from traveling the world competing and was excited to create a fun non-competitive down-winder with some friends. I told one friend and she told her friends and by the coconut wireless the first event was born. We launched at Ho’okipa and came ashore at Kanaha. This 5-mile coast run is fun to do with friends and can be challenging but is achievable with friends supporting you. I didn’t think of it as an event at first, but it grew into a worldwide movement with events modelled after the concept in 18 countries and 45 events around the world.
Global gatherings
Maui was the biggest event we have had so far with 450 women participating. Lake Tahoe is a newly added location that is growing fast because of the beauty, community and access for people worldwide to attend. I think this year we might have about the same amount or more participating. The Butterfly Effect has landed in Italy, France, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Fiji, Tahiti, Israel, Germany, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Canada, and the USA Mainland in both California and Oregon. I had no idea it would turn into what it has. I had no event production background and was just doing the ‘Butterfly’ out of pure passion and had support from my friends, family, community, and my personal sponsors at that time. I was studying business at University of Hawaii and working on my windsurfing career. These events allowed me to travel the world in the best way possible, meeting fellow water women, local communities, and discovering special locations being hosted by locals. It is an amazing service to offer around the world and deeply rewarding. But to pay the bills, when I am back home on Maui I now work as a real estate agent.
Girl power
I think women getting together and promoting not only windsurfing but also a healthy active lifestyle is important. The two come together. Windsurfing has given me so much happiness and joy. The concept alone is amazing; catching wind in a sail and gliding around the ocean effortlessly and dancing on waves is a dream. For me it combines all the elements and is truly magical. I have met so many amazing people through the sport and have travelled to so many cool places in search of wind and waves. It is encouraging to see that so many women are getting into the sport these days. Windsurfing is easy to pick up with the new learner gear and the basics of the sport can be taught in thirty minutes. Once you get the hang of it, you will naturally want to learn more and it becomes a healthy challenge to improve which can give you strength, determination, and confidence. I am happy that I can introduce windsurfing to people worldwide through my events. Windsurfing actually is great for women because it isn’t with strength that you advance, it is in the grace and fluidity of movement, which comes easy for many women.
“ Catching wind in a sail and gliding around the ocean effortlessly and dancing on waves is a dream ’’