Meet Mai, the Soul Chef


I have been torn between two worlds most of my life. I’ve spent time torn between my Hawaiian culture that teaches unconditional self-love and the modern Western diet culture that teaches a woman’s worth is in the “packaging.” Since ancient times, my Hawaiian culture has held that a woman is seen as more beautiful the larger she was. The modern world teaches women, no - teaches little girls from birth, that we have to be a certain weight, look a certain way, be a certain dress size to be beautiful. This is not true, but it’s so ingrained in every aspect of our lives, it’s hard to be free from the lies. Like many women, I’ve grappled with the love of food and loathing my body.
As a nurse, I’ve been torn between the allopathic/scientific establishment and the holistic approach that spoke to me in my bones. The knowing beyond reason that our bodies have an innate intelligence and a yearning for optimal health and healing. But we’ve been encouraged to silence that voice; to disconnect from our own healing power.
Before assuming that I have everything figured out, I don’t. But I have worked through the disconnection and deception that are prevalent on this human plane. I felt betrayed by my body and by food. I’ve felt betrayed by those who saw me only from the outside. And I’ve felt betrayed by the medical industry I traded my time and lifeforce to serve for 35 years.


