Mikael Backman

Mikael Backman

My journey with aloha began when I was five years old while traveling on a family trip to Maui. Roll the film back to the first sense of the aroma of the flowers on the lei that I received upon arrival and the lesson of the grapefruit tree. Aloha manifested itself again during a visit to Maui as a teenager where the lucid nature of the ocean called me to boogie within, every waking minute.

While in my early twenties, I returned to Maui, and my love for the ocean was reinvigorated. These moments of my life gave me the motivation to dream about moving to Hawaii. Living here has become a reality because of my lucid connection to the ocean and my newfound love for surfing. The Aloha spirit guided me to Kauai in 2016 for the first time to another island other than Maui, surfing was my main motivation because the lucid act of surfing and the waves inspired me to pursue yoga as well as meditation.

I am honored to be so closely intertwined with AlohaFestival.org because of the people I have met on Kauai and the inspiration I have received from them. My involvement, as a venue director has allowed me to remotely work and stay involved in all six ALOHA Kauai Yoga festivals to this day, and my direct involvement has allowed me to contribute in person at four of the six festivals since 2018.

Now, as CEO of AlohaFestival.org, I am looking forward to continuing to follow our visionary presidents idea of synchronistic meditation throughout the world for peace. The lesson of the grapefruit tree has also provided me with the mindfulness to not take from Mother nature, that which has not yielded to the law of gravity.

May this year's 2024, 7th annual ALOHA Kauai Yoga and Peace Festival provide an abundance of peace for the Kauai community!

Namaste