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Ripple effects

Neighbors: Profiles of our community

Maui chapter participants pose for a group photo at a monthly outing. Living up to its motto of “Paddle. Fish. Heal.,” Heroes on the Water helps veterans, active-duty personnel and first responders relax, rehabilitate and reintegrate through kayak fishing and other outdoor trips. Photos courtesy Boo Baldovi
Wailuku resident Boo Baldovi is all smiles after reeling in a mahi mahi. His four-year term as coordinator of the Heroes on the Water Maui chapter came to end in 2020 and he’s ooking for a successor. Photos courtesy Boo Baldovi
There's no place Boo Baldovi would rather be than on the water. For as long as he can remember, the U.S. Army veteran has had a passion for all things aquatic, from fishing to diving to sailing -- and everything in between. So when he discovered an opportunity to help improve the lives of fellow veterans through kayak fishing, he seized it. Five years ago, the Wailuku resident spotted a social media post about a nonprofit organization called Heroes on the Water. Intrigued, he clicked on the link and started reading. Founded in 2007, Heroes on the Water provides outdoors-focused therapeutic programs to veterans, active-duty military personnel and first responders, as well as their families. Volunteer-led chapters throughout the country host free recurring events that help the nation's heroes relax, rehabilitate and reintegrate. The nonprofit's primary program immediately caught Baldovi's attention: kayak fishing. (For the uninitiated, kayak fishing is exactly what it sounds like -- fishing from a kayak.) It only took a nanosecond for him to decide to get involved. "It was right up my alley," he said. At the time, the nonprofit had no chapters in Hawaii, so he set out to make Maui the first. (A Hawaii island chapter eventually followed.) In 2016, the Maui chapter of Heroes on the Water made its debut with Baldovi as coordinator. Two veterans turned out for the first event, and as word began to spread, the number of participants started to grow. Baldovi was soon coordinating monthly outings for up to 20. Apart from the joy of being out on the water and reeling in a catch, the fishing trips provide a sense of community and fellowship. Baldovi has paddled alongside active and retired service members from different branches, backgrounds and hometowns and says they all have one thing in common. "It doesn't matter if you served in the Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force . . . every veteran misses the camaraderie," he said. For some, it's their first time in a kayak; Baldovi has seen his share of once-reluctant rookies fall in love with the sport. "They are now some of the best kayak fishermen I know," he said. Following every outing, there's a sponsored lunch (the day's catch is often on the menu), which Baldovi says is always a good time. "There are big smiles and full stomachs," he said. Last year, Baldovi's four-year term as chapter coordinator ended. He is now actively searching for a successor. You don't have to be a veteran, kayaker or angler to fill the role. In fact, he says there's really only one prerequisite. "You just have to be willing to give back," he said. He may have been the public face of the Maui chapter since its inception, but Baldovi is quick to point out it's far from a one-man show. Initially, he and his friends supplied all of the essentials -- kayaks, life jackets, radios, tackle, etc. -- until a number of businesses learned of the group and offered to help. Among them: New Maui Fishing Supply, Maui Sporting Goods, West Maui Sports & Fishing Supply, Takamiya Market, Bamboo Grille, Adventure Sports Maui and Hawaiian Paddle Sports. Baldovi also credits the many volunteers who have offered logistical support or served as kayak fishing guides over the years. "I couldn't have done it without the community," he said. The same goes for the Maui Veterans Day Invitational "Kayak Clash," a separate event Baldovi launched in 2019. The three-day kayak fishing tournament features two-person teams composed of one civilian and one veteran or first responder. This year's event will take place Nov. 11-13. For now, the search is on for the next chapter coordinator. Baldovi says whoever steps into the volunteer role will find it to be infinitely rewarding. "The sense of accomplishment you get from giving back . . . it's a feeling you can't describe," he said. For more information about the upcoming "Kayak Clash" or Heroes on the Water, or to inquire about the chapter coordinator vacancy, contact Baldovi at boodovi@msn.com. * Sarah Ruppenthal is a Maui-based writer. Do you have an interesting neighbor? Tell us about them at missruppenthal@gmail.com. Neighbors and "The State of Aloha," written by Ben Lowenthal, alternate Fridays.[gallery ids="854239,854240"]

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