The Race To $50k - with Kamaka Dias

Creative Natives HI
May 29, 2021
4 min read

#theCNP; Ep. 001

Kamaka Dias

TRT50k - The Race To $53,000

The Creative Natives Podcast, Ep. 001

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHiYfjDgxos&t=9s

Honolulu, HI (CNHI) - Hilo native Kamaka Dias is that crazy guy who paid off $53,000 of student loan debt...in just 11 months! After graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi, Kamaka joined the Peace Corps and found himself living in Madagascar for three years. He returned home with a books-worth of amazing experiences, but not without having to face his massive school debt. He officially announced his ambitious endeavor at the beginning of 2020 and started doing odd jobs for everyone and anyone, for any amount of donation towards his cause.

I first met Kamaka at a Ho'okua'āina- a local, non-profit kalo farm in Maunawili, during one of their poi days. While cleaning kalo, I remember hearing him speaking ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi with some of the other crew there and telling us about his then, recent trip to Madagascar. This was just before he started The Race To $50k and I remember him telling us about this ambitious mission of paying off his student loans. He came over to a small get-together I hosted and that ended up being one of the last times we got to hang out because of how busy he was about to be for TRT50k.

"My mindset is if you give people an opportunity to help they're going to help you. . .I believe in the kindness of others and I want to show people that." (Hawaiinewsnow.com)

Q: [What inspired you to do something like the TRT50k?]

A: "TRT50k was my crazy idea to pay off $50,000 of student loans in one year by doing a bunch of odd jobs, asking people what I can do to help you help me, and not charging people anything. I live frugally, I don’t spend money on things I don’t need to. I documented everything, all of my daily earnings; it was a daily hustle. It wasn’t just about paying off student loans, it was about working hard. It’s about living below your means."

Q: [Whatʻs the top 3 oddest job(s) that you did doing TRT50k?]

A: “My favorite oddest job was dressing up as Buzz Lightyear for a kid’s birthday party. It was actually a very long day, so I went from being Buzz Lightyear on the west side to bartending at a birthday party on the east. It was one of the most funded, but exhausting as well. I don’t know what you consider odd. I have been asked to create an OnlyFans. I modeled for a photoshoot for the first time, did some dog walking, delivered malasadas. I did everyone’s recyclables. One of the oddest things, my job was to drive up and down a steep hill for a realtor. Sometimes, by the time we got down from the 30-second car rides, they would tip me after explaining why I was doing what I was doing. ”

Q: [Whatʻs the biggest lesson you learned from living in Madagascar and traveling in general?]

A: “My time in the Peace Corps was one of my most life-changing experiences. The biggest thing you get out of that is perspective. You don’t come back and see the world the same. I learned to enjoy staying off the grid and being away from society. Travel opens your eyes to a lot of things, especially when coming from a small place like Hawaii. Until you leave, you don’t know how big the world is. It’s crazy. You realize you can get through anything. Just keep putting one foot forward and don’t give up. It’s super cliche but just continue. This is advice for everything in life, just keep going. “

Q: [What is your book about & what other endeavors are coming after that, if any?]

A: “I like to think of myself as a creative native. I’m the idea guy. I like to write. I’m turning my peace corps Madagascar blog posts online into a book. I’m about to publish it. Right after I do that, I’m going to find a literary agent and try to get signed by a big publishing house to publish my race to 50k book. For now, I’m going to continue to try to help local businesses, especially during these times, and continue to write, continue to be open to opportunities that come my way. I’m comfortable with being uncomfortable, so whatever it is, bring it my way.”

Q: [How was it for you growing up in a Hawaiian-speaking household? Why do you think itʻs important to perpetuate language and culture?]

A: “We were born and raised speaking Hawaiian. Hawaiian’s my first language. I went to Hawaiian Immersion school my entire life up until my senior year when I moved to Oahu. Growing up like that as a kid, you’re almost in a bubble. We were raised with a lot of Hawaiian values. I didn’t appreciate it until I was older. Up until I left for the peace corps, I didn’t appreciate my culture like I do now.”

Q: [What does it mean to be a Creative Native to you?]

A: “I think of somebody who obviously thinks outside of the box and who isn't scared. I don’t think creative people are afraid; they’re not afraid to be wrong or fall straight on their face. Creative Natives to me are fearless people. I believe I’m fearless. I believe I am a Creative Native. I think outside of the box and I don’t trap myself within my limits. Creative Natives aren’t afraid to take chances.”