Jason Momoa—Oceans of Opportunity

By Sarah Mosqueda

In a recent episode of Jason Momoa’s HBO original series On the Roam, he is driving around a coastal Northern California town taking photos with renowned photographer, Todd Hido. The fog rolls in from the nearby ocean, enveloping small residential homes in a moody haze, and the two visionaries see their moment.

“Every day has its own beauty,” Momoa says as they snap pictures. “You just have to have the right set of eyes.”

The series follows Momoa as he meets different artists and creatives and explores their craft, approaching activities like photography, guitar playing and motorcycle riding with the same sense of reverence and wonder.

The respect for craft is one Momoa demonstrates not only on his show, but also in his life, career and business. The American actor, father, filmmaker, entrepreneur and ocean activist describes himself as a storyteller above all—one who lends his talents to a plethora of projects.

Taking Care of the Ocean

It was Momoa’s connection to the sea that inspired his campaign to end the single-use plastics that pollute our oceans through his aluminum-bottled water company, Mananalu. In 2022, Momoa partnered with Hawaiian Airlines, which now distributes the infinitely recyclable bottled Mananalu to Premium Cabins on all U.S. East Coast and international flights, removing 284,000 plastic bottles annually.

Momoa also co-founded a sustainability-minded spirit brand. Meili, a new American vodka with a name that translates to “the lovely one,” took nearly seven years to launch. Besides being distilled from mineral-rich H2O from a 300-million-year-old aquifer, the brand has an environmental focus, using 100% post-consumer recycled glass for each bottle.

On Saturday Night Live in 2023, Momoa said of his business endeavors, “This work means a lot to me. Take care of the earth; take care of each other.”

Polynesian Roots

Momoa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1979 to his father, native Hawaiian painter Joseph Momoa, and his photographer mother, Coni. His full name, Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa, honors his father and his Hawaiian heritage. Despite moving to Norwalk, Iowa, not long after his birth, Momoa’s Polynesian roots inform a large part of his identity and influence his artistic expression. He frequently returns to the island, too, as he told CNN in 2019.  Photo-Jason Momoa (center) poses for a photo with fans before the Hawaii screening of Aquaman on December 21, 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

“For my soul, I need to be there,” Momoa said, “If I’m not working, I’m trying to get over there.”

In fact, Momoa was living in Honolulu when he decided to audition for the Baywatch Hawaii television series. The then-19-year-old actor landed the role of lifeguard Jason Ioane and remained on the series for three seasons.

He followed Baywatch Hawaii with other roles on the sci-fi television series Stargate: Atlantis and the soap opera North Shore. In 2014, Momoa directed and co-wrote the thriller, Road to Paloma, with Jonathan Hirschbein and Robert Homer Mollohan. Then, in 2016, he made an even bigger splash, playing the DC comic character of Aquaman—also known as Arthur Curry—first as a cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and then in his own feature film, Aquaman. The role was a breakthrough one for the actor, allowing him to showcase his heritage and his personal connection to the ocean.

“I am so proud to play this role, because it represents all of us, all Polynesians,” Momoa said on the final stop of a press tour for the Aquaman movie. “We are all separated by land, but we are all connected by water.”

Momoa has continued to act and direct in television and movies, reprising his Aquaman role for more DC Extended Universe films, and appeared in movies like Braven, Just Cause, Apple TV+’s See and HBO’s Game of Thrones. He had a scene-stealing role as Duncan Idaho in 2021’s Dune, and in 2022, he joined the Fast & Furious film franchise, playing the role of villain Dante Reyes in Fast X. Photo: Jason Momoa attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

His HBO original series, On the Roam, which connected him with the previously mentioned Hido and other craftsmen like Slash from Guns N’ Roses, has allowed him to showcase the many creatives he has met throughout his career.

“For two decades now, I have been a storyteller. This journey has led me to meet incredible artists and craftsmen [from] all over the world,” Momoa said of the series. “Every character is an opportunity, and it’s a privilege to build a story alongside these artists.”

Sustainability for the Future

Momoa has two children: daughter Lola Iolani and son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha with ex-wife and actress Lisa Bonet. He has been quoted as crediting his kids for his dedication to preserving the ocean. He even screened the environmental documentary film he stars in with Laura Dern and Rosario Dawson, Common Ground, at his kids’ school.

“We played it at their school, and it was fun to watch all their friends watching it, but I’m like, secretly, I wish they even took it more to the next level,” Momoa told People Magazine in January.

The film is centered on a call for more sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices in our country. Momoa says it’s his children’s future he has in mind when he advocates for protecting the environment.

“I want the next generation to take it even more. And they are, some people are, but you just got to deal with what feels good to you and it just fuels me,” said Momoa. “That’s what I’m fighting for.” Photo: Jason Momoa attends a celebrity talk event during Osaka Comic Con 2024 at Intex Osaka on May 05, 2024 in Osaka, Japan. (Jun Sato/WireImage)

He has continued that fight through his work with organizations like Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, a Honolulu-based nonprofit that organizes beach clean-up efforts, and rePurpose Global, a leading plastic action platform that manages plastic waste in seven countries.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) designated Momoa as the Advocate for Life Below Water in 2022 at a conference meant to mobilize global support for the oceans and the multiple challenges it faces, including climate change, biodiversity loss and rampant pollution. 

“With this designation, I hope to continue my own journey to protect and conserve the ocean and all living things on our beautiful blue planet,” Momoa said in his address. “For our generation and the generations to come.” 

Continuing His Craft

In his latest project, Momoa will combine his love of storytelling, his connection to his Hawaiian roots and his desire to protect its oceans in an all-new Apple TV+ series, Chief of War. Not only did Momoa co-write and executive produce the series, but he will also star in it.

Chief of War will tell the story of the colonization of Hawaii from the point of view of its Indigenous people. In January, Momoa talked to TheWrap about the project, referring to the series as his “holy grail.”

“I cannot wait for the Hawaiian people to see it. It’s something that we have seen only in pictures,” Momoa said.

There is no release date for Chief of War just yet, but fans can look forward to Momoa’s other feature film, Minecraft, in which he will appear alongside Jack Black, Emma Meyers and Danielle Brooks. The movie, based on the popular best-selling video game, is set to hit theaters in spring 2025.

As Momoa told Men’s Health Magazine in March, he isn’t slowing down any time soon.

“I’m going after everything,” he said. “I went after Chief of War. Directing a commercial with my best friend, with my mother for Guinness. I’m in a comedy with Jack Black.”

And the actor and advocate won’t stop fighting for our environment, telling stories and honoring his craft, either.

“I’m living all the dreams I’ve ever wanted to do… And so, I’m in this place of just having gratitude. Being able to use that and to do the environmental work and activism that I do,” said Momoa. “I just want to continue doing more of that. I’m trying to be thankful, man.”

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This article was originally published on diversitycomm.net.