Native Hut is an ethos inspired by life in the Pacific Islands. Life that is immersed in nature and experienced through food from the surrounding plants and the sea.

The story begins in Southern California where I was raised by immigrant parents from the Philippines and New Zealand. My first exposure to the beauty of Polynesian culture was through the paintings of Paul Gauguin. I saw my Lola in these women; the way they cared for their children and fed them mangos. Exposure to this natural beauty moved me to pursue a career in fashion, in Paris and New York City, for over a decade.

Longing to reconnect with my Islander heritage, I returned to Southern California where I fell in love and started a family. My work evolved into advocacy for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Traveling to the Pacific Islands enriched my perspective and deepened my sense of belonging to the culture. I now live in a wooded area in Northern Virginia where I cook Filipino and Pacific Islander recipes in my outdoor kitchen.