Welcome to this month’s Talk Story, a blog series where we shine the spotlight on one of our team members at Timbers Kauaʻi. This month we are going to be learning more about our Activities Coordinator, Nick Gomer.

Nick is approaching one year at Timbers and plays such an integral role for our owners and guests. Coming to us from a long history in hospitality, Nick has the unique opportunity to introduce the magic of Hōkūala and Kauaʻi to new visitors, as well as welcome existing owners and guests back home.

“I grew up in a rural area on the Virginia coast and so the beach days and small-town feel of Kauaʻi have made me feel right at home. Before moving here, I earned a degree in environmental sustainability from the University of Virginia and that provides me with a good lens to appreciate the stunning biodiversity of Kauaʻi and the exciting sustainability initiatives happening both here at Timbers and on the island as a whole.

The Timbers ‘ohana agrees that there is no one better for the job! We sat down with Nick to talk story and learn more about what brought him to us.

What is your “kuleana” (job) at Timbers Kaua‘i /Hōkūala and how long have you been part of the ‘ohana?
I’m coming up on my first year of being the Activities Coordinator at Timbers. Basically, my job is to show people the best parts of Hōkūala and Kauaʻi. Because both of those things are so awesome, my job tends to be pretty easy.

In your opinion, what makes Timbers Kaua‘i at Hōkūala special or unique?
I’ve worked in hospitality my whole adult life, and then some, and the thing that shocked me about Timbers is the relationships folks are able to build. I’ve come to realize that this is a business and a culture that emphasizes the quality of interactions rather than the quantity of bodies going through the door. The Timbers model is an outlier in an industry where customers are generally seen as a dollar sign and not much more.

Describe Kaua‘i in one word.
Diverse.

When not working, what is your favorite hobby?
As my job might suggest I love doing anything outdoors, especially surfing. I’ve surfed around much of the Americas from the coast of Ecuador to remote islands accessible only by boat along the East Coast, which leaves me well postured to say that the winter surf in Hanalei Bay is the stuff of dreams.

What does aloha mean to you?
I’d never been to the Hawaiian Islands before moving to Kauaʻi last year. And so, Hawaiʻi had always been a vague placeholder for tropical beauty and aloha merely seemed to be the place’s catchphrase. But I was excited to be proven wrong and find out that aloha is a way of life and a daily practice that is most characterized by greeting all people with warmth and friendship.

What is your favorite Hawaiian food?
The fruit. The diversity of produce here is amazing. I always recommend our guests and owners go to one of the many farmers markets on the island and to taste every fruit that they don’t recognize. Chances are they’ll walk away with a new favorite food.

What is a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
Before moving here my girlfriend and I had been travelling the country in a van that we built out. In fact, we were job-hunting in a public library in Utah when we got the news that we’d be able to move to Kauaʻi.

What are your favorite adventure activities at Timbers Kauaʻi?
Recently, I’ve been having a great time doing Habitat for Humanity volunteer days with some of our owners. The folks that stay here often have a strong desire to give back to the island, and working alongside the people receiving an affordable house is a great way to feel like a member of the community.