OUR LEADERSHIP
Meet Our Team
Passionate freediving and spearfishing professionals who care deeply about our dive community
“We are a team of passionate freediving and spearfishing professionals who care about our dive community. Our mission is to provide safety awareness education to mitigate the dangers in the sport.”
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Our Founder
Niki Roderick
Founder & Executive Leadership
New Zealand Record Holder
Niki Roderick is the founder and Executive Director of
FreediveSafe! Hawaiʻi, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to
reducing ocean drownings through accessible freediving safety
education. Originally from New Zealand and a Hawaiʻi
resident for more than a decade, she is a lifelong ocean
athlete, educator, and co-founder of one of the largest
freediving education agencies in the United States, where
she served in a leadership role for 13 years before founding
FreediveSafe. She also holds the New Zealand National
Freediving Record for a 200-foot no-fins dive (CNF).
Guided by the belief that prevention is the most effective
rescue tool, Niki founded FreediveSafe with the vision of
making high-quality diver safety education free and
accessible to communities throughout Hawaiʻi. A former
competitive freediver, open-water swimmer, and stand-up
paddler, she has dedicated her career to promoting buddy
safety, prevention, and responsible ocean participation.
Through FreediveSafe, Niki collaborates with communities,
schools, aquatic facilities, and partner organizations to
expand access to lifesaving aquatic safety education and
help build safer, more resilient ocean communities
throughout Hawaiʻi, with a long-term vision of advancing
aquatic safety education across the Pacific.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board Members
Justin Lee
Board President
World Record Spearfisherman
Justin Lee, Board President & Spearfishing World Record Holder USA National Spearfishing Champion & World Record Spearfisherman. As a Hawai’i Island local and one of the world’s top spearfishermen, Justin brings more than 30 years of spearfishing experience to our organization. Having been raised in the ocean, Justin has forged a special connection with the ecosystem beneath the waves and shares his experiences through storytelling on social media, inspiring a massive following in Hawai’i and worldwide. As a local boy from these waters, Justin knows firsthand the dangers of our sport, and he is passionate about ushering in a new era for this sport in Hawai’i—where every diver comes home safe. “This safety initiative is a long time coming for Hawai’i. Everyone spearfishes out here; it’s a way of life for us. I want parents to feel confident knowing their kids are doing it safely.” – Justin Lee @bigisleboy24
Lauren Manuel
Vice-President
Managing Partner at Makana Hawai’i Incentives (DMC)
Lauren Manuel serves as Vice President of FreediveSafe Hawaii, bringing extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, education, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. She is dedicated to promoting ocean safety, conservation, and responsible recreation through education and outreach. Lauren serves on multiple nonprofit and community boards across Hawaii and is passionate about strengthening communities, protecting natural resources, and fostering meaningful connections to the ocean.
Jennifer Bien
Board Member
Community Outreach Specialist
As a board member of FreediveSafe! Hawaii, Jennifer Bien supports providing free, lifesaving ocean-safety education to youth and communities across the Islands. She works to help fulfill FreediveSafe’s mission of making essential training accessible to everyone and its vision of preventing ocean-related tragedies statewide and beyond. She brings years of professional experience in communication, outreach, and service to the communities she serves. In addition to her nonprofit involvement, Jennifer is an active member of the West Hawaii Realtors Association and the Honolulu Board of Realtors, continuing her commitment to service, collaboration, and strengthening the communities she calls home.
Tabitha Pupuhi
Board Member
Maui County Paramedic, Molokai
Tabitha Pupuhi is a Native Hawaiian, Maui County Paramedic, lifelong Molokaʻi waterwoman, accomplished canoe paddler, and experienced diver with a deep connection to Hawaiʻi’s ocean traditions. Drawing from her extensive experience in emergency medical services and the marine environment, she is a passionate advocate for water safety, community well-being, and ocean stewardship. Rooted in the values of her island home, Tabitha is dedicated to preserving and sharing the knowledge, skills, and respect for the ocean that have been passed down through generations.
OUR APPROACH
What Sets Us Apart
Community Connection
Our leadership team’s Native Hawaiian ancestry and longstanding ocean community ties provide a strong foundation for our organization, helping us build trust, foster collaboration, and create lasting impact throughout Hawaiʻi.
Passion for Safety
With firsthand experience in spearfishing and freediving—and many team members serving in public safety—we understand the risks of the ocean and the lifesaving value of proper training.
Professional Excellence
Excellence is our standard. From record holders and medical professionals to certified freediving instructors, we foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and professional conduct both in and out of the water.
Mission-Driven
We’re united by one goal: preventing avoidable deaths in Hawaiʻi’s freediving and spearfishing communities. Through education, advocacy, and community leadership, we work to advance both the safety and long-term future of the sports we love.
Join Our Team
Our mission is powered by volunteers from all backgrounds. Whether you bring expertise in marketing, coaching, healthcare, public safety, media, education, fundraising, or community engagement, we’d love to connect with you.
Organization Type
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
EIN Number
85-2865839
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