About the Author - Erik J. Winkler

About the Author ==> Erik J. Winkler

In January 1991 Erik moved to the Big Island of Hawaii and never left! Initially he was employed as Dive Instructor and Divemaster for Red Sail Sports in Waikoloa. Erik also began participating in the local biathlons, triathlons and eventually the Ironman Triathlon (2.4 mile Swim, 112 mile Bike, 26.2 mile Run). He competed in and completed the 1995, '96 and '98 Kona Ironman Triathlons. Erik has gotten wise and races around to the Ironman Course in a Medical Van. He now drives the medical van on race day to help the athletes during Ironman's Championship in Kona. 2004 is Erik's seventh time driving. If you want to know what sporting events are happening on the Big Island and throughout the State of Hawaii. Checkout Erik's Big Island Race & Training Schedule, which he has been producing since 1995. Erik also sponsors the Big Island of Hawaii's only Adventure Race: the Manna-man Eco-biathlon 2005 is its eighth year.

Since 1991 when I have hiked, biked, kayaked and explored much of Hawaii. I have even commercially fished off-shore up to a week at a time in Hawaii's rich ocean. Most of my jobs since I moved to the Big Island were directly involved with tourists.

I can't tell you how many times I was asked "Do you know where there is a good place to ..........?" This book is dedicated to all those inquisitive people. After many hand-drawn directions I started to realize that there was a better way to share my information.

In 2001, I started to collaborate on Hawaii-ebook.com to better share my love and knowledge of the Big Island of Hawai'i. The writing of this project has been a great learning experience. I went to several places for the first time while conducting research. Other times I went to visit places that I have not been to in years! There is so much to see and do on the Big Island. I hope this book helps.

Background Information:

Erik John Winkler grew up in Southern California. At the age of four Erik participated on his first swim team. He continued competitive swimming for about eight years until he joined the Boy Scouts of America at the age of twelve. After many great camping trips and adventures Erik achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in May 1980 (with a Bronze Palm for additional five merit badges).

In high school Erik played two years of water polo and swam competitively all four years earning his Varsity Letter swimming Butterfly in the 11th grade. During his senior year at San Marino High School Erik's water polo team won the C.I.F. 2A-Division and he individually placed sixth in the 100 yard butterfly in 3A-Regional C.I.F. competition with a time of 53:26 seconds. In 1984 Erik moved to San Diego, California to attend San Diego State University.

While attending college Erik worked six years as a Seasonal Beach Lifeguard for both the North Island Naval Air Station on Coronado Island and for the San Diego City Lifeguard Service in La Jolla. While working as a San Diego City Lifeguard Erik was a three time member of the Champion La Jolla Relay Team which competed against San Diego's finest lifeguards from the city's three other divisions.

Erik was certified as an N.A.U.I. Openwater I SCUBA diver at San Diego State College in the spring of his freshman year. Although he was a "starving college student", Erik always managed to keep his freezer stocked with fresh seafood. He took additional college-level courses to become a N.A.U.I. (National

Association of Underwater Instructors) SCUBA Instructor and later was also certified as a P.A.D.I SCUBA Instructor. He regularly worked as a commercial Divemaster on charter dive trips for the Sports Chalet. Many charters were to the game-rich Channel Islands located slightly offshore from Southern California. Erik graduated San Diego State University with a B.S. in Finance in December 1989.