[VIDEO DESC & TRANSCRIPT: Jiro is standing. The NAD logo is transparent in the bottom right corner.
JIRO: I bought a boat for my business, JNJ Fishing and Diving. I fish for Tuna mostly, doing deep blue fishing. I also do night scuba dives and take people who mostly visit from Japan on sandbar boat tours.
Black and white clip of Hawaii landscape. In the center, a white border surrounds white text “JIRO” underneath, appears in white text “FISHING & DIVING CAPTAIN.”
JIRO: Hello, my name is Jiro Maeda!
Black and white clip of Jiro on his boat.
JIRO: I was born deaf. While in Elementary school, I was in a mainstreamed program first before I transferred to a deaf school for two years. Later, I transferred to Ohio School for the Deaf and stayed there for two years. I came back to Hawaii to attend the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind (HSDB) where I graduated. I then enrolled at the Hawaii Community College (HCC). I didn’t know what to do next, but I remembered memories with my dad when I was younger, we’d go in the water for dives and fishing. I wasn’t sure if I should own a business. My father thought it’d be hard because I’m deaf and it’d be hard to communicate. I knew I could do it though, I believed I could be successful because I thought I had nothing to lose. If I failed, I could find something else to do! Dad gave me his blessing and then I bought a small boat. As I started my business I did have some moments of frustration like not having a CB or VHF which made it harder for my boat to communicate with others. My business started off well. I decided to hire a hearing person who could do the CB and communicate with me while I was on deck. It’s hard to be in two places at once, on the boat, especially when the waters get rough! Working with my team allowed me to succeed in my business! Basically, I sell my fish at the market or auction it off. I make really good money doing this, I was able to pay my crew, gas for the boat, and whatever was left is my income. Depending on the weather — if it’s a beautiful day like today, we’d go fishing. If it was rainy with more rough weather, we don’t go out. To make money, you have to know where all the good spots are.
Black and white over the shoulder clip of Jiro steering his boat. White text appears at the bottom center, “There are serious risks when working in the water, that’s why safety is important.” Light blue text “- Jiro” and a light blue line outlines the left side of the text.
JIRO: The boat behind me is not what we use to travel deep in the water to fish. This is a smaller boat. I have three boats, my first boat is bigger than the other two, 30 feet, and I use it for catching tuna in the deep waters which is about 20 miles away from land. My second boat, this one behind me, is used mostly for recreational or tours to sandbars with international visitors. And my third one is a smaller one, 13 feet, and we use it to go reef diving. It usually fits a small daring group to hunt octopus.
Black and white clip of foggy Hawaii landscape panning to Jiro driving the boat.
JIRO: When I first hire a hearing person, I always communicate with a paper and pen or use my phone. I also show them pictures and I use gestures. If they don’t understand, I’ll show them my boat and what supplies I have. Often, before joining my crew, they think deaf people can’t do my job but I tell them to give me a try. Once they join me, they’ll realize my ears didn’t matter and my eyes were more important! Before you know it, they’ll tell other people and then I have these people who want to join my crew! We use a lot of home-made communication which works out well! When I first sell to someone at the market, they doubt my abilities so sometimes they’ll ask me to do it again to see if I can be reliable. No problem for me because every time I go out for more fish, I’ll bring a big load to show them — they’re always impressed! They don’t know any other deaf people who can do what I do but I know other deaf people can do it too. Selling my load to the people at the market is proof that people with disabilities can do anything.
Black and white clip of the Hawaii landscape and Jiro driving the boat.
JIRO: I want to see more deaf people being able to fish, learn how to drive a boat, and start a business. It can be for fishing, water-skiing, or going to secluded beaches — there are many things you can do with a boat! It’s fun and I want to see more deaf people in this field! Boating is a lot of hard labor, there’s a lot to do at all hours — it’s basically 24/7. Don’t give up on yourself, the harder you work, the closer you get to your goals. Show them that you can do it! Stay motivated.
Black and white clip of Jiro giving the hang loose handshape. Video cuts to a dark blue background. Red alphabet letters of “N-A-D” in American Sign Language appear one by one in the center of the video. The copyright text appears in white underneath, “National Association of the Deaf, Copyright 2020, All Rights Reserved”.]