“Our crew will help make your cruise a trip to remember”
Meet the Makani Catamaran sailing crew and learn about what brought them to Hawaii and ultimately, to the decks of this Catamaran. Nine members belong to this sailing team, from the captain and deck hands, to the bartenders, reservationist and land operations manager. An array of personalities, yet equally enthusiastic about their career at Makani, this crew strives to make guest experiences as exciting and memorable as possible. Learn a bit about the people who will be taking care of you while sailing this Hawaii catamaran and get to know them better once on board!
Meet the Makani Catamaran sailing crew and learn about what brought them to Hawaii and ultimately, to the decks of this Catamaran. Nine members belong to this sailing team, from the captain and deck hands, to the bartenders, reservationist and land operations manager. An array of personalities, yet equally enthusiastic about their career at Makani, this crew strives to make guest experiences as exciting and memorable as possible. Learn a bit about the people who will be taking care of you while sailing this Hawaii catamaran and get to know them better once on board!
Aloha, My name is Captain Jon Jepson. I originally moved from Seattle in the late 80′s and have worked in the marine industry since, including windsurfing, scuba diving, surfing, sailing and submarines. From all the different types of vessels I have been exposed to, Makani was born. The concept is different from any other charter sailing boat, combining Grand Prix sailing with charter boat comfort, Makani gives an unforgettable ride.
Clary Carisen. Licensed USCG 100 TON Captain & Able Bodied Seaman. Raised in Poulsbo, WA. Moved to Oahu in 2002. Graduated from the University of Hawaii in 2008 with a B.A. in Biology. Played 3 seasons of professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies and in Germany. I enjoy surfing, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, and hiking.
Aloha, I’m Brittany Norton, and I was born and raised in the San Francisco bay area. Growing up my parents had me involved in all kinds of activities, my favorite being sailing. I spent most of my summers on the bay, sailing small racing boats. I sailed every sumer until I entered high school. After I finished high school, I traveled to China, Australia, Spain, and Portugal. Visiting each country was an amazing experience but I wanted to try living in a different state. I arrived in Hawaii at the beginning of 2012 and have been having the time of my life since the day I arrived.
John Joseph Hernandez Jr.Captain. My favorite thing about working on the Makani are the everyday learning experiences, along with the environment, co-workers, and the opportunity to meet new people from different parts of the world.
Anna Barrett. Bartender. I grew up in Tacoma, Washington and loved the rain but the winters were hard. I took up fire spinning as a hobby and had a chance to watch the fire knife competition in Oahu. I took a chance, moved here, and it’s been an adventure ever since. I love bartending for the Makani because I get to meet lots of people and create new drinks. Most importantly, the aloha of the crew can’t be beat…so come on down. I look forward to meeting you soon.
Cristina Smoot. Bartender. Born and raised in oahu, ive spent most of my life on the water. ive been fortunate enough to travel and sail in areas like southern california, the caribbean, and australia. i moved home and started working at makani in 2008. since starting at makani, i enjoy working on the water everyday and meeting people from all over the world.
Janelle Marston. Land Operations Manager. Although I was born here on Oahu, I also call the Big Island(Hawaii), home, as I spent most of my childhood there. After high school, I attended UNLV, where I majored in Hospitality Management; but I could not stay away from the islands for long. Upon returning home, I continued my studies at the University of Hawai’i while also working for several travel agencies whose main focus was destination travel services. Soon after, I started for Makani Catamaran. The best thing about working here is getting to meet travelers from all over the world. Each day I get to hear new and interesting stories. We strive to not only add to each visitor’s vacation experience, but become the highlight of their whole trip. See you soon!
Desiree Villanueva. Reservationist. Born here in Honolulu, I graduated from Kaimuki High School, class of 2005. My hobbies include going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, and of course, shoping. Working for Makani has given me the opportunity to meet new people and to learn more about boats and sailing.
