Wendy Noritake is an underwater photographer, freediver and writer

I began writing about the sea around the same time I started taking underwater photos as a freediver. Both occurred after I retired, so I had no ambition of pursuing or even succeeding in these areas. I always loved being in the sea and began scuba diving in 1997 in the frigid waters of Puget Sound and taking groups of diver friends all over the world for these adventures. Being close to and witnessing the most incredible fish and marine mammals has been the highlight of my life. They all seem to have personalities and purpose.

I’ve always enjoyed photography as a remembrance of experiences.

I used to be a hiker and backpacker, and I loved taking photos in the mountains as well as on the sea. I lived in the Pacific Northwest where the sea and islands were spectacular places to explore and to capture through photos.

Now, I live in Hawaiʻi where I freedive, write and explore the underwater world.

Moving to Hawaii and swimming in the ocean became a natural place to observe and learn about fish behaviors. I have a curious nature, so I like to explore that inquisitiveness through both visuals and words.

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Wendy is the author of the book, Finding Uncle Yosh

Wendy Noritake takes you along on her 18-year spiritual quest to learn about her 23-year-old uncle who died fighting in World War II. Rather than stay in a concentration camp, he volunteered to serve in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team—the most highly decorated group in U.S. military history. The regiment consisted entirely of Nisei soldiers—second generation Japanese-Americans—who proved beyond a doubt their courage and patriotism.

Wendy first began the story of her Uncle Yosh in 2007 in Seattle, Washington where she was born. An essay version of the story appeared in an anthology called Secret Histories: Stories of Courage, Risk, and Revelation in 2013.

Since then, she has published numerous non-fiction stories about her scuba diving adventures, freediving encounters, and spiritual occurrences in publications such as: Lost Magazine, Black Earth Journal, Ke Ola Magazine, Hawaii Writers Guild’s Literary Journal, and the Kohala Mountain News.

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  • "Wendy’s inspired journey to find her uncle personalizes a life of a nearly forgotten serviceman & his family. Bringing reality to the life & losses of Japanese Americans during WWII. It’s important we know these real lives, beyond the statistics."

    - Michael

  • "I read this book cover to cover and left me with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes! Educational for EVERYONE!! Wendy really did her research and homework thoroughly! Her third sense is so amazing that led her to write this!"

    - Jen