What made you want to make a magazine, Liv?

For the last 4 years, I have called Puerto Viejo in the Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica, home. It is here where I discovered fast surf and slow living. Indulging in this spectacular landscape was only rivaled by the rustic charm of its town and the heart of its people.

As I listened in, I heard the boys’ tales of growing up in the bush with nothing but machetes and instinct to find their way home; how they used to hunt iguanas, make friends with the monkeys, and fish with only a spear. From the water’s edge, I watched the oldest men in town head out to sea to get the catch of the day and during barefoot cruises through town, I caught the sparkle of children’s eyes from their seats on bike handles. I met Afro-Caribbean women with an infectious swagger and a sense of cultural pride. They showed me what it looks like to carry a crown without apology.

Friends came and went, but the stories of the people nestled their way into my heart chamber and never left.

I had a vision to document the faces and voices of Old Harbour (the original name of Puerto Viejo) through portrait photography, long-form interviews, and contemporary design in the form of a print magazine.

For the last 6 months, I have sat with friends and strangers in their homes and businesses, collected hours of audio, sourced photographers and conceptualized and directed photoshoots. I re-learned graphic design programs and formatted a 70-page magazine on a MacBook Air. This process was a deep dive into my subjects and into the self. Through it, I questioned my talents and my privilege, but persistence prevailed as I knew these stories needed to reach a larger audience.

We have arrived.

Qué Pasa Wolaba is a grassroots project born from the collective action of the people of Puerto and whose contributions help make this an ad-free and independently-funded publication. Featuring both Spanish and English content, we recognize the diversity of our readership across borders. We believe legacy media is not dead and long-form written content is the medicine to get us off our phones and onto the page! In the true Pura Vida way, this magazine is meant to be savored not chased.

By purchasing a limited edition issue—or 2 or 20—you are supporting our initiative to preserve a culture and a place that is rapidly changing. Plus, you might discover an untold story here in Wolaba Town.

—Liv Hooson