The newest member of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, Erica Gale (center), is welcomed by Co-presidents Mariko Higashi (left) and Joanne Laird.

LAHAINA – On Tuesday, Feb. 20, Erica Gale was the 30th member to be inducted into the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset.

Gale is from the small ski town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She grew up competitively skiing in the winter and swimming in the summer, and traveling as much as possible in between with her parents and younger sister.

From a young age, her mother made sure that every month, Erica and her sister volunteered at a location of their choice, which was usually with the cats at the animal shelter.

She also got her sense of adventure from her parents, who traveled often for work and leisure. Her first international trip was in eighth grade, when she spent three months in Stockholm, Sweden, on a cultural exchange. The next was through Rotary, which took her to Sardinia, Italy, for a year during her junior year of high school.

Gale has since lived in Spain, Dubai, China and multiple places in the U.S., but she is happy to call Maui home.

Even though she loves skiing and the mountains, Gale moved to Maui to escape the snow about six years ago. She is the morning manager at Down the Hatch Restaurant.

Gale is particularly excited to become more involved in local youth mentorship programs, international community building and the Rotary Youth Exchange program.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, contact Co-president Mariko Higashi at marikoinmaui@gmail.com.