By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune
July 16, 2019
Best known for playing Katana in “Suicide Squad,” Karen Fukuhara will next be seen in the Amazon series, “The Boys” (premiering on July 26). Her resume also includes the feature film “Stray” and Netflix’s “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.” An avid traveler, the actress says she’d like to explore Southeast Asia next. Her plans? She’d like to enjoy “scuba diving in the Philippines, massages and food in Thailand and end the trip at the Cloud Forest in Singapore.” Born and raised in Los Angeles, Fukuhara stays in touch with fans on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. Putaruru in northern New Zealand. It’s a natural spring known for its clear blue water. I’ve never seen anything like it. The water is crystal clear and bright blue. It’s surrounded by exotic trees and it almost feels as if you’ve slipped into a pristine other world.
Q. What untapped destination should people know about?
A. My favorite thus far would be Honomanu Falls, a waterfall surrounded by Maui canyon lands. It definitely was one of my most challenging hiking experiences. When we went, we only saw one other hiker with his dog. It truly felt as if we were discovering somewhere remote and untapped. We were shocked to find out later that it was such a short distance: only two miles, but it still took us six hours total! Trudging through a stream on slippery rocks made it especially difficult, but I think that’s why it still remains my favorite. It felt like we earned the view. Once we got to the end, there were no words to describe how it felt to stand in front of this waterfall and hear the deafening thunder of water crashing down. Honomanu Falls can be dangerous if it’s during flood season, so do plenty of research before you head in.
Q. What was the first trip you took as a child?
A. Japan to visit my relatives. Since then, I’ve gone almost every year and it’s become my second home. I adore Japan for the unmatched quality in food, nature, culture, hospitality, cleanliness, kick-ass train system and spirituality. I’ve gone to many places within Japan, but there’s always more to explore. Last year, I went to Kinosaki, an onsen (hot springs) town. Visitors are allowed to hop from one onsen to another wearing traditional yukata. You feel as though you’ve slipped into a different era.
Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
A. Making an Excel sheet of daily activities. This sounds super nerdy, but most times we only have a few days to explore a city. Planning out different locations for each day ahead of time allows us to experience as much as we can with the amount of time we’re given. My travel partner and I are on the same wavelength about letting go of some of the things on the list, which makes traveling easy. Flexibility and a good attitude allow us to be open to new experiences. We just use Excel as a guideline, so we always have a cool spot to hit in case we have extra time.
Q. If you could only pick one place to eat, would you choose a street cart or a nice restaurant?
A. I love both! As long as the quality is good, price doesn’t matter. I definitely find myself packing on pounds during a trip, because I want to eat as many delicious meals as possible. I normally don’t eat breakfast, but when I’m on vacation I eat at least four meals a day. Obviously, I have to get my dessert in there somewhere. There’s no better feeling than a hearty warm meal after a long day of walking.
Q. I understand that you speak Japanese and English. Do you pick up new languages easily?
A. Yes. I’m fluent in both. Nobody realizes I’ve never lived in Japan, because I don’t have an American accent when speaking Japanese. I tried to learn French in high school, but it never stuck. I found it extremely difficult. Maybe it’s easier if I was surrounded by native speakers? I’d love to try learning another language again.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. Berlin, London, Toronto, Tokyo and Amsterdam.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A. If you’re doing anything nature related, pack a headlamp and a Pack Towel. You never know how late your adventure will go or if you want to spontaneously jump in that fresh water lake.
Q. What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
A. Cheez-It (crackers)! The boxes with two flavors — Sharp Cheddar and Parmesan. And ginger beer, because I get car sick.
Q. What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A. My friend and I decided to rent a car in New Zealand to make the most of our time there and venture off into the wilderness. Imagine my surprise when my friend pulled up to pick me up, she pulled up in a Smart car. Needless to say, it wasn’t built for off-roading, but that didn’t stop us from trying. All part of the adventure, I guess. I remember one particular instance when we were driving 3.5 hours back to the city in the dark, extremely jet-lagged and tired from our day trip. We had to keep hitting each other to pay close attention to which side of the road we had to be on (New Zealand drives on the other side of the road). We laugh about it now. I really think this experience brought us closer than ever. She’s my travel wife!
© 2019 JAE-HA KIM
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