About Me

My name is Yonathan Mickelsen. I grew up with roots in Java, and today I’m based in Hawaiʻi. Both places deeply shape how I see culture, community, and storytelling.

By profession, I work in marketing and creative strategy, currently leading marketing for a multi-brand hospitality group in Hawaiʻi. I spend a lot of time building systems, telling stories, and helping brands grow in ways that feel real and human. At the heart of it, I enjoy work that makes people happy and helps create moments people remember.

I’m also naturally drawn to tech and entrepreneurship. I like building things, experimenting, and thinking long-term through digital products, creative projects, and place-based ideas. One of the projects I’m most proud of is founding Kala Cabin & Restaurant Group in 2020, where we developed two parks and two villas in Java that welcomed over 60,000 guests in a single year in, each visit centered on creating meaningful experiences. That chapter continues to shape how I approach hospitality, design, and long-term value today.

Outside of work, I’m a creator at heart. I work with video, photography, music, and writing, often inspired by travel, everyday moments, and questions around identity and heritage. I’m curious by nature and enjoy learning through making.

JavaIslandBoy brings together my professional work, creative interests, and long-term ideas around culture, hospitality, technology, and experience design.