Jason Scott Lee once stepped away from the pressures of celebrity life to embrace a radically simpler existence on a 25-acre farm in Hawaii, where he grew taro, raised chickens and pursued natural farming.
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he → step → farming
An archival report also documented how the Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story star sought to balance acting with environmental and community work.
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star → document → work
In an older report originally published by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Jason Scott Lee opened up about his decision to simplify his lifestyle rather than remain tied to the financial demands and expectations of Hollywood.
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Lee → publish → Hollywood
The actor, who rose to prominence in the 1990s through films including Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Rapa Nui, Map of the Human Heart and The Jungle Book, had reached a point where he wanted greater control over his career and personal life.
"I want to work when I want to, on films that I want to, and not have to pay for a lifestyle that doesn't do anything except obligate me to the machine," Lee said, according to the archival report.
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Lee → rise → report
The story recalled an incident in Florida in which Lee was discussing Hollywood, money and lifestyles with friends when another actress spoke about a $90,000 Mercedes-Benz she had recently acquired.
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she → recall → Benz
Lee contrasted that lifestyle with his own desire to live more simply.
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Lee → contrast → desire
According to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin report, Lee had purchased 25 acres in Volcano, Hawaii, several years earlier.
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Lee → accord → Volcano
Much of the land had been deforested and contained debris, including old paint cans and car parts.
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Much → deforest → cans
With the help of a friend, Lee built a modest two-room home on the property.
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Lee → build → property
The house had no conventional electricity, hot water or flush toilet.
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house → have → electricity
The actor spent much of his time living on the land, embracing a lifestyle far removed from the luxury often associated with Hollywood celebrities.
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actor → spend → celebrities
The home used a 12-volt battery for electricity, while a solar panel powered a water pump.
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panel → use → pump
A propane tank supplied hot water, and Lee cooked on a wood-burning stove.
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Lee → supply → stove
He even used an old horse trough as a bathtub.
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He → use → bathtub
The actor grew taro and raised chickens
Lee's Hawaii lifestyle centred on self-sufficiency, farming and environmental conservation.
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lifestyle → grow → sufficiency
The report said he grew taro and raised chickens while bartering for other supplies when necessary.
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he → say → supplies
His approach to agriculture was influenced by Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka, whose philosophy of natural farming rejected intensive tilling and chemical-based agriculture.
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philosophy → influence → tilling
Lee also worked to restore parts of his property that had been deforested.
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that → work → property
He collected koa seeds from the surrounding forest and replanted them on his land as part of his efforts to bring back the forest canopy.
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He → collect → canopy
"I want to bring the canopy back," Lee said, according to the report.
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Lee → want → report
Jason Scott Lee balanced Hollywood with life in Hawaii
The Hollywood actor grew taro, raised chickens and worked to restore the rainforest on his property.
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actor → balance → property
Although Lee stepped away from the traditional Hollywood lifestyle, he did not completely abandon acting.
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he → step → acting
The actor continued to select film projects that he felt had meaning while earning enough to support his Hawaii-based lifestyle.
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he → continue → lifestyle
His credits from that period included the historical epic Nomad and Only the Brave.
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credits → include → epic
Lee described his existence as having "one foot in Hollywood and the other in a jungle."
"For some people in Hollywood, their soul dies," he said, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin account.
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he → describe → account
"You're dependent on so many things: recognition so you can get the next job ... the next movie to pay off your big house and your big car.
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you → get → house
Jason Scott Lee created Pu Mu for arts and environmental work
Lee also envisioned turning his Hawaii property, which he called Pu Mu, into a small performing arts centre where socially conscious plays, workshops and classes could be staged.
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plays → create → centre
The name Pu Mu was described in the report as representing "simplicity" and "nothingness."
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name → describe → simplicity
At the time of the report, Lee had brought together actors to work on a production while also helping farm part of the property.
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Lee → bring → property
His broader vision combined theatre, agriculture, environmental conservation and community.
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vision → combine → theatre
The actor explained that his mother and late father had played an important role in shaping his outlook.
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mother → explain → outlook
He credited his mother's compassion and his father's tenacity as major influences on his approach to life.
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He → credit → life
Jason Scott Lee said his life felt complete
Lee's decision to live simply was not presented as a rejection of acting itself.
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decision → say → acting
Rather, he said he had found a way to pursue film work on his own terms while maintaining the lifestyle he wanted in Hawaii.
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he → say → Hawaii
"This right here," Lee said while referring to a koa sprout, "is the world that allows me to stand the other one."
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me → say → one
He added that he would return to Hollywood for film work before going back home to grow, fish, read and work on his theatre projects.
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he → add → projects
"My life is pretty complete at Pu Mu," Lee said, according to the archival Honolulu Star-Bulletin report.
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Lee → say → report
The Aporia
