Kaena Gilman-Moeai

11.28.22

Parents: Asai and Keawe Gilman

Spouse: Wes Moeai

Siblings: Kawelina, Alohi, Alakai, Makana, Keahonui, Kealohakahiku (Ku Boy)

No children yet

Occupation: Full time student, side businesses: Sunseababes and Tuputimes

Educational level: Senior in College

Favorite Polynesian Food: Poke, poi, squid luau and lomi salmon.

“After suffering multiple miscarriages, I started to dedicate my efforts to heal my traumas and overwhelming experiences. There was a point in my life when I was healing from multiple experiences that were traumatic in my life. During that time period, I realized that it was hard to heal within the Polynesian standard and the stigma that we had to be tough, be strong, and emotions are a sign of weakness. I craved a space that would welcome the talk of mental health, understanding traumatic experiences, and regulating emotional damage. On the other hand, I also craved a space where I would feel understood, due to my Polynesian background. Feeling alone in this era of my life, I had a dream of how to create that space. I started to post about my journey with a lot of skepticism of how people would receive my vulnerability, but knowing that there was so much power in my truth. Two years ago I would have never thought that I would be able to collaborate and join hands with many women and men who also felt alone. I have been a part of movements within the Polynesian healing communities, mental health, and have dedicated my efforts to perpetuating that safe space for our Polynesian people. My goal is to destigmatize the practice of healing in our Polynesian community while learning how we can all operate to be our highest selves.

My side businesses Sunseababes and Tuputimes are dedicated to the ongoing efforts of overall health and wellness for our people.

Sunseababes is a business purely dedicated to doing the inner work and healing within to achieve our highest self. We focus on body positivity and an emphasis on empowering women.

Tuputimes is a business that I co-founded with two other ladies, Kelcy Ponciano-Ahue and Pele Bennett. Our goal is to create a safe space to nurture and educate our Polynesian people through rooted practices of health and wellness.”


“Being Polynesian, or Hawaiian to be specific has shaped my understanding of who I am. My parents have raised my family on Hawaiian values which we as their children take with us in our different journeys of life. One of those values was to lead with our heart. Hawaiians were very spiritual people, and my parents have taught us that when we are close to the spirit, our heart is leading. My culture has shaped my foundation. I was taught this proverb by my great aunty Mary Kawena Pukui at a young age: ‘O ke kahua ma mua, ma hope ke kukulu, meaning first the foundation than the building. Being Polynesian is a part of my foundation, it is a big part of who I am today.


Advice that I would give to future Polynesian generations would be, honor your ancestors. The answers that we seek can be found from our ancestors before us. I also would say, focus on who you innately are. Create a solid foundation of who you are. Sometimes things will change along the way, but your foundation will always carry you through different storms of life.”

Create a solid foundation of who you are... your foundation will always carry you through different storms of life."