Kaimana
- Actor
Pronouns: She/They
Kaimana is a māhū (trans female) actor who has leapt to fame as the lead in Taika Waititi’s NEXT GOAL WINS, for which she garnered a Queerty nomination. Now based in Hawaii and Hollywood she is excited about where the future opportunities will take her.
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Summary
Kaimana is a māhū (trans female) actor who has leapt to fame as the lead in Taika Waititi’s NEXT GOAL WINS, for which she garnered a Queerty nomination. Now based in Hawaii and Hollywood she is excited about where the future opportunities will take her.
Kaimana is what locals of Hawaiʻi like to call a “mixed plate”, a typical mashup of many different ethnicities: she is of Māori-Samoan-Hawaiian-Tongan-Tahitian-Japanese-Irish-Scottish-English descent. But for simplicity’s sake, she usually just says “Polynesian”.
Kaimana was born as what is known in Samoan as fa’afafine—fakafefine in Tongan, whakawahine in Maori, and māhū in Hawaiian and Tahitian—an anciently respected gender liminal or “third-gendered” individual recognized traditionally as embodying both male and female gender traits, revered for their specific roles as healers, teachers, mediators, spiritual guides, keepers of the arts, guardians of culture and tradition, and fierce protectors and caretakers of their families.
Kaimana was raised predominantly in her cherished island home of Hawaiʻi on the island of O’ahu, which is also home to the ancient roots of her most direct matrilineal line, of which she is deeply proud. As a child, she was moved around constantly and handful of her younger years living in California and Utah.
Prior to making her acting debut in Taika Waititi’s NEXT GOAL WINS, Kaimana was living true to her nature as a free-spirit and therefore galavanting across the globe. A sucker for adventure, she finds it hard to stay put for too long. Having nine siblings spread out across the country—all of whom have been her best friends since childhood—has given her that much more of a reason to always be on the move. The next chapter in her travels has led her to acting and she is excited to see where this ride takes her!
Feature Film
Kaimana is a māhū (trans female) actor who has leapt to fame as the lead in Taika Waititi’s NEXT GOAL WINS, for which she garnered a Queerty nomination. Now based in Hawaii and Hollywood she is excited about where the future opportunities will take her.
Kaimana is what locals of Hawaiʻi like to call a “mixed plate”, a typical mashup of many different ethnicities: she is of Māori-Samoan-Hawaiian-Tongan-Tahitian-Japanese-Irish-Scottish-English descent. But for simplicity’s sake, she usually just says “Polynesian”.
Kaimana was born as what is known in Samoan as fa’afafine—fakafefine in Tongan, whakawahine in Maori, and māhū in Hawaiian and Tahitian—an anciently respected gender liminal or “third-gendered” individual recognized traditionally as embodying both male and female gender traits, revered for their specific roles as healers, teachers, mediators, spiritual guides, keepers of the arts, guardians of culture and tradition, and fierce protectors and caretakers of their families.
Kaimana was raised predominantly in her cherished island home of Hawaiʻi on the island of O’ahu, which is also home to the ancient roots of her most direct matrilineal line, of which she is deeply proud. As a child, she was moved around constantly and handful of her younger years living in California and Utah.
Prior to making her acting debut in Taika Waititi’s NEXT GOAL WINS, Kaimana was living true to her nature as a free-spirit and therefore galavanting across the globe. A sucker for adventure, she finds it hard to stay put for too long. Having nine siblings spread out across the country—all of whom have been her best friends since childhood—has given her that much more of a reason to always be on the move. The next chapter in her travels has led her to acting and she is excited to see where this ride takes her!
(* = native)
American-Standard*
(* = native/fluent)
English*, Hawaiian, Sign Language (American)
(* = highly skilled)
Bachata, Contemporary Dance, Hip Hop Dance, Merengue, Piano, Polka, Polynesian Dance, Salsa Dancing, Saxophone
(* = highly skilled)
Baseball, Football, Gymnastics, Pickleball, Tennis, Volleyball
Shape Shifting