Kaimana

Summary

Not unusual to where she comes from, 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 spent a small handful of her younger years living in and around California and Utah as well. Her father worked for the airlines throughout the majority of her childhood and adolescent years, and she did not shy away from taking to the skies any and every chance she got (which were indeed many) throughout all those years.

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. Making her way throughout not only the States, but Europe, the Middle East, South America, the Pacific and Asia too, she hitchhiked, couch surfed and sometimes even slept in the streets at times, and throughout all her adventures, she discovered indescribably beautiful connections with strangers of vastly different cultures and religions. 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.

Kaimana expects her future to be one of never-ending adventure. Someone very dear to her once told her to make sure to live her life in a way where she’ll have countless stories to tell when she’s older. And she’s held true to those words ever since as one of her driving life mantras. So, she continues to hang on tight for this crazy, continuing life journey she’s on, and she absolutely intends on enjoying every second of the ride, no matter where it may lead her.

Feature Film