Land, People & Labor Acknowledgement
Opening Invocation
As you read these words, may you remember that you stand upon the ancestral and unceded homelands of the Chochenyo Ohlone people. May we honor their enduring stewardship of this land and recognize that Indigenous peoples continue to protect, care for, and belong to these lands despite the ongoing impacts of colonization.
May we also honor the many peoples whose labor, migration, sacrifice, and resilience have shaped the Bay Area. We give thanks to the generations of Black, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, Asian, Latinx, immigrant, and working-class communities whose lives, knowledge, and dreams continue to build and sustain this place.
May we walk gently upon this land with humility and gratitude. May we listen before we speak, learn before we lead, and care for one another with compassion. May we commit ourselves to justice, cultural preservation, shared abundance, and collective liberation.
May our gathering be an offering—to our ancestors, to our elders, to one another, and to the generations yet to come.
Asé. Mālō. Aho. Amen.
About SPULU
Mālō e lelei! My name is SPULU (pronounced spoo-loo). SPULU is more than my artist name—it's a reflection of who I am, what I create, and the values I carry. I was born and raised on Chochenyo Ohlone land (Oakland, California), with deep ancestral roots in the Kingdom of Tonga. These two homes have shaped my identity and continue to influence my artistic practice.
As a creative entrepreneur, storyteller, and multi-disciplinary performing artist, my work blends Pasifika (Pacific Islander) cultural movement with contemporary dance, hip-hop, theater, music, and community storytelling. Through movement, I explore identity, belonging, resilience, and the power of culture to heal, educate, and inspire.
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Race and Resistance Studies from San Francisco State University. Since then, I've dedicated my career to using the arts as a tool for education, advocacy, and community building. For over a decade, I worked with UC Berkeley Cal Performances' AileyCamp Berkeley/Oakland, mentoring young people through dance and leadership. Today, I continue serving youth as an Community Engagement and Events Coordinator at Creative Arts Charter School while also working as an Events Specialist at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).
My work has been featured at the de Young Museum, SFMOMA, and the San Francisco Hip Hop International Dance Festival. I've also been featured in Levi's Pride 2019 International Campaign and co-created the Nike OAK sneaker with Nike.
Dance found me long before I found the stage. Growing up in Oakland, I experienced challenges both at home and in my community. Movement became my refuge—a place where I could process, heal, and express myself. At an early age, my mother introduced me to Pasifika traditional dances and music. Each culture taught me something unique: storytelling, rhythm, musicality, expression, strength, and connection. Those early lessons continue to live in every piece I create.
My artistic mission is to tell the stories that are too often overlooked—stories of my ancestors, Pasifika communities, marginalized voices, and everyday people whose resilience deserves to be celebrated. I believe art has the power to challenge systems, preserve culture, build bridges across communities, and spark meaningful conversations.
Spulunism is my philosophy: redefining the status quo, pushing creative boundaries, honoring cultural knowledge, uplifting community, and leading with love. Every performance, workshop, and collaboration is an invitation to connect, reflect, and imagine a more just and joyful future.
Welcome to my journey.