Melé & Manaia

International travelers Melé and Manaia began learning Mandarin Chinese and Spanish at ages 4 and 5 respectively. Because of their Samoan royal ancestry, it is required they learn Samoan, making Mandarin Chinese, Samoan, and English their primary focus languages.

Melé (pronounced meh-Leh), an ethnobotanist with extensive knowledge of indigenous medicinal plants and their healing properties, is also a recording artist, graphic artist, and writer.

Manaia (pronounced “mah-NYE-ah), an exhibiting mixed media artist, is also an aspiring architect studying modern and contemporary design and its effects on community well-being. In addition, she is a recording artist, photographer, and cartoonist.

The sisters are currently studying Choctaw, Spanish, Japanese, and French and are writing their debut music project in Mandarin Chinese.