Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Pamela ʻIolana Poepoe’s journey with Polynesian dance began at a young age. Raised in a family steeped in culture, she was first introduced to hula through her ohana, learning from her aunties and kūpuna. As a young teen, she was part of a Polynesian dance group, where she learned the full spectrum of Polynesian dance under the guidance of Loso Iʻaulualo. It was through this group that her passion for Polynesian dance truly blossomed, and she has continued to dance for various groups across the island ever since.

With years of experience teaching Polynesian dance, ʻIolana credits her kumu, Uncle Loso, for instilling in her a deep knowledge of everything Polynesian. Today, she is a Leeward District Coordinator for the Hawaiian Studies program with the Department of Education, where she has been inspiring young minds for over 15 years. Her love for Hawaiian culture has led her to create Hui O Ka Uluwehi, a place where she hopes to share her passion and touch the lives of families in the community with her genuine spirit of Aloha.