Asuelu Pulaa of 90 Day Fiancé shocked fans earlier this summer when he confirmed his split from Kalani Faagata, his wife of nearly four years and the mother of his two young sons. While Asuelu and Kalani's relationship had its fair share of drama, the couple previously appeared committed to making their marriage work.
Viewers first met Asuelu, who's from a small village in Samoa, when he moved to California to be with his fiancé, Kalani, during season 6 of the reality series. The couple married and went on to star in 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? Now newly single, Asuelu is making a life for himself on the West Coast.
Asuelu Has Traditional Samoan Tattoos
Asuelu has a traditional Samoan tatau called a Pe'a. The designs begin around his ribcage and extend all the way down to his knees. In Samoan culture the markings are a rite of passage symbolizing courage for young men.
Pe'a designs are ornate and unique to their recipients. Each one tells the story of the family lineage and community its wearer comes from. In addition to his Pe'a artwork, Asuelu also sports ink featuring the names of his wife and his children.
Asuelu Worked In An Unexpected Industry
Many 90 Day stars worked in unexpected businesses in their home countries, and Asuelu is no exception. Asuelu was employed in the tourism industry in Samoa. He was the activities director for a popular beach resort. Asuelu has posted many pictures of his time working in hospitality on Instagram.
The photos feature Asuelu participating in several resort activities with his guests, including traditional dances and performances, face painting, nature excursions, Zumba, scuba diving, and more. The Samoan cast member's fun-loving attitude and energetic personality are the perfect fit for a successful activities director.
Asuelu Met Kalani At Work
Asuelu met his soon-to-be ex-wife while working the Samoan resort she was vacationing in. Kalani, who is half-Samoan on her father's side, has said of their first encounter, "He [Asuelu] kind of semi-stalked me around the resort, but it was really sweet. He'd like, watch after me when I was swimming in the pool of if I was walking around. And one of he nights, I saw him shirtless and I was like, 'Okay, this could work!'"
Many 90 Day stars made their livings working with tourists before they moved to the U.S. Both Guillermo Rojer and Luis Mendez, for example, were bartenders who catered to vacation-goers when they met their future wives.
Asuelu Is A Father
Asuelu and Kalani have two young sons together, Oliver and Kennedy. Kalani became pregnant with their eldest, Oliver, after meeting Asuelu at the resort where he worked and losing her virginity to him. After the baby was born, the duo decided to file for Asuelu's K-1, so they could be together as a family.
However, Asuelu is often accused of being an unhelpful father, as he regularly leaves most of the parenting to Kalani. He appears to have taken the harsh criticism to heart. Recently, Asuelu admitted he's "not a good father" in the caption of an Instagram post featuring himself dancing with his sons. He continued by insisting, "I'm trying my best."
Asuelu Is A Dancer
Asuelu loves dancing and often shows of his traditional Samoan moves on social media. He even memorably danced for an embarrassed Kalani when he first arrived at the airport in Los Angeles.
Asuelu enjoys dancing as a hobby, but he was also recently hired as a professional dancer for a studio in Utah. The studio, called Siva Pasefika, performs Polynesian-style dances as part of a dinner theater experience. They also offer dance classes and other cultural activities. This isn't Asuelu's first time dancing professionally. While he was working in Samoan resorts, he performed in similar dance troupes.
Asuelu Is A Golfer
Asuelu took up golf after moving to the U.S. His father-in-law, Low--who he lovingly calls his coach--has been teaching him the sport. Asuelu often posts progress pictures on his social media, and appears proud of his improvement.
Low became a franchise favorite with his honest personality and the tough love he showed to Asuelu. Even though Low was not a fan of the couple's relationship, he supported Asuelu and Kalani emotionally as well as financially. He also regularly mediated between them. Low was a consistent voice of reason during the couple's otherwise dramatic time on the show and, apparently, he is also a stellar golf coach.
Asuelu Is An Influencer
With 350k followers, Asuelu is among the most popular 90 Day men on Instagram. He regularly entertains his followers with humorous skits, dance videos, and cute family pics. Like many of his fellow cast members, Asuelu's popularity has created brand partnership opportunities for him. The reality star promotes a Polynesian eyewear brand as well as other products.
In addition to teaming up with brands, Asuelu can also be found on the personalized greeting app, Cameo, where fans can purchase a greeting starting at $80. He also curates two successful YouTube channels--one by himself and one with Kalani.
Asuelu Is A Rugby Superfan
Asuelu is a huge fan of the Samoa Sevens, the national rugby team of his homeland. He attended matches with his friends in Los Angeles during the recent World Rugby Sevens Series. Asuelu showed up to the stadium in style, donning a Samoan flag worn as a cape.
The Samoan Sevens won the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series and remain a formidable global competitor. Asuelu appears to have found a community of Samoan friends in the U.S. According to the Los Angeles Almanac, Los Angeles, a city Asuelu frequents, is home to the largest mainland Samoan population.
Asuelu Is Close With His Family
Much to Kalani's dismay, Asuelu is close with his family. His relationship with his mother and sister was often a source of hostility for the new couple. Asuelu's mother, Lesina, and his sister, Tammy, dislike Kalani and seem incredibly preoccupied with how much money Asuelu can send to them.
No matter how hostile his family was to Kalani, Asuelu always felt obligated to give them money he didn't have. Kalani's father, Low, even stepped in and spoke sternly to Lesina hoping to help her understand that the new parents were struggling financially. However, Lesina seemed unmoved by Low's explanation. Asuelu's mother is one of many 90 Day characters who need a spinoff of their own.
Asuelu Is A Taurus
Asuelu was born on May 15, making him, astrologically, a Taurus. According to Astrology.com, Taurus signs are artistic and enjoy "being surrounded by pleasing, soothing things." This is evident in Asuelu's love of music and dance, as well as his constant need for creature comforts. Taurus people can also be extremely stubborn, a trait Asuelu knows firsthand. During arguments with Kalani, he'd regularly walk out or give her the silent treatment if he felt he was in the right.
Speaking of Kalani, she was born on July 2, making her a Cancer sign. The website insists Taurus/Cancer matches can be very successful as they both prioritize their home lives and families. While the future of Asuelu and Kalani's relationship is unknown, astrologically they are compatible in more than one way.