I am

I am air, water, red rock and indigo.
I am an ocean desert girl, fire on water woman, round faced cinnamon style

I am the youngest daughter, the last daughter, not first or even second, last.

I am a poet and painter.

I am a visual artist; a painter and a muralist; a healer; a poet, writer and playwright; a performer, a director and speaker; an educator and facilitator; and a creative life coach with a deep commitment to making the world brighter, one mural, one conversation, and one act of love at a time.

My name is Vaimoana Litia Makakaufaki Niumeitolu and I changed my name to Vaimoana Oufi Khalil. I got married to my best friend in Jenin, Palestine; September 2023. Oufi is the family name (my chosen and found family) of my Black Palestinian mother and family who live in Tulkarm Camp.
Khalil is my husband family's name and is also the Arabic name of the ancient city of Hebron.

I believe my gifts are divinely given, and I’m here to share them boldly—to inspire, uplift, and serve. Whether I’m painting murals that celebrate communities or direct and write theatre productions or spit my poems on the mic or leading and facilitating a course or coaching and empowering creatives to activate their financial freedom and future, find love/sustain love AND build their dreams, my purpose is clear:
I’m here to empower others through love and support.

This is why I am here and this is why I came.

“And still after all of this, I beg you to remember that we are in danger, but we are not endangered…

I panic pray for you.
I sing your name. I count on you every day and every day you
come through for me. I stand for you.
                                                                 I know your name.
I will say your name while you are still alive. Do not be still
or silent unless you need to be.
I love you.
Stay alive.”
—Lynne Procope, from her poem, “In Service of Staying Alive”


Affirmation
by Assata Shakur

I believe in living.
I believe in the spectrum
of Beta days and Gamma people.
I believe in sunshine.
In windmills and waterfalls,
tricycles and rocking chairs.
And i believe that seeds grow into sprouts.
And sprouts grow into trees.
I believe in the magic of the hands.
And in the wisdom of the eyes.
I believe in rain and tears.
And in the blood of infinity.
I believe in life.
And I have seen the death parade
march through the torso of the earth,
sculpting mud bodies in its path.
I have seen the destruction of the daylight,
and seen bloodthirsty maggots
prayed to and saluted.
I have seen the kind become the blind
and the blind become the bind
in one easy lesson.
I have walked on cut glass.
I have eaten crow and blunder bread
and breathed the stench of indifference.
I have been locked by the lawless.
Handcuffed by the haters.
Gagged by the greedy.
And, if i know any thing at all,
it’s that a wall is just a wall
and nothing more at all.
It can be broken down.
I believe in living.
I believe in birth.
I believe in the sweat of love
and in the fire of truth.
And I believe that a lost ship,
steered by tired, seasick sailors,
can still be guided home
to port.

*”Affirmation” is reprinted from Shakur, Assata. (1987/2001). Assata: An Autobiography. (Chicago: Lawrence Hill Books), p. 1.