Poleta “Leka” Saena is an artist currently based out of St. George, UT. Born and raised in between American Samoa and Alaska, Leka uses art to connect with his Samoan heritage. What started as a collection of “Daddy’s drawings” on Instagram has blossomed into the graphic design company Lekz55. Today Leka and his family use their platform to share Pacific Island culture with the world.

“Remember Who You Are and Straighten Your Crown” refers to one of Leka’s original drawings of a young taupou straightening a tuiga on her head. We based today’s interview off of that image as a way to focus on knowing your roots and being proud of them. Some topics we cover include the Poly Movement happening in the creative industry, authenticity in Pacific artwork, and how this family of three work together to make things happen.

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Creative Advice: Do it. There’s no way to reach your potential if you’re not even trying.

Connect with Leka: Lekz55 is most active on Instagram and their website Lekz55.com. You can also find them on Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat.

**Note: Just to provide a visual of today’s theme, below is a snapshot from my Instagram story.