How Tala Mai Moana Began
Tala Mai Moana began in June 2012 in Riverside, on Cahuilla/Serrano Territory, out of a deep-felt need for community and belonging. Its founder and creative director, Elaine Talamaivao, had moved to Southern California and realized something important was missing: While there were many Polynesian dance groups in the Inland Empire, most were focused on entertainment or competition preparation for big festivals. There wasn't a space that truly embodied the spirit of whānau, ohana, or aiga — the Pacific values of coming together as family to share stories, culture, and connection through movement and song.
Elaine wanted more than just performance: She wanted a community-centered space where people could reconnect with their roots, share ancestral knowledge, and find home. Because a welcoming, affordable space was hard to come by, the very first gatherings happened in a church hall in Riverside — simply because it was the only venue available at the time. From those humble beginnings, students and Pasefika navigators — individuals seeking to reconnect, connect, or simply feel at home — became the heart and pulse of what Tala Mai Moana would grow to be.
Over time, that circle of learning and belonging expanded. Every time someone from the wider Moana Nui Ākea community — whether visiting for work, for conferences, for exchange, or simply in town — entered that circle, Tala Mai Moana became woven into their cultural journey. It became part of their wayfinding, their learning, and often, their breath of home far from the islands. And more than a decade later, Tala Mai Moana continues to thrive, creating space that reaches beyond the borders of land and sea.
What Makes Tala Mai Moana Unique
What sets Tala Mai Moana apart isn't just dance — it's a living cultural ecosystem rooted in community, identity, and storytelling:
Community-Centered and Inclusive
Tala Mai Moana is a community-focused group that welcomes all ages and skill levels, offering classes centered on culture, belonging, and personal growth.
Cultural Depth and Storytelling
Classes go beyond choreography; they teach language arts, traditional crafts, history, and ancestral storytelling, connecting movement with the deep values, legends, and heritage of the Pacific Islands.
Diverse Pacific Traditions
Tala Mai Moana integrates Hawaiian, Māori, Tahitian, and Samoan traditions, honoring each culture's unique expression while emphasizing shared Pacific values of family, respect, and belonging.
Bridge to Modern Identity
The organization doesn't preserve culture as static or frozen in time — it brings it into modern life and learning spaces. Through in-person and online classes, TMM makes cultural enrichment accessible and relevant for people navigating identity, community, and connection in the diaspora.
Community Partnerships and Outreach
Tala Mai Moana partners with schools, cities, and organizations to offer workshops, cultural events, and youth programs that enrich communities.
Performance and Cultural Exchange
While community connection is central, Tala Mai Moana also performs locally, nationally, and internationally, bringing Pacific stories to diverse audiences — from community gatherings to cultural festivals and collaborations.
Meet Our Founder
Elaine Talamaivao
Elaine Talamaivao is a Polynesian dancer, educator, community leader, and organizational strategist with over a decade of experience advancing student success, equity-centered programming, and institution-community partnerships. Her introduction to Polynesian dance started at her father's practices in Mulivai Samoa, while he prepared with the Samoan Dance Theatre for their South Pacific and European tours.
She would leave Samoa and migrate to Aotearoa, New Zealand, to live with her grandparents, where the Fa'a Samoa traditions were practiced thoroughly in their home. Eventually, her love for culture took her to lead the Polynesian and Kapa Haka Clubs for Tawa and St Mary's College, where both High Schools became game changers and power houses among the local High School Poly Festivals in the capital city, Wellington.
Her popularity grew in the way she taught both the youth and adults. Through workshops at Whitireia Polytechnic, she was able to collaborate and learn from Porirua's leading choreographers and artists. This experience opened a curiosity into the interweaving of contemporary Māori and Pasefika dance styles and traditions with Hip Hop culture.
Her love for dance and storytelling eventually led her to the United States to further her education. Though she had moved to three different nations, several things remained constant — her love for culture and dance, but even more so, her love to teach others about the dances and languages of the South Pacific.
In her education, Elaine received associate degrees from Riverside Community College with High Distinction, followed by a B.A. in Film & Digital Production from the University of California, Riverside, graduating Cum Laude. She earned her M.S. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Redlands in 2022, where she was recognized as a Whitehead Leadership Honors Society Recipient. She is currently completing a Professional Certificate in Happiness in Leadership from Harvard University.
Elaine currently serves as Assistant Director of First-Year Admissions at the University of Redlands, where she leads recruitment and outreach efforts while fostering inclusive community-building for underserved and first-generation student populations. She also serves as Adjunct Faculty in the Dance Department, where she developed and implemented the university's first Pacific Island and Hip Hop dance courses — establishing two new academic programs within the institution.
Previously, Elaine served as Interim Department Coordinator for the Office for Inclusion and Community and First Generation Program Director, where she redesigned the S.T.E.P. program for its 20th anniversary and revamped graduation ceremonies to reflect values of empowerment, inclusion, and cultural celebration for Lavender, Students of Color, and First-Generation communities. She also served as URSA (University of Redlands Staff Assembly) President from 2023-2024.
As a Guest Artist and Associate Faculty at Mt. San Jacinto Community College, Elaine designed culturally grounded dance courses centering storytelling, community healing, and identity. Through her work with Dancing Earth Creations as Community Organizer and Cultural Producer, she directed three Indigenous dance festivals in California, New Mexico, Tahiti, and the Czech Republic, and created The Source Festival at the Dance Mission Theatre and Cal State University East Bay.
Elaine has an extensive professional background in the arts. While employed for the City of Riverside Parks and Recreation Services, Elaine created the Riverside Arts Academy's curriculum and schedule, securing funding and partnering with professional musical artists to bring world-class lessons and performances. Under her leadership, the program was recognized by the State of California for Cultural Diversity and affiliated with The Harmony Project.
In 2022, Elaine partnered with local muralist Juan Navarro on a mural exhibition at the Riverside Art Museum spotlighting a Polynesian restaurant on Park Avenue, elevating Inland Empire Polynesian representation through curated Tala Mai Moana cultural works. Most recently, she collaborated with other native Hawai'ian community leaders and cultural practitioners for Kūkulu traveling exhibit, a collaborative initiative between Mauna Kea Education and Awareness, the University of Redlands Native Students Programs, and Pilina ʻŌiwi with Nicole Kanahele Stutz, centered on Indigenous connection, relational accountability, and cultural continuity within higher education spaces.
Elaine's leadership extends into professional development, where she designs transformative experiences that combine wellness, movement, and cultural practice. As a keynote speaker at The City of Cypress Women's Conference, she demonstrated her signature approach — weaving together motivational speaking, interactive dance, wellness workshops, and shared food to create meaningful, embodied learning. Her work reminds participants that growth happens not just in the mind, but through the body and in community.
To date, TMM has connected with communities across the United States and internationally. TMM has now expanded within the City of Riverside and City of Orange to provide dance workshops and art development classes for youth.