BIOGRAPHY

Sierra Keʻalohilani "Nani" Choi (she / her / ʻo ia) is a poet and spoken word performer studying Creative Writing at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Daughter of the Kanikoʻo rain of Heʻeia, Oʻahu, Nani clings to memory, sound, and desire on the page / stage. She is passionate about helping writers awaken and cultivate stories; and often meets her grandmothers whenever she writes. In 2024 she was a recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize, and is a 2026 Paul Lyons Scholar. She is currently growing a chapbook entitled “me wai”: poems of gratitude for the waters and people who make her possible. When she is not in Kuykendall Hall, Nani is most likely on FaceTime with her sister or baking a new batch of banana bread.