Intro: Anamaeha

Living in the contrast.

ANAMAEHA

I often get asked about my background, so I figured that’s the perfect place to start.

My full name is Anamaeha, and most people call me Ana—I think it's easier to pronounce (I pronounce my name Ana, but if you pronounce it Anna it doesn't really bother me—that's how my mom says my name). Anamaeha is a Rapa Nui name: Ana means cave and Maeha means first light. So together, Anamaeha means the first light that brightens the darkness of the cave. It’s both about stark contrast between light and dark, and a moment of light conquering darkness. In the United States I go by Ana, and in Rapa Nui, most call me Anamaeha or just Maeha. A name is a name, and for most people it is just that. For me, it’s often just that too, but it's also been a subtle and powerful theme in my life: contrast.