Meet Shay Anuhea | Actor & Choreographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shay Anuhea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shay, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My acting teacher always says, “if you want to change your art, change your life. If you want to change your life, change your art.” As an artist, I understand that it can be quite difficult to find true moments of physical or mental rest. But I believe that both are intertwined. You life impacts your art, and vise versa. If you’re cutting off one to feed the other, you’re not truly being fed, To say that you need to “stop living” in order to create your art, then that is not true art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“Ko Aloha La Ea, Ko Aloha La Ea” – Keep Your Love, Keep Your Love.”
– No matter what obstacles come, keep your love. No matter what suffering you face, no matter who you are or where you come from, with love you can surmount anything.

Being an artist, being a storyteller, is something woven deep in my na’au (gut). As a Kanaka Maoli, a Native Hawaiian, storytelling is a part of our being. We told mo’olelo, stories, by memory. We told mo’olelo by dancing and by chanting. It’s everywhere you look. So growing up on Maui was the ultimate blessing. I was constantly surrounded and supported by my culture, so art flowed through me from a young age.

I danced hula, which turned into my love for contemporary dance and choreography. I worked countless hours in the studio alone trying to cultivate my personal style of moving. While I worked hard to pursue my passion of dance, the underlying current that fueled my passion was always tv and movies. It started when I saw how excited my dad was to show my little brother and I the world of superhero movies. It grew into the hours of watching Avatar The Last Airbender, Doctor Who, and The Flash on the couch with my brother. Always discussing the story, the characters, and the fandom with him. He’s still one of my closest friends to this day. All of these deep connections were created with the help of tv and movies.

During my senior year of high school, I was giving the opportunity to attend YoungArts week in Miami as a choreography finalist, an honor I was absolutely not expecting! Being a finalist from Maui, with all of those kids that trained their whole life to be a YoungArts finalist was unreal. Being around talented kids from all over the US, all masters of their own art was even more unreal. Composers, photogrpahers, singer song writers, filmmakers… it exposed me to a world that I couldn’t get enough of. That experience is one of my most treasured by far. It showed me I can do anything.

It was only natural that after a few years of trying to dance professionally in LA, I fell into an acting class and completely switched gears. Everything began falling into place. I found love, friends, myself… It felt like a “duh, of course I’m supposed to do this” moment. Being able to bring experiences to life that make others feel seen is so magical to me. That’s all I wanted my whole life, to be seen. To be known. To be understood. Movies like Lady Bird and shows like Community always made me feel seen and understood. The experiences I’ve always felt so alone in were a crushing weight on my shoulders. But then… you have a moment where you see exactly what you’re going through or who you are on screen, and you’re okay. You’re normal. There are others like you… It’s a feeling beyond words. Now I can provide that relief and sense of belonging for other people like me!

I’ve faced many, MANY challenges on my journey, most of which stemmed from lack of artistic opportunity on Maui. My ‘ohana and the people around me were always supportive of my dreams, and my need to represent my lā hui, my community, always scared the fear of failure away. But once I moved to Los Angeles and my ‘ohana was not there to scare the fear away is when the real work began. I had realized that I dedicated my entire being to my goal of moving to LA, and doing anything possible to prepare myself. But along the way, I had no idea who I truly was. My personality consisted of tv show references. My morals where comprised of what I was always taught. I had to start from scratch, to really discover who I was and what I wanted to say. In doing so, I realized how different I was than my peers. I didn’t enjoy the same things as them. I didn’t like talking to anyone else. No one else seemed to get me. And then I met Jordan Beasley, and everything began to shift. Truthfully, my best friend and I don’t really share the same interests. But we really understand each other at a molecular level some how. Letting him in, letting him affect me, allowed me to shed some of the weight I was carrying. I dove into my teachings from my culture. I dove into my interests. I allowed myself to be… me. And everything as slowly been coming together since.

Long story short, LOVE was my medicine. Love for others, love for myself, love for the universe, love for my ‘ohana, love for my art. Love is the thing that overpowered the darkness, and love continues to do so. Once I loved myself, everything became easy. That love stemmed from honoring myself and my preference. Honoring what has come before me and what will come after.

I am at the start of my journey, so I don’t have too much to show for myself on paper just yet. But I have already succeeded. I am in love. I have a best friend. I just got representation in LA and in Hawai’i. I have access to my favorite shows and books on demand. I am connected with other Kanaka artists from Maui. It’s all I’ve ever dreamed of!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Though I mostly spend my time in my home, I do have a few favorite spots in LA!

Not to be the ultimate LA pretentious film bro… But I love the New Beverly Cinema! A theater owned by Quinton Tarantino. I’m not even the biggest Tarantino fan, but I’ve seen some life changing movies on film in that theater, and had some core memories made with loved ones there. Always makes me so grateful to be an actor and artist in living in Los Angeles!

Another favorite spot is Brickyard Pub in Noho. Its nothing too special, just a beer bar with some poorly felted pool tables and crooked pool sticks, but I’ve spent lots of good time with friends. It’s our spot after Monday on-camera acting class with decently priced tables and drinks. You don’t have to dress to impress, but you totally can if you feel like it! Always feels like a welcoming spot.

Pricilla’s Gourmet Coffee in Toluca Lake has also been a safe haven for me. I can read, write, talk with friends, find alone time in a cute space that feels so separate from how intense Hollywood can be sometimes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d have to first give credit to my creative soulmate Jordan Beasley. Jordan and I discovered ourselves at the same time, and he is the reason I’ve blossomed into the person, and therefore artist, I am today. He is the truest form of a safe space. Together, we can jump to different worlds, we can create different realities, all by sharing ideas and giggling our heads off!

He is a unique and beautiful soul, and everyone is attracted to the aura he puts out. I’ve so grateful for a connection like ours!

I think the second has to be my acting coach, Alice Carter. She’s nurtured me into shedding old layers of myself and supported me in finding every new layer under the ones that bound me to a life that was suppressed. I’m so honored to be her student!

Last but not least, by sweet partner, Jordan Hendricks. He is a brilliant actor and partner because he simply chooses himself and his art over the opinions of others, a lesson I so deeply needed to learn. He is my muse and my rock!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/shayanuhea

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shayanuhea

Image Credits
Bella Saville Photography