Fa’apepele "Pele" Hunkin-Founder of FLY-First Love Yourself Movement
- Jennifer Diaby
- Oct 7
- 6 min read
Fa’apepele "Pele" Hunkin
Bio:
The name Pele Inspire was born from legacy. "Pele" is the cherished short form of her name, Fa’apepele, which was given in honor of her beautiful grandmother. In Samoan, "Pele" means "sweetheart" or "dear." Over the years, she has given it a deeper, purpose-driven meaning that reflects her journey: PELE – Persevere Enough Love Everywhere. It’s more than a name — it’s a life mission to embody love, strength, and service in every space she walks into. Her parents, especially her Mother, Miriama and Grandmother, Fa’apepele remain her greatest inspirations, and their legacy lives on through every message she shares, every story she tells, and every heart she helps heal.
Fa’apepele "Pele" Hunkin is a Samoan Thought Leader and transformational speaker, known as The Thought Samoan Warrior. She is the founder of Pele Inspire – Embracing Authentic Love and the visionary behind the FLY Movement – First Love Yourself. A retired U.S. Army Combat Veteran, survivor of profound losses, a heart attack with a one-stent placement, strokes, 3.5mm brain blockage, alcoholism, and divorce, Pele now leads a global movement that empowers others to rise from pain into purpose. Her first solo book, HEART OF A WARRIOR - The Humble Journey of a Samoan Warrior, shares her powerful testimony of survival, resilience, and healing. Through every message, she reminds the world: You are NOT your past and You are NOT your diagnosis; YOU ARE GOD’s PURPOSE and LEGACY in motion. She also co-authored 11 best-selling anthologies and will release her first 30-day journal, GRACEFULLY GROWING THROUGH GRIEF with the HEART OF A WARRIOR.
She didn’t just survive — SHE CHOSE To RISE. To LOVE. To LEAD. To LIVE OUT LOUD with the
HEART OF A WARRIOR.
And NOW she helps others do the same.
Because when you First Love Yourself…
you don’t just heal — YOU FLY.
Front Cover Blog Spotlight Interview with Fa’apepele "Pele" Hunkin
Can you share a little about your journey to becoming an International Bestselling Author? My journey to becoming an International Bestselling Author has been one of pain transformed into purpose. I never set out to be a writer, but God called me to share my story. After surviving divorce, alcoholism, and life-threatening health challenges including a heart attack, three strokes, internal bleeding, 7 nodules in my left breast, and a 3.5mm brain blockage, I made a promise: if God kept my heart alive, I would serve with my words and my love. What began with my first chapter, From Pain to Purpose, grew into multiple books and anthologies. Today, my testimony is in print around the world. That is nothing but the grace of God.
What inspired you to begin writing, and did you ever imagine your work would reach people globally?
I was inspired to write to share God’s glory and leave a legacy for my children, my granddaughter Milan, and generations to come. My first chapter was titled From Pain to Purpose, and that’s still the mission of my life. Writing became a lifeline for me transforming brokenness into healing and testimony into ministry. I never imagined my words would reach globally, but I always knew someone was waiting to hear my story so they could heal too. I give God all the glory.
I know you shared your experience with dealing with grief and also surviving several health problems. How has your personal story of grief and health challenges shaped your voice as a writer?
Grief and survival shaped me to write with authenticity, compassion, and courage. Losing my parents, grandparents, husband, and brother and nearly losing my only son and my own life gave me a deeper empathy for those walking through valleys of pain. My scars remind me to write not from theory, but from the heart with lots of love. My voice as a writer comes from lived experience, and every page carries the strength of a Samoan Warrior Woman who has endured but still rises with the HEART OF A WARRIOR.
What role has faith played in helping you keep going during the hardest moments?
Faith has been my anchor and the unshakeable faith in the Lord indeed. When I had nothing left, faith carried me. It was my unwavering faith that kept me alive. My life is living proof that God’s grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness.
Was there a specific scripture, prayer, or spiritual practice that carried you through your grief and health struggles? Yes.
Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” has carried me again and again. I also live by 1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” Prayer, fasting, meditation, worship, and journaling became my lifelines. They weren’t just routines, they were the anchors of my healing and resilience.
How do you balance and persevere through your pain with offering hope and encouragement to your readers?
I learned that pain and purpose can coexist. Instead of hiding my struggles, I share them to give others hope. Every time I write, I remind myself of God’s promises. This is why I launched the FLY-First Love Yourself Movement: to teach that healing begins when we love ourselves enough to keep pressing forward. And through PELE – Persevere Enough Love Everywhere, I live out my calling to pour love into others, even while I’m healing.
What message do you hope readers take away from your books?
I hope every reader knows they are not alone, that their story still matters, and that their pain has a purpose. My prayer is that readers will choose life, hold on to hope, rise and KEEP ON KEEPING ON with the HEART OF A WARRIOR.
In what ways has writing been a form of healing for you personally?
Writing has been my therapy, my prayer, and my release. It has allowed me to take the broken pieces of my story and create something beautiful out of them. My scars became my testimony, my pain became my ministry, and my love became my legacy.
Did you ever consider giving up on writing due to your struggles, and if so, what pushed you forward?
Yes, many times ! After my heart attack that required a one-stent placement, strokes, and complications, I thought I’d never write again. But instead of giving up, I launched my first journal, Gracefully Growing Through Grief with the HEART OF A WARRIOR, after surviving three strokes, a 3.5mm brain blockage, and internal bleeding that nearly ended my story. That journal was my promise to God, that if He kept my heart alive, I would serve with my words and my love. What pushed me forward was knowing my story is a blueprint for someone else’s healing. Also, someone out there is waiting to hear my story so they could heal.
How have readers responded to your story of resilience, and what has been the most touching feedback you’ve received?
Readers have told me my books gave them strength to keep going in their own storms. The most touching feedback I’ve received was from two Women who said my story helped them decide not to end her life. That is the greatest honor of all, to know my survival gave someone else a reason to live. I give God the glory.
What advice would you give to someone currently walking through grief or battling health issues who feels like giving up?
Please don’t give up cause Quitting is NOT an option. Cry when you need to, rest when you must, but keep holding on. You are stronger than you think. Choose life, hold on to hope, and trust God’s timing. And always remember to FLY-First Love Yourself.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON with the HEART OF A WARRIOR
As an International Bestselling Author, how do you use your platform to inspire and empower others facing adversity?
I use my platform as a place of authenticity, transparency, and transformation. Through my books, my speaking, and my story, I show others that survival is not just possible, it’s powerful. I remind people that their scars don’t disqualify them; they qualify them to lead, inspire, love, and heal.
What do you hope your legacy will be as both a woman of faith and a writer?
I know my legacy of love will be remembered as this: faith was my anchor and love was my legacy. I want my children, my granddaughter, and generations to know that I lived as a proud Samoan Warrior Woman and Pacific Islander leading through service, faith, and love. And through the FLY Movement and PELE, I want the world to remember that when you first love yourself and persevere enough love everywhere, You Rise and KEEP ON KEEPING ON with the HEART OF A WARRIOR.
Can you share what’s next for you-any upcoming projects, books, or initiatives you’re excited about?
Yes! I am excited about my next book, God Kept My Heart Alive: From the Battlefield to Becoming HER (Healed. Empowered. Resilient.), and the release of my 30-day journal Gracefully Growing Through Grief with the Heart of a Warrior last month. I’m also continuing my doctoral journey, a dream come true. Every project I step into is my way of honoring my promise to God: if He kept me alive, I would live to serve, love, and inspire with all my heart.
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If you would like to learn more about Pele Hunkin’s
books and services, visit her website at www.peleinspire.com
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