Q&A with Nohe'alani Stores
5/28/2026
Nohe’alani Stores made an immediate impact in her first year on the UC Irvine women’s basketball team. Stores was the Anteaters’ top reserve, averaging 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds off the bench. The 6-foot-2 forward also led the team in field goal percentage at 55.7%. She was recognized with a spot on the Big West All-Freshman Team.
Stores, who is half Tongan and half African American, recently took some time to talk about the importance of representation and honoring her Tongan culture in conjunction with AANHPI Heritage Month.
Do you have a favorite family tradition?
I would say my favorite tradition is when we have family gatherings, whether that’s weddings or graduations. We all come together, it’s a big event, and we cook all different kinds of foods. Those are the times when I get to see all the family come together, and sometimes meet people I didn’t even know were family. That’s a special thing because it just shows how big a village you have around you, and all the people you can trust.
How has your Tongan culture shaped who you are today?
I would say it’s taught me to be loving, to be humble, and to take pride in my background. Coming from a bloodline of people who are welcoming, strong, and very faith-based has shaped who I am.
Are there any AAPI athletes, past or present, who have inspired you?
My mom. My mom played basketball at the University of Arizona. She instilled my culture in me ever since I was young. Even though I’m half, I was always around Tongans growing up. I learned to speak Tongan fluently because my grandparents couldn’t speak English. They all made sure I knew that side of my identity. My mom has taught me everything I know in basketball and in life, so she is the one person I look up to.
How important is AAPI representation and do you feel a sense of responsibility to be a role model for the younger generation?
I think representation is extremely important because there are so few of us AAPI athletes, especially in basketball, who do make it to the next level. I feel like we’re kind of overlooked in a sense, and when younger kids see people like them, they feel inspired. It’s special because I feel like it kind of shows them that they are capable of it too.
There aren’t a lot of Pacific Islanders in NCAA Division I basketball, but you have a fellow Polynesian teammate in Reese Noa. Can you talk a little about what that means to you?
When UC Irvine showed interest in me, I was on Instagram and went to look at their page to see the players and all that. Then I saw Reese and I was like she looks Polynesian. There’s no way she’s not Samoan or Tongan, and I got so excited because there was someone like me playing the same sport at such a high level. I was honestly excited. It inspired me because at the time I was leaning toward not playing basketball and taking the rugby route instead, but then I was like well, if she can do it then I can do it. It just made me really happy to see that.
Why is it important to you to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month?
I think it’s important to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month because it shows how strong our community is and how strong we are as people. It’s also important to recognize and learn about our past. Tonga is the only island in Polynesia that didn’t get colonized, and when I learned that, I took a lot of pride in it. It makes me feel stronger as a person and it makes me feel like I have something to prove. Everything that my ancestors worked for, I want to keep that alive.
