Ryan Tito Gapelu (born 1988) is a Sāmoan poet, hula dancer, and English teacher based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. He specializes in contemporary Pasifika poetry, literature, and creative writing. He has lived on Oʻahu since 1996 and is known for blending traditional Sāmoan and Pasifika themes with modern literary styles in his work.
He was born in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, and later moved to Hawaiʻi, where he attended Moanalua High School. He earned both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA) in English from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
In 2024, he published his first chapbook, The Last Bus to Waipahū, through the Hawaiʻi Review. His poetry and creative writing have been featured in various anthologies and journals, contributing to the broader Pasifika literary community.
