90 Day Fiance star Asuelu Pulaa impressed Kalani Faagata by taking her side and standing up for her against his Samoan relatives on Season 5 of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?, but did their marriage work out and last -- or have Kalani and Asuelu broken up?
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[90 Day Fiance Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers revealing if Kalani and Asuelu are still together or if the 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? couple has split.]
Kalani, a 31-year-old from Orange County, CA, and Asuelu, a 24-year-old from Samoa, met in July 2016 and first appeared on Season 6 of 90 Day Fiance in 2019.RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Kalani and Asuelu met when Kalani was visiting a resort where Asuelu worked as the activities director, and the couple pursued a long-distance relationship once Kalani returned to America.
After getting to know each other a little better, Kalani decided she could fall in love with Asuelu, and so she traveled back to Samoa to visit her man and they had sex for the first time.
Not only did Kalani lose her virginity to Asuelu, but the encounter resulted in a surprise pregnancy.
Kalani's conservative Mormon family was disappointed in Kalani's actions and choice of partner, especially since her father Low didn't want any of daughters to get involved with a Samoan man like himself, but Kalani opted to follow her heart.
Kalani therefore ignored her family's warnings and concerns about Asuelu and went ahead and applied for a K-1 visa so Asuelu could move to the United States and become a hands-on father. At this time, Kalani and Asuelu's son Oliver was five months old.
Once Asuelu arrived in the United States, there was quite an adjustment period as he attempted to acclimate to American culture. But Kalani and Asuelu went through with a wedding and got married in September 2018.
90 Day Fiance's sixth season concluded with Kalani and Asuelu's wedding ceremony as well as Kalani finding out she was pregnant with their second child.
Kalani and Asuelu found out they were expecting Baby No. 2 together less than a year after she had given birth to Oliver, and the news was totally unexpected.
RELATED LINK: 'MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO BROKE UP? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kalani and Asuelu are now parents of two sons: Oliver, whom the couple welcomed in January 2018, and Kennedy, who was born in May 2019.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOWAbout four months later, Kalani suggested in a poll on her Instagram that Asuelu wasn't helping her with the kids and she felt totally overwhelmed.
"Do all husbands expect their wives to pay bills, clean the whole house, do all the laundry, feed/watch the kids 24/7 (unless said husband is in public or wants a selfie)?" Kalani asked in the September 2019 poll. "Asking for my gottdamn self. Is this normal?"
Apparently 70 percent of Kalani's followers who participated in the poll answered "No."
However, the couple appeared to be a very happy family at Christmas time in December 2019.
On 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?'s fifth season, Asuelu was shown at work passing out free samples. The couple had been married for one year and three months at the time of filming.
Kalani suggested her marriage was suffering and she was exhausted all the time, so her parents moved in with the couple to help them out with the boys, which apparently upset Asuelu because he no longer was the man of the house.
Kalani believed Asuelu would rather play volleyball or video games after work than spend time with his family, and she felt romance had gone out the window.
"I just wish that Asuelu and I could get back to the point where we were in the beginning of our relationship, where we loved to be around each other. I just miss that, and if Asuelu refuses to change, I don't know if I can keep doing this anymore," Kalani said in a confessional.
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Kalani's dad Low also wanted Asuelu to "step up" and stop "f-cking around." Low said Asuelu would get his "ass whooped or sent back to Samoa" if things didn't change for the better.
But Asuelu continued to disappoint Kalani and her family, like when he was angry at his wife for turning down an opportunity for their family to travel to Samoa.
Not only would the trip cost thousands of dollars in plane fare alone, but there had also been a Measles outbreak recently -- and children in Samoa were dying from it.
Asuelu and Kalani's seven-month-old son Kennedy wasn't vaccinated and wasn't supposed to get that MMR vaccine until 12-24 months old, according to his doctor, so Kalani put her foot down and pumped the breaks on Asuelu's dream vacation.
Instead of going to Samoa, Kalani decided to celebrate Oliver's second birthday in California, but Asuelu was grumpy and resentful he couldn't get his way.
In the car ride to California, Asuelu complained, "I think Kalani can't do what mother in Samoa do," adding that being a stay-at-home mom is "easy."
Kalani argued that she was the one up all night with both of their sick kids when she was sick too and did "everything for them," and Asuelu called her out for being "annoying" as well as a "lying b-tch."
Kalani's mother was driving the car and scolded Asuelu for being "disrespectful" and talking to her daughter that way, which only made Asuelu more frustrated.
"I don't know how your husband talk to you when you guys been together. But it's my wife; I can talk whatever," Asuelu said. "Your daughter asks stupid questions."
Kalani felt Asuelu was trying to sabotage the weekend and ruin it for everyone as a way to get back at her for canceling their trip to Samoa.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
"It just shows me that he doesn't really care about me and the boys and he's just No. 1 to himself," Kalani complained in a confessional, later adding that she'd never be "subservient" to a man.
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Kalani's sister Kolini said Asuelu "sucked the life" out of her sister and it was hard to see, and Kalani's whole family thought Asuelu was "in the wrong" and had behaved rudely.
Asuelu even refused to attend Oliver's birthday party at first and hid in a bedroom.
Asuelu later apologized to Kalani, admitting he was "so wrong in saying that a woman in Samoa is better" than his wife, but Kalani was tired of Asuelu's apologies. She wanted to see change in his actions rather than his words.
In order to smooth things over, however, Kalani agreed to visit Asuelu's mother Lesina and two half-sisters in Washington State.
Asuelu wanted to bring gifts for his family and give his mother $1,000, which Lesina had asked for, but Kalani rejected that idea and said they couldn't afford it.
Kalani agreed to let Asuelu buy $200 worth of gifts and give his mother an additional $100. After all, Asuelu was only working part-time.
Kalani believed Asuelu was "trying to buy his family's love" and it was no longer "a cultural thing." She felt bad for her husband and was angry with Asuelu's family.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
It had been about a year since Asuelu last saw his mother and sisters Tammy and Rosa, but it didn't take long for the women to bring up money once Asuelu reunited with them.
Asuelu's mother was shocked he only had $100 for her, and Tammy advised Asuelu to step up like a man and work full-time. Asuelu's family figured Kalani's family could support his kids.
Asuelu told the cameras he couldn't afford to take care of everyone, and so Lesina and Tammy accused Kalani of controlling her husband.
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Asuelu's mother called Kalani "lazy" for not working and pleaded, "Just give me money. That's all I want... I don't care about the kids. I want to take back my son to Samoa to do his duty as before."
Tammy insisted Kalani was "brainwashing" Asuelu, but Kalani insisted she had done nothing but love her husband.
Tammy ultimately tried to fight Kalani physically, so Kalani returned to Asuelu upset about the turn of events. Asuelu, however, only seemed concerned about whether Kalani or Tammy would win in a fight.
Kalani grew so frustrated that she called Asuelu "a lunatic," who in turn dubbed Kalani "f-cking crazy." She no longer felt supported by her husband and worried he'd never change.
Kolini told Kalani that she was too good for Asuelu and didn't deserve to live that way. Kolini advised her sister to leave the relationship for her own well-being.
"I do feel like I love him still," Kalani griped. "I just feel like every day, it's getting less and less, and I feel like if it keeps continuing on like this, I won't want to be a part of this marriage anymore."
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: BEFORE THE 90 DAYS' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Asuelu apparently overheard Kalani and Kolini talking, and so he and Kalani got into a huge fight off-camera.
"I'm questioning if I can even do this anymore... [I want to see] if we can fix his behavior, and if not, I just need to not be with him," Kalani admitted.
Kalani wished her marriage was about love, happiness and supporting each other, and she confessed that that's not what she had. In fact, Kalani believed Asuelu wanted to take possession of her.
Kalani therefore told Asuelu that they needed to see a therapist or marriage counselor, and Asuelu replied, "I think that's a good idea." The couple just had to get home in one piece first.
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A week after the couple returned home to Utah from "the worst trip" of Kalani's life, Kalani said she wasn't ready to give up on her marriage just yet.
"I feel like I've tried my hardest with this marriage and I'm doing everything I can to fix it. I feel like therapy has become an ultimatum now and he's going to have go with me," Kalani said. "I can't keep living like this. It's insane."
Kalani even told Asuelu that if their relationship didn't get better, she probably wouldn't want to stay married.
"I don't think he understands that I'm at -- I'm past my breaking point. I'm done at this point. I'm giving him a last chance and he's either going to take it or he's going to take his sh-t out of the house," Kalani shared in a confessional.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
Kalani and Asuelu later met with Dr. Matt Eschler and a Samoan translator, Ilena Williams.
Kalani explained she and Asuelu weren't seeing eye to eye and she was at odds with her husband's family. Asuelu said it made him "mad and frustrated" and feel like less of a man when Kalani said he couldn't give more money to his family back in Samoa.
But Kalani said she gave what she could and there wasn't more she could do.
Asuelu said that in Samoan culture, the man is the head of the household and the woman is the neck, adding that the woman should not cross a line. But Kalani said it's not okay Asuelu viewed her like his property.
Asuelu was also angry Kalani had decided they wouldn't see his family anymore, without letting Asuelu decide what to do. Asuelu felt Kalani had tried to ruin his relationship with his family.
Dr. Eschler was hoping the pair could begin new traditions that neither of them were accustomed to in order to blend their cultures and household responsibilities, and Kalani said she and Asuelu had made a little progress in that area.
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"I love you and I'm trying to help our marriage and fix our marriage. It's not that I don't want to. I'll try for you," Kalani told Asuelu.
Asuelu later asked his family members, including his mother, to travel from Washington State to visit him in Utah in attempt to repair Kalani's relationship with them. Asuelu demanded that his relatives apologize to Kalani, and Asuelu's mother could tell Asuelu's wife comes first in his life.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE' COUPLES NOW: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? (PHOTOS)
Asuelu told his family that Kalani had done nothing wrong, and he definitely had his wife's back. Kalani said he was "sick" of the arguing and tension between sides.
Kalani, her kids, and parents then met with Asuelu's family at a restaurant, and Asuelu hoped to move forward. Kalani and Asuelu's mother both felt "disrespected," especially since Asuelu's mother still wanted money.
Asuelu's mother wanted Asuelu to stop being "weak," but Asuelu said in front of the whole group he'd only give his relatives money in Samoa if he had extra cash and his wife and kids would come first.
Asuelu set out to fix his marriage and be a financial provider to his kids, and his mother and sister admitted they'd like to see Asuelu and Kalani get divorced. Asuelu's mother said she'd love her son regardless, but tension lingered in the air.
"Asuelu said all of the right things today, so I feel more hopeful and think there are a lot more things to look forward to in our relationship," Kalani told the cameras.
So are Kalani and Asuelu still together despite their family issues or did the 90 Day Fiance couple end their marriage?
Asuelu is still working at the same nutrition store in Utah -- which is near the home he shares with Kalani -- where he was shown passing out free samples on an episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?.Also, the pair definitely appear to still be married based on their social-media activity.
In late August, Asuelu called Kalani his "wife" when telling fans they can now book him for Cameo videos.
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And back in late July, Asuelu captioned a series of photos of his family in Pine Valley, UT. They appeared to do some hiking by a lake.
"Family Adventure #blessed #love #utahcheck," Asuelu captioned the slideshow.
Asuelu also posted a TikTok video of himself dancing in the couple's kitchen about a week earlier, and Kalani can be seen in the background preparing food for her family.
Asuelu captioned the video, "Morning routine after riding the bus."
In early July, Asuelu wished Kalani a happy birthday on his Instagram account by posting a video of his wife and son. He wrote over the video "love of my life."
And in the caption, Asuelu gushed, "My wife's birthday. Cheers for 32nd years my love @kalanifaagata and many more to come."
Not only has Kalani also posted recent photos with Asuelu on Instagram, but the couple additionally shared two YouTube videos on their channel this past summer after not uploading anything on their channel for almost a year.
As recently as June 30, Kalani posted a sweet photo of Asuelu cuddling with their boys on Instagram Stories.
One week earlier, Kalani posted a smiling selfie with Asuelu, a video of Asuelu laughing in a massage chair, and brief throwback clips of the couple's axe-throwing date.
Kalani uploaded the photos and videos shortly after the June 21 episode of 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? aired on TLC, and she captioned the slideshow, "BTS of tonight's episode. What'd y'all think?"
On May 24, Kalani posted a video clip on Instagram of Asuelu and herself talking about how they had once walked through a jungle in Samoa and explored a cave together.
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"In honor of #samoanlanguageweek, we posted a YouTube video where I butcher basic Samoan, and we talk about our dating life in Samoa (pictures included)," Kalani wrote on Instagram.
RELATED LINK: '90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER?' COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHO HAS SPLIT? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (PHOTOS)
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
