A Conversation with Alayna Galea’i-Finau
Courtesy of Alayna’s Instagram
You’re in ‘FORE’ something sweet on this week’s podcast as Lily interviews Alayna Finau, a mother of five and wife to professional golfer Tony Finau, about her experiences raising children in the pro-golf world.
Alayna and Lily begin by discussing Alayna's background in sports and how she met Tony. Alayna attended college on a volleyball scholarship and had minimal knowledge of golf, aside from her father's recreational playing. She met Tony at a New Year's party after a scare prank went wrong and had no idea he was an aspiring pro golfer. A few weeks later, Alayna returned home and ran into Tony at a barbecue. After several more chance encounters, it became evident that fate was working to bring these two together.
Courtesy of Alayna’s Instagram
Alayna spoke about how she and Tony developed a strong relationship while he was trying to make a name for himself in the golfing world. The experience had its highs and lows, but it brought them closer, especially as they raised five kids together. When asked about what it's like to travel with their children constantly, she jokingly referred to their family as a traveling circus. Still, Alayna emphasized that they enjoy being together and traveling as a family.
“Our kids are our best friends besides me and Tony”
Alayna and Tony decided early in their careers to travel together once they could afford it. When her father passed away in 2021, she felt lost. Tony wanted to support his wife, even while on tour, so they decided to start traveling together. They have loved the experience, and Alayna mentioned that the golf community has been very supportive and welcoming to their kids on the tour.
Courtesy of Alayna’s Instagram
In February 2023, the Finau family was featured on a Netflix docu-series called "Full Swing ."At one point during the series, Finau's five children are called a distraction to Tony. When asked about this, Alayna said that this helped create the perfect storyline for their family. To Tony and Alayna, the children are not a distraction but a big blessing.
When Lily asked Alayna about her family's social media presence and goal of sharing their lives on TikTok, Alayna reiterated that they want the world to see how important and valuable family is.
“Family is okay. Family is not a distraction…. That’s what we want to show the world—that family is everything. You need each other, no matter what you go through.”
Courtesy of Alayna’s Instagram
Through the years, the Masters has become the family's favorite golf event. From the history to the activities, they love it all. Alayna enjoys bonding with the women and dressing up for the event, while at the same time helping others feel a part of it through her shared experiences on social media.
At Sportsish, we are celebrating moms for the whole month of May. When asked about motherhood and what it means to her to be a mom, Alayna made it clear that it means everything to her, and she's grateful for the responsibility of making the world a better place through her kids.
“It’s the greatest blessing…. Us moms are the ones shaping the future.”
We look forward to experiencing the Finau family's travels through their TikToks, seeing their outfits, and of course, enjoying more golf. Best of luck to Tony and all the golfers who are teeing up at the PGA Championship today and in the coming days.