Mother | Surfer | Writer | Reiki Master | Yogi

Meiko Fuchie is the founder of ALO Cafe Hawaii, a plant-based cafe born from her desire to offer more than just food, something nourishing for both body and soul. Her journey has been anything but linear, shaped by motherhood, creativity, healing, and the quiet courage to begin again.

From a young age, Meiko was fascinated by the unseen—dreams, intuition, energy. After studying abroad in the U.S. and graduating from Keio University, she pursued a career in publishing, eventually launching her own company and serving as editor-in-chief of magazines centered on surfing and Hawaiian culture.

In 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake became a turning point in her life. Amid the collective grief, environmental uncertainty, and changing media landscape, Meiko made the difficult decision to close her surf magazine. The quake didn’t just shake the earth. It shook her into reevaluating her path. It marked the beginning of a deeper journey: one of inward healing, spiritual practice, and redefining what truly matters.

Motherhood further deepened that transformation. After her daughter was diagnosed with a rare disability, Meiko met the challenge with fierce love and unshakable faith. Later, her husband’s unexpected illness and brain surgery brought her family into the world of yoga, reiki, and energetic healing, ushering in a more intentional way of living.

In 2021, Meiko moved her family to Hawaii to create a life rooted in community, nature, and holistic wellbeing. When her values no longer aligned with the business she inherited, she chose to begin again on her own terms. ALO Cafe was born as a space for healing, inspiration, and connection.

From that sacred kitchen table, a new vision began to take shape. Conversations turned into pages, meals into metaphors, and healing into art. Together with her collaborator and editor, Meiko began writing Intentional Wellbeing. This book threads her life story with the healing philosophies behind ALO Cafe, exploring how food, movement, and everyday rituals can become sacred practices.

What began as a single cafe has since grown into Rhythm & Nature Studio, the natural extension of Meiko’s healing journey into a shared vision of intentional living. Through writing, design, and soul-aligned offerings, Meiko continues to guide others toward a life of beauty, balance, and meaning. One grounded in inner truth, lived in harmony with the earth, and expressed through the rhythm of daily life.

Researcher | Storyteller | Healer | Yogi

Alyssa Plaut is a public health researcher, writer, and yoga teacher whose work lives at the intersection of science, soul, and service. With a Master of Public Health (MPH) focused on global maternal and child health, Alyssa has spent the last several years immersed in public health research, evaluation, and data storytelling, using both numbers and narratives to advocate for more equitable systems of care.

Yet her deepest transformations have unfolded not in classrooms or conference rooms, but through lived experience. A lifelong seeker and intuitive, Alyssa’s healing journey led her beyond the realm of data into the world of yoga, energy medicine, and spiritual traditions from around the globe. She believes true wellbeing begins from within, when we learn to listen to the body, trust our inner knowing, and align with what truly nourishes us.

In 2025, a bold leap of faith brought Alyssa to Hawaii. She left behind familiarity for the unknown, answering a quiet call to live in deeper connection with nature, community, and herself. It was here that she met Meiko, and what began as a friendship became a creative partnership rooted in shared purpose.

As the editor and co-architect of Intentional Wellbeing, Alyssa brought more than grammar and structure; she helped shape its soul. From refining Meiko’s voice and translating lived wisdom into narrative, to integrating research and writing new sections of content, her fingerprints can be found throughout the book. Alyssa’s gift lies in bridging ancient teachings with modern science, and crafting stories that speak to both the heart and the intellect.

Together, Alyssa and Meiko co-founded Rhythm & Nature Studio as a sacred container for their growing body of work. Through writing, design, and offerings that honor the body–earth–spirit connection, Alyssa continues to live her mission: to elevate healing stories, bridge knowledge across cultures, and help others return home to themselves.