[4] Her formal schooling was conducted in Samoa and New Zealand where she also began a Bachelor of Arts, which was later completed at Whitworth College in the United States.

[8][9] Selected poetry by Figiel was included in UPU, a compilation of Pacific Island writers’ work which was first presented at the Silo Theatre as part of the Auckland Arts Festival in March 2020.

[12] In 2012, in parallel with a move to the United States, Figiel began to address her diabetes both publicly and personally, making appearances at various conferences and university campuses.

It is focused around the titular character, Alofa, a name that literally means love in the Samoan language, and her various encounters with violence and sex.

Her writing style is emblematic of Su'ife-filoi, a Samoan form of story telling centred around the "quilt-like weaving of words".

[22] In her second novel, They Who Do Not Grieve, published in 2003 by Kaya Press, Figiel incorporates her poetic talents through the voices of three generations of women who descend from Samoa and New Zealand.

This semi-autobiographical collection illustrates the simplistic aspects of Samoan culture, along with the commonplace experiences of a young ten-year-old girl, such as school, friends, family, church and boy crushes.

[24] In her novel Freelove, the 17 year old protagonist, Inosia Alofafua Afatasi from the fictional Western Samoan village of Nu'uolemanusa is sent by her mother on an errand to the city of Apia.

A chance encounter there with her spiritual brother Loage Viliamu, the son of the pastor in her village and her school teacher, leads her into an unexpected and forbidden relationship.