DWAYNE JOHNSON - TIME 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
Time Magazine has named their TIME 100 Most Influential people in the world and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson not only covers Time but is the one and only Polynesian to have made the list.
In his interview with Time he spoke on confidence saying it was 'a funny thing'
"I wasn't always confident as a kid, I was this brown little boy with a big affro, we lived in a different state and different city nearly every 10 - 12 months. I was always constantly trying to fit in and trying to figure out where my place was. It wasn't until a got a little older in life where it always came with just being comfortable with who I was" - Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
His Fast and Furious Co-Star Gal Gadot wrote "Dwayne Johnson is the true embodiment of the idea that people may forget what you said, people may forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”
Read the rest of what she wrote in the Time magazine feature here.
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - LUKE AIONO
LUKE AIONO
GUITARIST
SAMOAN
I grew up in Long Beach, California. My parents were musicians so music has always been a big part of my life. They're both Samoan, born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand but they migrated to California in the 80s. I started taking classical piano lessons at 6 until I switched to guitar in high school and taught myself from then on out. I played a lot in LA clubs/jam sessions during and after high school and shortly thereafter got asked to play for Kenny Lattimore + Chante Moore as well as the hip hop artist Nas.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - ASHLEE FIDOW
ASHLEE FIDOW
STUNTWOMAN
SAMOAN / CHINESE / EUROPEAN
I was born and raised in Auckland and grew up in Avondale. I’m Samoan, Chinese, English and German. My mum raised me on her own, it was a struggle from time to time as shes had rheumatoid arthritis for 30 yrs which is a joint disease that makes the easiest tasks very painful to do. Shes always had a never give up attitude and was determined to deal with the pain and work full time to look after me the best she could. Lucky we had a big extended family, I was always around my cousins who were like my siblings and my fondest memories were being brought up with them and my Nana. My nana was very traditional, she brought the discipline, made sure we kept our culture, made us sing in Samoan, yell at us in Samoan and say prayers before school etc but she passed when I was 11 and things haven’t been the same since, something I miss a lot in my life.…more
EUGENE BAREMAN talks JUNIOR FA, JOSEPH PARKER & KEVIN BARRY
City Kickboxing owner & coach Eugene Bareman talks to Combat TV about Junior Fa, Joseph Parker and Kevin Barry.
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - ALI FOA'I
ALI FOA'I
ACTOR/WRITER
NIUEAN / TUVALUAN / TOKELAUAN & AMERICAN SAMOA
Fakaalofa lahi atu, Taloha ni, Talofa, Kia ora, Asalaam alykum!
I am Ali Foa’i and I am an actor slash writer born and raised in West Auckland, currently residing in Te Aro, Wellington. I am Niuean, Tuvaluan, Tokelauan and American Samoan, a proud child of the Pacific.
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You're currently in rehearsals for the show 'MoodPorn' can you tell us a bit about it and why you were attracted to the role?
MoodPorn (showing at Bats Theatre, Wellington April 23-May 4) is a brand new play by Wellington based Filipino writer Matthew Loveranes about two old uni friends catching up one night and spilling secrets and drama! It’s very melodramatic but anchored in a hypnotically poetic and modern script. My character Atlas is a migrant to New Zealand, his family moving for a better life which as a PI I could relate to.…more
LA TONGANS AND THE LOVE FOR NIPSEY
Just over a week ago much loved rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, and community activist Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed outside his Marathon Clothing Store in Crenshaw, Los Angeles.
The tragedy sparked an outpouring of grief, love & unity with an historic unity walk attended by rival gangs within the area over the weekend. Amongst those who paid their respects were members of the Tongan community from Inglewood as well as Polynesians from South central, Long Beach, Watts, Hawthorne & from all over L.A.
Renei Ngaue Fangupo shares how and why they chose to give back to those showing support & love.
By Renei Ngaue Fangupo
"I put our flag out there on Tuesday showing love & respect from everyone but mostly the Tongans in LA because most of us knew Nipsey before he became famous. He used to perform with some of my family and that started the bond between us Tongans & the late NIP.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - FA'AFETAI 'TAI' FA'ALEAVA
Fa'afetai "Tai" Fa'aleava
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Candidate
Samoan
My name is Tai Faaleava, I was born in Moto’otua in Samoa; lived there for 6 years. Then moved to Jamaica for 5 years; New Zealand for 8 years; and currently reside in America since the year 2006. My villages in Samoa are Lano, Vaiusu, Malie, Samata, and Fagaloa. I am currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and anticipate graduating in 2020.
You are currently heading towards a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology - can you tell us what that is, what made you interested in that field and what you love about it?
Yes, I am currently pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in San Francisco, California. I intend to become a licensed clinical psychologist to provide mental health services to people of color and other vulnerable populations. My parents have worked in the ministry my entire life. Seeing them constantly helping people in various ways instilled in me the desire to help others as well.…more
ONE LOVE FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS 2019
Our Fresh reporter Shimpal Lelisi checks out the highlights at One Love Festival in New Zealand & investigates why our Pacific Islands people love & connect with reggae music so much.
A Brother's Bond: Viliame Kikau's Story
Viliame Kikau's untold story of heartbreak and inspiration as he travels back to Fiji to reunite with his older brother Jope.
ONION SQUAD - HIP HOP INTERNATIONALS
Onion Squad are a team of 6 young men in Tonga who were part of a youth project known as ICON TONGA.
They've decided that they want to take dance seriously and have been training since 2015 for the opportunity to compete in Tongan competitions. Tonga no longer has competitions that cater to dancers so Onion Squad have taken the chance to compete internationally!
They have the opportunity to get their top team in Tonga to represent and compete at the biggest international competition!
Their goal is to come back with experience and knowledge so they can grow the dance scene in Tonga through the next generation! To get there they need to compete and place top 3 in NZ this month!
If you'd like to contribute to help Team Tonga get there to compete against their Pacific brothers and sisters from Fiji, Samoa and of course the NZ teams click on the link below.