Coco Talanoa — Humans of the Islands / Page 2

"For us as Pasifika, as Samoans this is the only way we can share our stories: through storytelling."

Samoan Author Natasha Vaaelua has soft launched her very first children’s book named “Leilani's Shop” or “O Leilani ma Iona Fale'oloa”

It’s an English and Samoan bilingual storybook about a young girl making her dream of owning a shop a reality by building her very own fale’oloa out of cardboard.

Natasha Vaaelua’s passion for Teaching began in Samoa where she taught as a Primary School teacher at Peace Chapel Primary School before moving to Aotearoa in 2007.  

Now a seasoned early childhood education teacher with 30 years of experience, she has embarked on a remarkable journey during the challenging times of lockdown. 

With a passion for teaching and love for children, Vaaelua found herself deeply moved during the challenges of Covid-19. As domestic violence peaked and families faced unprecedented pressures during lockdown, she couldn’t ignore the children bearing the brunt of these stresses. Driven by compassion, she felt the need to do more.…more

LEON HENRY

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER / PROPERTY MANAGER

SAMOAN, NIUEAN, COOK ISLANDER

-

Leon Henry is a professional basketball player turned property and events manager, he shares his story with us here, from his upbringing in 'South Central Auckland,' to the highs of the basketball court to how the generations before him influence the work he does post-professional sport.

-

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am Samoan, Niuean, Cook Island decent & hail from what I like to call "South Central Auckland" I had my early childhood years in Central then moved back South where my grandparents first migrated to when they arrived from the islands in the late 1960s.

You've had a long career in professional basketball - can you tell us about a highlight of your career that stands out to you as well as a time that you found challenging?

I think for me the NZ Breakers Three Peat, people don't speak of this much anymore but we were the first professional sporting organization to win in an Australian competition.…more

LEOTA MAUNU SINAUMEA TAUFAO

LAW FIRM DIRECTOR & LAWYER - WT Compensation Lawyers

SAMOAN 

-

My name is Leota Maunu Sinaumea Taufao and I am a Samoan-born Personal Injury Law Firm Director and Lawyer. I come from the villages of Tiavea, Magiagi, Faleasiu and Salamumu and currently live in Brisbane, Australia.

-

You are the Director and Lawyer of your own law firm WT Compensation Lawyers - What were the pathways that led you to what you are doing now?

My journey to where I am now was not your conventional one. In fact, after High School, I studied Business, majoring in Sports Management at Griffith University. My goal was to work in the Sporting Industry – the idea was if I was not able to make a professional rugby team, then I work in an industry that would allow me to be around a professional rugby team. However, after completing my business degree and working in the Sporting industry, I quickly came to the realisation that I was not fulfilled and my heart yearned for something else.…more

MORGAN HOGG

MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST 

COOK ISLANDS

MAUI DANIEL 

REGISTERED NURSE 

COOK ISLANDS 

-

Ko Maui Daniel toku ingoa

Ko Takitumu toku vaka taunga

Ko Pa ma Kainuku toku nga ariki

Ko ngati kainuku toku matakeinanga

Ko turangi manga mataiapo toku tapere

Ko te kou toku maunga

Ko te avarau toku ava

Kia Orana from the Cook Islands.

My name is Maui and I am named after my late grandmother Mama Maui Short (nee Cowan). I was born on the island of Penryn, and raised in Rarotonga in the village of Ngatangiia, Muri.  I am the eldest of three, however I have two older siblings before me.

I am the mother of one handsome young man of 20 years old, who is my life and my strength.

My father Dr Roro Daniel was born on the island of Aitutaki that is well known for its beautiful Lagoon. I have family connections to Palmeston and Penryn.

My mother, the late Akaiti Daniel (nee Short) is from Rarotonga with strong ties to Atiu.…more

GINA COLE

AUTHOR

FIJIAN

-

Decorated Fijian Writer and Lawyer Gina Cole will be spending three months at the University of Hawai’i, working on the second book in her 'Turukawa Trilogy', after being awarded the 2023 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency.

After achieving her Masters in Creative Writing at Auckland University, Cole went on to publish her debut collection Black Ice Matter, which then went on to win the First Best Book Of Fiction at the 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, all while being an Honorary Fellow in Writing at the University of Iowa.

Cole shares her love for science fiction, the Pasifika Writing Community and the involvement of Pacific queer, transgender and gender non-conforming characters in stories.

-

Tell us about yourself

My mother is Fijian from Culanuku, Serua on her mother’s side in the confederacy of Burebasaga, and Lovoni, Ono-i-Lau on her father’s side in the confederacy of Tovata. My father is Pākehā from the Firth of Forth in Edinburgh on his mother’s side and Langollen, Wales on his father’s side.…more

Clarence Dass is a cartoonist and author based in Fiji, on social media as @nerdwala. Active in Fiji media since 2002, Dass has worked as a music journalist, radio presenter and television producer.

-

I'm a self-taught cartoonist from Fiji. I used to be a musician in a punk band, a radio DJ, a TV host and then a TV producer, a film maker and now I edit videos for The University of the South Pacific. Though I love music and films, I really enjoy making comics, but my passion throughout is story telling.

Where did your passion for story-telling come from? and how did you start off?

I've always been drawing. Even as a kid, I'd make comic books out of A4 paper, folding them and stapling them together. I even had my own characters. So I guess my passion started from comic books and 80s Saturday morning cartoons. The Ninja Turtles were probably my first big craze and old Hana Babera heroes like Space Ghost and Mightor.…more

IOKAPETA IFOVANU MAOATE 

BEAUTY BY NUNU BUSINESS OWNER 

SAMOAN 

- 

My name is Iokapeta Ifovanu Maoate (nee Savea), I was born in Porirua, Wellington New Zealand.  My parents are from the villages of Siumu & Aleipata in Western Samoa.  I lived in Porirua for the first 12 years of my life but mostly grew up in Palmerston North.  I now reside in Brisbane, Australia and am a Full Time Lash Technician & Cosmetic Eyebrow Tattooist. 

You recently started your own business - what were the pathways that led you to what you're doing now?

I was hanging out at our local swimming pools here in Brisbane when I met up with an old friend of mine who mentioned her cousin who also lives in my suburb was training girls to be Lash Technicians.  She is a fully accredited trainer so I immediately called her up and she booked me in for 1 on 1 training to get me certified as a Lash tech, I also wanted to add more beauty services so I am certified to do Eyebrow Lamination & Lash lifts.  I…more

NOELEEN TUALA 

POLYTRANEUR - CREATOR & FACE BEHIND PELE 

SAMOAN / TONGAN 

- 

Talofa,  Mālō e lelei  My name is Noeleen Tuala mum of 5, nana to 4 and a polytraneur! The creator and face behind PELE.  

I am of Samoan (Leulumoega Tuai) and Tongan (Nukualofa) decent with a sprinkle of Irish thrown in for a good mix (thanks to my beautiful nana) and I have been married to my amazing husband Joe for the past 13 years. I have lived in South Auckland all my life, currently calling Manurewa home and calling my spare room my office. 

By day I am an executive assistant for a community housing provider and by night and lunch breaks I am all about PELE. I have always believed there was more out there than a standard  9-5 and I feel incredibly blessed to be where I am today.

You run Pele - can you tell us a bit about your business?

PELE is a dream come to fruition! 

PELE is made up of baby essentials with a poly theme.…more

TAHLEA AUALIITIA 

JOURNALIST / ABC NEWS 'THE PACIFIC' HOST 

SAMOAN / ITALIAN 

- 

In April 2023, ABC launched its ground-breaking new show 'The Pacific' - a 30 minute pan-Pacific news program broadcast to Pacific audiences every Thursday on ABC Australia, followed by ABC iview and ABC News Channel. 

The show will be hosted by ABC presenter Tahlea Aualiitia.  She shares a bit of her journey with us here ... 

- 

My name is Tahlea Aualiitia - my dad Tui is Samoan and my mum Marina is Italian. I come from the Samoan villages of Leauva’a, Pu’apu’a, Satupaitea and Satalo i Falealili.…more