Coco Talanoa — Humans of the Islands / Page 20

In celebration of Pride Month, we're sharing Pasifika Pride stories. 

Lizie Koroivulaono

FIjian

Television Production

Bula, my name is Elizabeth Koroivulaono, I hail from the beautiful islands of Matuku, Lau in Fiji. I come from a large beautiful Fijian family and have 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I now live in Auckland, New Zealand and have been for the past 15 years. I first moved to New Zealand in 2008, to study Bachelors in Communication, majoring in Film and Television. Since graduating in 2010, I now work in the industry and call New Zealand my second home.

Honestly, it took me 6 months back in 2008; of internal battles to decide to finally accept my attraction to women. I had many discussions with a really good friend about it, where we talked about the implications this would cause on my family members. I come from a strong Catholic and traditional family - and as we all know, the declaration of being attracted to the same sex does not bode well with the church or the culture.…more

Emily Mafile'o 

Photographer

Tongan/European/Maori

Tell us about yourself and what you do - 

Tongan/European/Maori living in Manurewa, South Auckland. Mama to my son, Emil first and foremost.

I freelance in photography, set dressing for TV and films and am a big promoter of Contemporary Pasifika/Tongan Arts in my Community. I am proud to be part of the ManaRewa Collective based at Nathan Homestead.

Why are you fascinated with photographing contemporary Tongan culture? 

Tongan culture is at a fascinating time! There are so many different versions of Tongan people that we need to celebrate.

Mary Tiumalu

25 years old

Samoan

I was born and raised in Waterview, in Auckland. I’m the youngest of four children and I came from a working class family. My upbringing, my childhood was probably the best time of my life. Obviously because we were from a working class family and my parents had their own struggles but they never showed that to us as young kids. We never thought that we were struggling financially. We had a roof over our heads, we got to play outside. You know, once in a while we had steak and my Dad would come home on his pay day with a Snickers bar for all of us (laughs). So we never really thought that we were struggling. They provided us with a really good home environment.…more

Koroi Hawkins

Award winning Pacific Journalist

Fijian / Solomon Islander

Biologically I am part Fijian part Solomon Islander but I was raised a Solomon Islander and identify as one. I have quite a few siblings from both my biological parents' marriages and my Dad Bob Hawkins' first marriage but I am an only child to my mum Effie Hawkins and have always felt like one. Over the years we have lived in several places including Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands and Mackay in Australia but I was fortunate to spend quite a lot of my formative years in Munda, a small village/town in the Western Solomons. It was quite an exciting place for a child growing up. Between the ocean and the jungle there was always plenty to keep me occupied when I was not doing chores for mum or dad. If there is one thing I miss most about home I would say it is the ocean which was my closest friend growing up.…more

Rebecca Tavo 

Fiji International Sevens Rugby Player

Fiji/Rotuma/Australia  

Rebecca Tavo is a dual international also representing Australia in touch-rugby.  Hailing from Western Australia, Tavo is a strong and competent ball carrier and has also scored off the field becoming BHP Billiton's first female trainer driver in 2006.  In 2015 she changed alliegiance and decided to represent her home country of Fiji.

How did  your passion for sports particulary rugby/touch begin?

I started playing these sports from a young age. It was only a natural progression that I went on to play these sports as a young adult and then onto adulthood. My Dad played and it took my interest also.

Touch Rugby was first. I played for Western Australia at 15yrs and then for Australia during competition in New Zealand.  Between then and now, I played for the Mixed and Women's Open Touch team for Australia where we won the Women's World Cup in Scotland in 2011.

Because I had a bit of size about me (Islander), League was the next progression.…more

Joash Fahitua 

Dancer/ Aspiring Choreographer

Owner and Operator of Alpha Omega Fitness

Samoan 

I was born in Wellington and moved up to Auckland when I was three.  I lived in G.I (Glen Innes) before moving to West Auckland at the age of ten and attended Kelston Intermediate and Kelston High Boys School. After High School I went to Sydney and learnt a new Dance style called Krump. Krump gave me the confidence that I never had before and pushed me to new boundaries. I hosted the first ever Krump competition in New Zealand and was featured in Commercials and won a lot of Krump competitions with my crew. I then wanted a new challenge, so I successfully enrolled to study at P.I.P.A (Pacific Institute of Performing Arts).

In 2010 I was given an opportunity to dance for one of New Zealand's leading Contemporary Dance companies called Black Grace. I got to travel to America, Korea and Europe and perform on some of the most well known stages in theatre and dance.…more

Antony Vavia

20 Years Old

Cook Island / Fijian

I grew up in South Auckland, Manurewa with my mother. I’ve got two sisters, one older than me and one younger than me, so I am the middle child and the only guy in my family.

Being surrounded by Island women pretty much describes my upbringing. There was my mother, my two sisters and also my Nana. She’s been really influential. They've always inspired me to work hard. The reason why my family is in New Zealand is because my Mum and Nana wanted us kids to have a better education and grow in a world with more opportunities. They’re a constant reminder of that.

My Dad’s always been there too, I would visit him every fortnight when I was growing up. He’s had a really good impact on my life too in terms of being genuine and being real. He’s also the one that directed me to studying what I study now. My older sister has always really looked out for me.…more

Tyson Pedro 

MMA/UFC Fighter

Samoan

The first Pe’a to enter the Octagon - TYSON PEDRO-MMA/UFC Fighter

Tyson Pedro has always believed in the old adage “ask and you shall receive”.

The 25-year-old light heavyweight pleaded for the chance to fight at UFC Melbourne .... And soon enough, he was granted his wish. “I’ve been training hard and I’m ready to go Dana.”

After Pedro won at AFC 17, submitting respected New Zealand warhorse Steven Warby, he called on UFC president Dana White to add him to the card at Rod Laver Arena on November 27.

“They’ve got a show in November and if someone pulls out at light heavyweight, I’m there,” Pedro said on October 15.  Pedro said it was a “dream come true” to break into the UFC.

How did you get into fighting?

My family has always been involved in martial arts; I started in karate at a young age with my father.…more

Sarai Bareman

FIFA's first appointed Chief Women's Football Officer

Dutch / Samoan

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I was born and raised in New Zealand. My mother is full Samoan and my father is Dutch, he’s from the Netherlands. I am the second eldest in my family, I have three brothers and I’m the only girl. So you can say that I grew up as a bit of a tomboy. We had a strong sporting influence in my family. My father has been a coach since I was young, my mother has always been a (club) manager and she was also an aerobics instructor so we have a very active family and upbringing.I grew up in West Auckland and that’s where I started my football journey as well. My club that I played for was Waitakere city, so I’ve been around Auckland a little bit with my football playing, but I’m truly a westie at heart.…more