Coco Talanoa — Humans of the Islands / Page 3

NYRENE CROWLEY 

PROFESSIONAL MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST 

SAMOAN / KIWI 

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Well Talofa Lava Coconet!  Thank you for including me in this beautiful collection of Pacific women!  So, I grew up in East Auckland in Pakuranga - where I was raised alongside my little brother and older sister by both of my parents.

My Dad is a Kiwi, and my Mum was born and raised in the village of Lepea, Apia, Samoa and immigrated to New Zealand in her early 20s. We had a very active and sporting upbringing and were all regional and national reps across different sports growing up.  I am now a Professional Mixed Martial Artist and have been training and competing for almost 10 years now, representing my heritage around the world.

You're a pro fighter - when did you know you wanted to go pro and how did you get into MMA/fighting? 

I had been training and fighting originally with Muay Thai Kickboxing here in Auckland. Once I started training, I just LOVED it.…more

'ILAISAANE LATU VAIPULU GREEN

ACTRESS

TONGAN 

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Malo e lelei my name is 'Ilaisaane Latu Vaipulu Green. Yes, I had to put my full name and maiden name because I can already hear my mum saying "before you were a Green you were a Vaipulu" Hoi sai ke tau ilo/good to know. I was born and raised in Otara South Auckland. My Pacific heritage is from The Kingdom of Tonga.

My parents are both from Ha'apai, Dad is from Lofanga and Mum is from Tungua. I still reside in the same house in Otara. I do acting as a full time job, but since covid happened I'm looking at other avenues for some side hustle.

What inspired you to get into acting? 

Growing up I loved performing!  Before acting I was a dancer and I was sooo passionate about it. My favourite styles were Hip Hop and Pasifika Dancing. I did it from primary all the way to high school. Throughout high school in each year I did both Polyfest and Bring It On.…more

NICK WILLIAMS 

CO-OWNER & GENERAL MANAGER MATAI WATCHES 

COOK ISLANDS / NIUEAN 

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My name is Nick Williams and I own half of the Pacific Watch company - Matai Watches. 

My business partner Andrew is from Samoa, while I'm born and bred in West Auckland. My mother is of Niuean descent and my father is from the Cook Islands.

My responsibility is the day to day operations of Matai Watches, our company that we launched in July 2022 after five years of development. 

What were the pathways that led you to getting into designing/making watches?

It came from many years of failed ideas as entrepreneurs. I have personally tried my hand at loads of different side hustles and legitimate businesses, but looking back they were all learning phases. Nothing has come close to the responsibility and brand awareness quite like this one. This is the first business where I feel we are at peace - spiritually, mentally and financially. 

The idea was to have a product we could call our own, and as the story goes ...…more

'ANAU MESUI-HENRY 

CO-OWNER OF THE FOUR SHELLS KAVA LOUNGE & MERCHANT OF THE MOANA 

TONGAN 

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Si’oto’ofa kainga oe moana. Ko hoku hinoga ko ‘Anau Mesui-Henry mei Tonga, my name is ‘Anau Mesui-Henry from Tonga.

I am a proud Tongan born and Mangere raised fefine. I am the co-owner of the Four Shells Kava Lounge located at Victoria Park Markets in Tamaki Makaurau and work as a full time Merchant of the Moana aka Pacific entrepreneur.

What was the inspiration behind starting Four Shells and the pathways that led to you starting your own business?

My inspiration has always been my parents. I grew up experiencing the hustle of the migration to Aotearoa and the navigating of foreign social systems. I watched my parents work hard, make money from nothing and set themselves up as best as they can with the little they had in their hands. They were super resourceful.

Samoan

Comic Book Artist, Professional Wrestler and Owner of 'Bloody Samoan Art' Company

We got to hear from multidisciplinary artist Michel Mulipola also known as Bloody Samoan, about the amazing work he has been doing since our original Humans Of The Island profile on him in 2016. Since then he has accomplished a long list of achievements including working on an exciting new project with Disney. 

Hear about Michel's work here... 

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You've been working with Disney this year, what has that experience been like for you?

Working as a Story Artist for the Disney Animation Studios has been an absolutely fantastic experience for me. As I have no background in the animation field, the challenges presented by this new (to me) medium has pushed my creative limits in a good way. I have learnt so much over the last 6 months from everyone in the Story Team.

I've been fortunate to be able to work from home in Māngere for Disney but I was lucky enough to work from the Disney Animation Building in Burbank, Los Angeles in November/December.…more

Jarom Su'a

Producer/Songwriter 

Samoan/Argentinian/Mexican 

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My name is Jarom Su’a. I’m a 16-year-old producer/songwriter and artist based out of Florida/LA. I was born in Utah but later moved to Florida when I was very young. I’m a mix of Samoan and Argentinian/Mexican.

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What were the pathways that led you to doing music and ultimately making beats and the producer side of things?

I remember being little and always loved music - I was 11 years old when I was in the car, and I heard “Are You That Somebody” by Aaliyah & Timbaland; I just wanted to know how people make the beats of these songs I hear on the radio—I was hooked! I remember going home and practicing; I bought Timbaland’s online Masterclass. If you listen to my music, you can hear the Timbaland influence, and I think it’s what shaped the way I make music forever but while still staying true to my own sound.…more

Wan Squad 

Dancers

Papua New Guinea 

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Wan Squad are a Papua New Guinea based dance crew made up of 6 - Pyan Ng Manager and Creative Director, David Chee dancer & crew leader and Fred Mathew, Joel Vene, Max Raoma & Lloyd Nadile who are all dancers.

We caught up with Pyan Ng, Wan Squad's Manager and Creative Director after they'd competed at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Arizona last week.

How did the group start and how long have you been together? 

The group was formed in 2018 (08.08.18), I had recently just moved back to PNG to help my father with his business and I had just met David Chee who had a dream to travel/compete on international stages and he asked if I would be interested in coaching him to take a team to the Hip Hop Internationals.…more

Kirsten Andrea Fisher-Marsters

Swimmer

Cook Islands

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Kia orana, I'm Kirsten Fisher-Marsters. I am a competitive swimmer. I represent my fathers side of the family who are Marsters from Palmerton Island in the Cook Islands. I have alot of love for both New Zealand and the Cooks and if I am asked where I feel at home, it would be wherever my family is.

What has your experience been like representing Cook Islands at the Commonwealth games?

Everytime I put my Cook Islands uniform on, I feel honoured. What I love about the Commonwealth Games is being with fellow kukis from different sports. We have a very special team spirit and when I hop on the blocks ready to race I want to do well for my team and for my country, we are there for each other to celebrate our achievements and support eachother if things don't quite go our way. That's why I love representing Cook Islands.…more

Eric Blanc 

Creative 

Samoan 

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You recently had your designs featured in Vogue Italia – can you tell us how that  opportunity came about? 

VOGUE ITALIA was a dream come true, I remember having a meeting with Angela and I said to her “My ultimate dream is to one day be on VOGUE”, and she also had the same goal.

She proposed to me a concept shoot and I instantly fell in love with it and we started working to make it happen immediately.  

The image that made it to VOGUE was a team effort.…more

Pōhaikealoha P

Media Producer / Indigenous Story teller 

Hawaiian

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Tell us about yourself. What places do you call home and how do you like to be introduced to the world?

Aloha! My name is Pōhai and I am Kanaka Maoli. My ohana hails from Hawaiʻi on the island of Oʻahu. Kaʻala is our mountain range and Mākaha is our home, where I currently live and create out of.

First and foremost, I consider myself a storyteller or haʻi moʻolelo. Fittingly, the story of my name is linked to my sense of self so I love when it’s the first one I get to tell. The mo’olelo, or story of my name, is derived from both definition and introspection as pō is the night sky and Pōhaikealoha is the circular nature of love, how it surrounds and gathers, how it comes back around to the start. The stories I find myself drawn to tell often have themes of space, the stars, and of course, love.…more