Hope for a Miracle
Update as at 13 October 2021 -
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The fact that Samoan Corrections officer Toamalama Scanlan is even breathing today is a miracle in itself and now his wife and family are praying for another miracle .... full recovery.
On the 3rd of September the father of 6, along with fellow officer Juanita Davila - a mother and grandmother - who both worked at Fresno County Jail, California, were shot in the head and neck as they tried to calm a visiting ex convict. Toamalama was shot in the head and Juanita was shot in the neck.…more
TEUILA FESTIVAL 2016
HIGHLIGHTS ....
The crew were in Samoa last week and caught some of the action at the Teuila Festival.
Here's some of the festival highlights in case you missed their facebook posts last week .....
POLICE MARCHING BAND
Every morning the police marching band would march down to the Government Building in Apia, play the national anthem as the Samoan flag was raised and then march back to the Police Headquarters.
THE ANNUAL FAUTASI RACE
A group of supporters try to get out as far as they can at Mulinu'u Point to cheer for their team as the first of the boats come around the corner. The boats start their race out at Malie now.
The first boat passes by at Mulinu'u Point
The winning boat "Little Rina" finishing in Apia
Boat coming in to shore in front of Aggie Greys in Apia
Teuila Festival Stalls
Festival Games
The people
Siva Afi Comp
Miss Samoa pageant 2016
Suggested Links:
The Black Friars Present ....
MACBETH ....
'Something Wicked this way Comes'
The Black Friars Theatre troupe presents an innovative re-staging of the traditional Shakespearean classic for Pasifika in Aotearoa set against a backdrop of imagined Hawaiki, fusing Polynesian music and dance with Shakespearean magic.
The South Auckland based group was formed in 2006 out of a desire to challenge the dominant stereotypes surrounding Pasifika people and to “keep talented young brown people off the street and on the stage”. These days their mission statement has changed.…more
Humans of the Islands: Sesilani Ofa
Sesilani Ofa
Proud Mum and One of Only a Few Tongan Police Officers
Tonga
Q & A with Constable Sesilani Ofa
Coco blogger Aaron Taouma met up with Constable Sesilani Ofa who was the first full Tongan female police officer to serve in Auckland and one of the few Tongans in the NZ Police. She has been based at the Otahuhu Police Station for the past eight years and doing it all as a solo-mum.
We think she's a star! Check out her Question and Answer session below and find out about her inspiring story as one of our ‘Humans of the Islands’...
Q. Malo e lelei Sesilani, can you tell us a little about your life growing up and how this may have influenced you joining the Police Force?
A. I was quite fortunate to grow up in a lovely Christian family in Grey Lynn. My father was a reverend at the United Church of Tonga. My dad came from Tonga when he was about 11 or 12 where he attended Epsom Normal Intermediate then on to Auckland Boys Grammar.…more
Pacific Fusion Fashion Show 2016
The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show went off in South Auckland and Coconet.TV caught the action.
Held at the Andrew-Simms Botany car dealership, the fashion design competition featured a mix of emerging and established designers showcasing street wear, evening wear, haute couture and ready to wear fashion.
Besides being a designer's competition and having several non-comp showings the event was a platform for models to face off strut their stuff for a place as the Face of Fusion 2017.
The night was hosted by Latafale Auva'a (previous Miss Samoa NZ, Miss Samoa, Miss Pacific Islands and Miss World Samoa) and judged by international guest judge Lepou Peni of Lepou and Grace; social media sensation Kris Fox; and NZ Fashion Week co-owner Anna Hood.
It was an awesome night with several celebs in attendance and the man of the Olympic hour - Pita Taufatofua - also making his catwalk debut.…more
Carlos Ulberg Coco Catchup
Carlos Ulberg recently returned from the WKG - World Kings Glory MMA tournament held in China where he had his first professional bout and came out on top.
We caught up with Carlos at the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show held in Auckland.
Q & A with Pita Taufatofua
We caught up with Pita Taufatofua at the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show held in Auckland and asked him some quick questions. Hear what he had to say.
Pita Taufatofua Tongan Language Week Shoutout~!:)
We caught up wtih Pita Taufatofua - guess what he said!?
Humans of the Islands
Meet Ko Pali'i Guams traditional healer ...
"Pasifika Voices" provide the Music of the Pacific for Disney's MOANA
In 2002 Disney gave us 'Lilo & Stitch' a story about a little Hawaiian girl & an alien creature - they used a choir from Auckland for the music. Pasifika Voices choir director and the Head of Performing Arts at the USP Oceania Centre in Suva, Igelese Ete told them it wasn't really Pacific.
Last year, at his own expense he travelled to Los Angeles to leave a personal message at Disney studios saying “that they cannot produce a movie about the Pacific and not include voices of the Pacific”
Disney to their credit took notice of Ete's message and their team flew to Fiji a few weeks ago to hear the Pasifika Voices choir hoping they'd find music that would capture the Pacifics heart, soul and musical essence. They weren't expecting much as they hadn't had experience with talent in the Pacific but they were totally wowed after hearing the 20 young singers from Fiji and the Solomon Islands who make up Igelese's choir.…more