The benefits of Breadfruit, long time Poly super food!
Is this the new wonder food? Breadfruit is high in protein and has the potential to feed the world, experts say
- Breadfruit has lumpy green flesh and a potato-like texture
- It is widely eaten in the Pacific Islands and scientists are encouraging the planting of trees in countries with poor food security
- One breadfruit, which weighs around 7 lbs (3kg) provides the carbohydrate portion of a meal for a family of five
- It can be can be ground into flour and used to make pancakes
- The fruit is rich in vitamins and is a source of carbohydrate and protein
- The protein in the fruit has a higher proportion of aminio acids than soy
It may not be a fruit that you automatically reach for in the supermarket, but the large and exotic breadfruit is being touted as a wonder food.
Known by its Latin name, artocarpus altilis, the fruit has lumpy green flesh and a potato-like texture so that it can be served as part of a main meal or turned into sweets.…more
Tatau Traditions challenged in modern times
One of our most ancient Samoan traditions has vastly grown in practice over the last fifteen years, but some argue, it comes at the cost of its own sacredness.
Traditionally, the Tatau and Malu were meant for a highly selective group of people in certain Samoan families. But now with the huge number of Islanders around the globe, the ideas around who can get one and how to get one have changed with the times. With money and a bag of pain killers, can anyone have a Tatau or Malu?
The gifting of this measina Samoa has always come down to the discretion of the Tufuga.
There are many men with Tatau, but the title ‘Sogaimiti’ should be reserved for the real McCoy - a man who has received the malofie (ink) with the approval of his family elders and who has completed the process with a worthy partner (soa).…more
Poly Football legends honored at Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
The 2016 class of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame will be inducted on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Here’s a quick look at this year’s honorees:
CHARLIE ANE
Charles Teetai Ane Jr. is regarded as one of the pioneers of football in Hawai‘i. Born in Honolulu in 1931, Ane was a two-way lineman for Punahou. He later played quarterback and both offensive and defensive tackle for the USC Trojans, earning All-Coast honors in the early 1950s. The Detroit Lions selected Ane in the fourth round of the 1954 NFL Draft. He played both right tackle and center for the Lions in his seven-year career. More importantly, the 6-foot-2-inch, 260-pound powerhouse was a key performer during the most successful period in the franchise’s history, leading the Lions to two NFL championships. Ane was named to the Pro Bowl in 1956 and 1958. After he retired from the league, Ane returned to the Islands and served as a head coach and assistant coach for several local high school teams.…more
In Football We Trust: Star Lotulelei's NFL Draft Day
What’s NFL Draft Day like for a player on the verge of making it? For Utah Utes defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, whose mother and father immigrated to the U.S. from Tonga, it means pigs on spits, hundreds of family, friends, and media, and the weight of their expectations entirely on his shoulders.
Three Wise Cousins - Review
Fans of the Sione's Wedding films will lap up this colourful and charming Kiwi-Samoan comedy.
It's the story of Adam (Neil Amituanai), a bit of a feckless slob, who, when he isn't on his Playstation, is asking his long-suffering Mum, "what's for dinner?"
However, his life is turned upside down when he admires a "beautiful" law student, who shares the same bus stop as him. Unable to muster up the courage to speak with her, he hits upon a plan when he overhears that she'd like a real "Island guy". Hopping on the first plane to Apia, he enlists the support of his two cousins – the muscle-bound Mose (Vito Vito) and the more "sensitive" Tavita (Vesui Villiamu). But as well as teaching him how to climb trees, crack open coconuts and weave baskets, they also offer up some more pertinent life-skills and advice.
Vito Vito plays Mose, Neil Amituanai is Adam and Vesui Villiamu essays Tavita in the new Kiwi-Samoan production Three Wise Cousins.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Dr Semisi Lolohea
Dr Semisi Lolohea
Tongan
General Surgeon, Colorectal Surgeon
I grew up in the Islands where I went to school and I was 17 years old when I moved to New Zealand. It was my first time outside of Tonga and it was quite daunting. My English wasn’t very good. I could have reasonable conversations with people but it was very hard for me adjusting in the first year.
And did you know at that time that you wanted to pursue a medical career?
Yeah I was always quite keen on doing medicine. I worked hard with my studies but it was challenging because of the language barrier. When I made it into Medicine school I could understand what they were talking about but asking questions and actually having a conversation with the Teacher was a struggle. Sometimes I wanted to answer questions but I was a bit embarrassed because I could not speak English properly. It remained a barrier even all throughout my career but over time I gained more confidence.…more
Indigenous Heroes of 2015
MUSKRAT magazine released it's Top 13 Indigenous Heroes of 2015, acknowledging the brave individuals fighting to make a positive change a better future for Indigenous peoples - including Hawaiian star Jason Momoa!
Game of Thrones star, Jason Momoa, born in Honolulu, jump started a social media campaign to protest the construction of the $1.4 billion project, Thirty Meter Telescope, on top of the sacred mountaintop, Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The campaign was used to raise awareness of a petition on Change.org to halt the telescope’s construction and the arrests of people protesting the project. Jason and his wife, Lisa Bonet, are using their fame and influence to bring Indigenous stories to the mainstream. In addition to writing, directing, and starring in Road to Paloma, a story about a Native American on the run after avenging his mother’s murder, Momoa also stars on the TV series Red Road, the new Netflix original- Frontier. He also has a contract to play Aquaman in several Superman movies.
Check out the rest of the list and their achievements here!
Humans Of The Islands - Sulani Helg
Sulani Helg
17 years old
Samoan, high school student.
I’m the eldest of 5 children and I come from a big Samoan family. My last name is Helg and that originated from Germany, so I have German in me but I’m also part Fijian, Tongan and Cook Islander. I do acknowledge those cultures because they make me ‘me’. I wouldn’t be the person I am without my cultural ancestors so it’s important to me that I acknowledge that.
Do you see yourself as a role model to other pacific island youth?
I try to embody my philosophy to respect others. I want to create a platform with everything that I accomplish to inspire other young people to follow their dreams and to not give up or let any obstacles get in their way, to endure and persevere. I try to be a role model for the youth.
Who’s been the most influential person in your life and why?
I’d say my parents and my grandparents. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today.…more
Joseph Parker vs Jason Bergman highlights
Check out the highlights from the Rumble in Paradise between the uso Joseph Parker and Jason Bergman in Samoa!
Bergman was unable to continue the fight in the eighth round after being floored several times throughout the fight, with Parker winning by TKO.
Samoan chief wears many hats
Serving as a high chief in her native Samoa is just one of Faamati Aumua Winey’s many duties.
Source: The Citizen
The busy Dellwood woman also owns five Snap Fitness franchises, is president of the Quad Area Chamber of Commerce, co-owns a rugby team, manages a campaign for a state senate candidate and serves on the governor’s Asian Pacific Council.
Winey admits her lifestyle is hectic, but the 39-year-old businesswoman would have it no other way.
It all started in 2000 when she moved to Minnesota from Samoa to marry her husband, Mark Winey. They met in American Samoa when Winey was working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He is a graduate of White Bear Lake Area High School and returned to the area to take over his dad’s business, Magnepan. After a few visits to the state, Faamati accepted Winey’s marriage proposal. Then she began a franchise search.
“I come from the tropics where there are always activities,” she said.…more