Performing Artist Vaimaila Baker performs this beautiful rendition of the Samoan classic 'Le Aute Samoa' accompanied by her uncle Maua Miller and her father Fred Baker. The song was originally written and composed by Iupeliauro Selefuti Patu & his sister Fauolegogo Tanielu for the Tapuotaota Trio.

The Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts Centre sing a beautiful rendition of "Samoa Ola’u Fesili Po’o Le Ā Ea Sau Tali" originally sung by Choir of Western Samoa Teachers Training College. Sing along with the lyrics of this classic tune.

As part of the Talanoa Ako series, we bring you these first hand stories of how young Pasifika people are discovering the ways of their ancestors for the first time. How to know the different fish and local Island birds? How to plant age old Island crops? How do you protect the reef from predators? Ancient Pacific knowledge is passed down to a group of young Kuki Airani who learn ways of planting, fishing, and protecting their natural environment. KŌRERO O TE `ŌRAU - an organisation of Kuki Airani local community passionate about their environment, are passing on cultural knowledge and tikanga to new generations. Learning about the sky, the land and the sea are part of this beautiful story of valuing the Moana and islands that we live in.

General Fiyah performs a Tongan classic love song "Loka Siliva" with the Kalapu Fonu Moe Moa Aotearoa kava club.   The love song was composed by the late Queen Salote and penned before her marriage to Tungi Mailefihi in September 1917. It is thought to be the first poem she wrote when she tried to invoke herself for her husband to be.  A Silver lock that is as difficult to break, in a poetic sense, as she hoped the marriage would be. Reknown for her genius in poetry, song and dance, this is one of the hundreds of poems Queen Salote wrote and composed music to in her 47 year reign. {{25998}} Kalapu Fonu Moe Moa Aotearoa started in 1998 in Mangere. The purpose of the Kalapu was a holistic approach with the wrap around of culture & traditional Tongan music which helped to maintain their identity as Tongans from the village of Hofoa. The focus of their kalapu is their Youth and connecting their heritage and the family tree of each family. They also give back to their Village to help out with what’s needed in the village. {{26000}}

The age old practice of stilt walking from the Cook Islands. Young Kuki Airani men Pitau Nga & Toru Mateariki break down the history of this cultural practice and how it's used as an awesome traditional sport in Rarotonga. Rore is an example of the traditional games of the Pacific that have lasted the generations and keep the knowledge of our ancestors alive today. 

Junior Soqeta performs this beautiful traditional song of farewell that Fijians sing to departing visitors - "Isa Lei". The late turaga bale na Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba (father of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara), composed the song in 1916 for Adi Litia Tavanavanua, when she visited Tubou, Lakeba. The 'Isa Lei' melody actually comes from a traditional Tongan love song written when Queen Salote became engaged to Prince Tungi. Tui Nayau wrote the iTaukei words for the song and the Fijians adopted it and turned it into a farewell song. -  Click here for more on the origins of where the song came from and then learn the words & sing along with Junior.

The connections of Fijian and Samoan Tatau:  One of our esteemed Pasifika knowledge holders tells the stories of the ancient art of Veiqia in Fiji and its connections with other tatau across the Moana. Simione Sevudredre explains how our ancestors saw a connected Pacific rather than a divided one - where culture, customs, produce and taonga were shared and exchanged from Island to Island. Transported in the magnificent vaka that navigated the biggest ocean surface of the world, tatau was part of our inter Island knowledge system shared between islands.  "Our matua did not see territories of divivded islands like the colonial lens of today, they saw kinship and connectivity" - Simione Sevudredre

Charlie Pomee joins Kalapu Fonu Moe Moa Aotearoa kava club to perform "Finealafia - The Song Of Hofoa" Finealafia is an original composition by the late Kioa Vaivai of Hofoa, for the people of the village. Kalapu Fonu Moe Moa Aotearoa uses music to share the stories of their people and village, keeping their language and culture alive. {{26102}} Kalapu Fonu Moe Moa Aotearoa started in 1998 in Mangere. The purpose of the Kalapu was a holistic approach with the wrap around of culture & traditional Tongan music which helped to maintain their identity as Tongans from the village of Hofoa. The focus of their kalapu is their Youth and connecting their heritage and the family tree of each family. They also give back to their Village to help out with what’s needed in the village. {{26100}}

Young Cook Islander, Ezekiel Tuatea Tatuava-Enjoy breaks down the steps to making a Kikau Rose (flower from coconut fronds). You can also try this out at home if you're overseas using thin cardboard, paper or even flax with the same technique Ezekiel demonstrates. Great activity for the kids to try while they're at home in lockdown.

Musician and singer Junior Soqeta performs this beautiful Fijian love song, originally written and performed by legendary Fijian musician Sakiusa Bulicokocoko. For this generation, many would have become familiar with the song made popular by George "Fiji" Veikoso. Learn the words and sing along with Junior.