Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 54

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and it is an opportunity to shed more light on an issue that has claimed too many lives. It's also an opportunity for everyone to take a stand against domestic violence.

The following is one woman's story of abuse in the home and how church and culture played a role in preventing her escape. 

"I found myself in a lawyer’s office the morning after a brutal beating. I couldn’t walk properly due to the bruising all over my legs and back. The swelling on my head was covered by a beanie. I sat there staunchly asking for help to get the abuser out of our home. The lawyer and his assistant were kind and gentle beyond all expectation and that’s where my defences crumbled and the tears flowed freely. They started the legal process that would hopefully keep me and my children safe and keep the abusive person away from our home.

A couple of days later, an Uncle and Aunty came to visit. They were Faife’au and Faletua in their church.…more

Ben Mikha has been selected out of 50,000 applicants to proceed to a 3 round process based off a public voting system in order to make his dreams a reality.  If successful he will be the FIRST Pacific Islander to land an internship with Discovery Channel.

He is currently pursuing a dream through Discovery Channel to travel to over 5 new countries and film/photograph and blog his experiences - something that he is naturally passionate about.  He hopes to have this opportunity to use his gifts further to inspire and encourage others to view the world through their own eyes.

The video above of Samoa is his entry to the final public round of Discovery Channel.   

We asked him to share a bit about himself and also share some of his favourite photographs he has taken so you can get to know him and ultimately help him reach his goal by VOTING for him!  

Eiffel Tower 

Today I came across a really eye opening documentary about the significance of hair in the Pacific community. It focused on the relationship between Pacific women and their hair and also how this relationship has changed from generation to generation.  The documentary spoke about the struggles of having nesian hair so today I just wanted to continue that conversation by sharing my story.

For me, my hair has become such an important aspect of myself to the point that I’ve even named my blog after it. "That Curly Islander"  My hair and my roots (pun intended), these are what make me, me.

It’s crazy to think that the ringlets that now adorn my head actually started out pin-straight. As I grew older, my hair gradually become wavier. But because no one else on the Fijian side of my family had similar hair to mine, I never knew and no one else for that matter, knew what to do with it. There was too much hair and it was far too slippery so braiding it was a chore.…more

Before we step into 2017 lets take a look back at the people and moments that have made us 'Proud Nesians' in 2016

In no particular order:

Pita Taufatofua - Tongan Flag Bearer at the Rio Olympics 

Um Yeeeeeees Pleeeeeease Pita! 

Kings single 'Don't Worry Bout It' beats Lordes 'Royals' record for longest number of consecutive weeks at Number 1!

We caught up with Kingdon Chaplle-Wilson earlier in the year here 

Steven Adams signs $140 million contract extension with the OKC Thunder 

This makes him the highest paid NZ athlete 

MOANA 

So much love for Moana this week in particular as it opened to the public in New Zealand and Australia.  I don't know anyone who has seen it who hasn't felt emotional or proud at the way we've been portrayed as Polynesians.…more

As the end of 2016 draws near we take a moment to reflect on some of the things that made us shake our head & say 'Kalofae' or write them off as a big fat FAIL!

In no particular order:

Koi Boyz being mistaken for Sole Mio at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards by the Vodafone NZ Music Awards Social Media person .... because all brown boys look the same??!

Womans Day making up a story about Maria Tutaia & Israel Folau's engagement #GutterJournalism - gotta love Maria calling them out on it tho! 

'The Whitest story ever told' - Jennifer Lawrence thinking it's hilarious to scratch her as$ on sacred rocks in Hawai'i   White privilege much! 

Jarryd Hayne missed out on the Fiji Sevens team (kalofae) and while they were winning Gold in Rio he was making headlines for another reason.  We think showing porn to a High School while presenting an online safety talk is the winner.  Are you orrrrrite Jarryd? 

In another case of 'All Brown Guys look the Same' - Adidas mixed up Julian Savea and Malakai Fekitoa.…more

For many of the Micronesian islands in the North Pacific, Santa Claus doesn't come down a chimney - he sends down a parachute.

The U.S., Japan, and Australian airforces have come together to spread holiday cheer during Operation Christmas Drop. In this video Tech. Sgt. Bryan Magee takes us to Andersen Air Force Base, and shows us how they made the operation happen. 

This holiday mission started in 1952 when a US aircrew noticed a group of people on the island of Kapingamarangi waving at them. In response, the aircrew dropped a box of supplies attached to a parachute, and they carried on the tradition from that point forward.

This decades-old Christmas tradition inspired the 2020 netflix movie "Operation Christmas Drop". In the movie Congressional aide Erica Miller (Kat Graham) lands at a US Air Force base in Micronesia, where she clashes with Capt.…more

Kia Orana, my name is Melarnie Manuel.  My friends and family call me Lani.

I am of Cook Island descent.  My mother was born in Tukao, Manihiki and my father was born in London, England.  Since I was a young child, I've had more hair styles than the years I have lived.

I'm 24 years old and I'd like to consider I have had my fair share of horrible cuts and wonderful up dos.  When I was little, the luxury of growing my hair out was not in my Mums opinion, something to up keep.  We (and when I say we, I mean me and my hair) had our days of the ugly home job fringe, the saga of me cutting my own hair and the cheap trim.  There has not been a significant time in my childhood where at any time, my hair was any longer than the below.

As a Cook Islander, I've had the wonderful privilege of knowing and having women and girls around me with long, thick hair.…more