Coco Talanoa — Health & Well Being / Page 5

Coconut oil is, as everyone surely knows by now, an extremely healthy oil to add to your diet, but did you know that this inexpensive oil can also do wonders for your skin – whatever your skin type?

Pacific Islanders have used coconut oil for years, but now the mainstream is catching on.  

Check out our Top 5 skin care benefits picks of using Coconut oil from our friends at 'Balance Me Beautiful' and you can check out their full list here

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Coconut Oil Softens & Moisturizes Dry Skin

Finding an effective moisturizer when you have dry skin can be difficult. Many products hydrate the skin upon application, but after a few hours, skin reverts back to its dry and uncomfortable state once more.

The saturated fats in coconut oil are able to penetrate skin on a much deeper level than other moisturizers you may be using, and because of this ability, they provide lasting hydration beyond the surface layer.

With regular use, coconut oil will banish dry, flakey skin, and leave your skin healthy and smooth.

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* Trigger warning - this article and videos on this page contains discussions about mental health issues & suicide. Viewer discretion and parental guidance is advised.

NRL & Mate Ma'a Tonga star Andrew Fifita shares the moment he tried to take his own life and his journey with Mental Health and depression in the video above.

His story is a reminder that Mental Health is an issue for everyone.…more

Far beyond the physical benefits that a healthy lifestyle can bring, Lapi Mariner shares the importance of his health realities through his new lifestyle and current weight loss journey.

Popularly known as a prominent singer within the Pacific, the Father of 2 began his journey a year ago after an uncomfortable experience he had after one of his many performances.

“I was overseas in the US singing and noticed I was out of breath and had only just sung the first verse. So I got home and made a decision to make a lifestyle change.”

When returning to New Zealand, it was time to put it all to action. A year ago, Lapi got on board with former Heavyweight Professional Boxer, David Letele AKA The Brown Butter Bean, to help kick start his healthy lifestyle regime. This meant attending BBM WARD (Butter Bean Motivation) Boot Camp Classes 4-5 times a week, sticking to a healthy meal plan and drinking at least 4 litres of water a day. 

Like many would experience, it wasn’t an easy start.…more

Meet the Tokelauan eco-warrior in Samoa - Saia Mikaele Maiava - who shares a unique way of gardening with us.

Keyhole Gardening was founded in Africa and used for crops and plants in areas where they couldn't get enough water.  Saia trialed it in Tokelau after being told it was hard to grow crops there due to the sea water content in the soil.

Check out how he does it in the video above.

The Pacific Rugby Players website has new content encouraging steps to better health - Mai Body Mai Future.

It's an initiative that aims to start a dialogue around the biggest health problems facing most of the island nations today – heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer, (Being overweight or obese increases the chances of having these diseases) and then providing practical advice from some of the rugby players themselves and access to the best resources to help you on your journey towards better health.…more

Nestled in the towering city of Manhattan lies a Polynesian paradise. Founder Nichola Weir brings the islands to New York with Pacific Touch NYC; an acclaimed day spa dedicated to holistic skin healing.

While in New York I was fortunate enough to visit Pacific Touch and receive an incredible skin treatment from Nichola who also shared her experiences and knowledge with me.

“Pacific Touch is about bringing the islands back to Manhattan. It’s about conveying everything that is comforting to me about being Polynesian into a service over here.” - Weir. 

Having previously suffered from bad acne for 15 years, as well as her mum working in beauty therapy, Nichola has always been passionate about skin and healing. Her holistic approach with Pacific Touch has been a life changing experience for many of her clients.

“I have a client who was in a really bad accident and she nearly died. She had a huge amount of facial reconstruction and she came to me for a really long time and we did massage and facial work.…more

Taija Kerr is the first Afro-Hawaiian woman to star in a major beauty campaign EVER and she shows us how to create a sunset smoky eye look! Follow along to hear her tips and tricks.

Following in the footsteps of Fenty Beauty's extensive foundation shade range, Glossier's candid naked body product pictures and Illamasqua's work with transgender model Munroe Bergdorf, among others, Sephora's inclusion of the New York-based make-up artist is another win for 2017's long overdue diversity efforts.

Speaking on the importance of being involved, Kerr said:

'Most [Hawaiians] don't have curly 'Afro' curly hair and I have the softer Hawaiian features. My father is Hawaiian. My mother is black, so I'm considered Afro-Hawaiian to put them together'

And people are into it.

By Hanalei Temese

Approximately 38.5 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer of any site at some point during their lifetime.

For Elisapeta and Shannon Skews, it was a double hit.

Born and bred in Samoa, Elisapeta (commonly known as Mousie) and her husband Robert, live in the tropical paradise of Rarotonga; their home of 27 years. With 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, the fight to jump this hurdle, is a fight she is determined to win.

 “They’re why I want to live forever” Mousie says proudly.

With a natural drive to be active and involved with her community, Mousie was just that. She represented the Cook Island’s in squash, became manager of the team as she retired from playing and joined forces with her husband in 1990 as entrepreneurs of their very own tourism company, Turama - Pacific travel group.

“Everything was fine.…more

By Hanalei Temese

Cancer. One of the heaviest words known to mankind.

New Zealand born Fijian and solo mother of 7, Ruve Peterson, wasn’t ready to hear it.

Having already been through the loss of a father and not long after, twin grandsons; Ruve wasn’t prepared for more bad news.

On September 29th, Ruve’s only daughter, Kuila Tuivoavoa, was diagnosed with T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; a type of blood cancer that grows progressively quicker than most.

The nineteen year old was rushed to Waitakere Hospital with severe chest pain the Monday after she had finished 4 weeks of an acting production with PIPA (Pacific Institute of Performing Art’s). “They said it was just a muscular thing, but if I hadn’t of told them about the little bits of bruising I found scattered on my body, I wouldn’t of had to do any blood tests, so that was lucky.” Kuila said.

After several tests and a CT scan over her chest, doctors found a 7-millimeter tumor situated only inches away from her lung.…more

The island nation of Samoa in the Pacific has one of the world's highest rates of obesity.

Imported fast food is favoured over natural, local produce but a campaign's underway to change that.

Al Jazeera's Yaara Bou Melhem reports from Apia, Samoa.