Humans Of The Islands - Naki Moala

Naki Moala

Tongan / Chamorro

26 years old

I was raised in California in the Bay area, born in the West Bay San Mateo and then raised in Hayward, East Bay. My Mom is from Saipan and my Dad is from Tonga and I'm the second eldest of 5 kids. We were raised in the Church, that's where the musical journey started for me. 

We're all musical - my Grandma kind of just put us in front of audiences at church and made us sing Tongan hymns and do our lesoni's (scripture readings). Me and my siblings we formed a band called the 'Tomorro's' (Tongan/Chamorro). Music was kind of something that would always bring my family together. Everytime we were at family parties my Dad would always volunteer us to be the entertainment of the night. It was just something I loved doing because it always got us together and it was always good times.

Can you describe what it was like being raised with two completely different Pacific cultures of the Pacific? Your mix is a unique combination.

Our families on both sides actually grew up together and they were both very strong. My Chamorro side actually came to a lot of the functions on my Tongan side growing up. I have a lot of brothers sisters that I can claim grew up with me since diapers, and they're from both sides - Tongan and Chamorro. Both cultures have a lot of similarites - some of the Tongan traditional ways differ from the more relaxed Chamorro ways. But they're both pretty much the same as in very relaxed and very friendly people who are all about family and God.

What's your most treasured childhood memory of growing up in your family?

Probably all of our little performances growing up and being able to sing together and harmonize songs randomly on road trips.

And you have a growing career as a recording artist now, can you talk about that?

Yes, I'm working on an album, soon to be released hopefully. I just leaked out about 10 original tracks on my soundcloud, just for people to listen to. Performance-wise, I'm just doing whatever shows I'm called to do at the moment. I did a little mini-tour with Rebel Souljahz, that was 3 days. I did a tour for the PolyTape2 with Fiji, Cutthroat, Drew Deezy - and we went around for a month performing in different places.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Going to Saipan and Guam and doing the mini-tour I did over there with Fiji. It was probably the biggest show I've done and it was awesome because I got to see a lot of my family in my Mom's homeland. And they were all there to support. And people there were just surprised like 'What? You're Chamorro?' (laughs)

In Saipan  we went and visited different schools and I got to speak to other kids to help motivate them. And I said to them "Who wants to be a Ninja?" and everybody was silent, they didn't know what I was talking about and they just looked at me like I was crazy. And I said "No, you know what? Let me let you know what being a Ninja is about." And I explained to them that part of what Ninja's do is they move in silence toward a purpose of positivity without caring who's watching. Not doing it for the applause, but doing it because that's you and doing it to the fullest - whether it's music, sports. Being a good student, whatever it is. And then I said "So, if you walkin with me" and i just started singing this song called 'Rock with me' and then I said, "So now, who's a Ninja?" and everybody just went crazy and I was like "Yes!" (laughs). 

What do you aspire to do with your life in the future?

I'm trying to go back to school, I'm hoping to go back to school and to work with kids in the future. I work with a non profit organization called Camcamp right now doing Athletics and training. I also want to have a family of my own one day and hopefully my music takes off sometime soon. But I'll always continue to sing where ever I am. In regards to my career - I really want to be able to give back and just serve others.

By Indira Stewart