Coco Talanoa — Humans of the Islands / Page 11

INDIRA STEWART 

JOURNALIST / BREAKFAST ON ONE's NEWSREADER

TONGAN / FIJIAN 

Indira Stewart has taken her new role as a Breakfast on One newsreader with both hands and made it her own - we love the Pacific flavour that she brings to breakfast television and having a hard hitting Pacific Journalist leading key interviews.

Watch the full interview below, click the square at the bottom of the screen to bring it up full screen - 

VINCE HARDER 

SINGER / SONG WRITER / MUSICIAN / ARTIST 

SAMOAN 

I was born and raised in West Auckland and lived there for the first half of my school life.…more

LUKE AIONO 

BRUNO MARS' GUITARIST 

SAMOAN 

I grew up in Long Beach, California.  My parents were musicians so music has always been a big part of my life.  They're both Samoan, born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand but they migrated to California in the 80s.  I started taking classical piano lessons at 6 until I switched to guitar in high school and taught myself from then on out. I played a lot in LA clubs/jam sessions during and after high school and shortly thereafter got asked to play for Kenny Lattimore + Chante Moore as well as the hip hop artist Nas.…more

ALI FOA'I 

ACTOR/WRITER 

NIUEAN / TUVALUAN / TOKELAUAN & AMERICAN SAMOA

Fakaalofa lahi atu, Taloha ni, Talofa, Kia ora, Asalaam alykum!

I am Ali Foa’i and I am an actor slash writer born and raised in West Auckland, currently residing in Te Aro, Wellington. I am Niuean, Tuvaluan, Tokelauan and American Samoan, a proud child of the Pacific.

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You're currently in rehearsals for the show 'MoodPorn' can you tell us a bit about it and why you were attracted to the role?

MoodPorn (showing at Bats Theatre, Wellington April 23-May 4) is a brand new play by Wellington based Filipino writer Matthew Loveranes about two old uni friends catching up one night and spilling secrets and drama! It’s very melodramatic but anchored in a hypnotically poetic and modern script. My character Atlas is a migrant to New Zealand, his family moving for a better life which as a PI I could relate to.…more

Fa'afetai "Tai" Fa'aleava 

Doctor of Psychology

Samoan 

The last time we spoke to Tai Faaleava, he was still a student working towards his Psy.D (Doctorate in Clinical Psychology) in 2016. Since then, Tai Faaleava has become Dr Tai Faaleava, and he has continued his work as a Psychologist within Prisons.

In a recent chat, Dr Faaleava shared how his personal journey shapes the impact he has on clients, especially in a prison setting.

When Dr Faaleava walks into his therapy sessions with his patients, he takes with him his cultural values. The Samoan Psychologist believes that before even drawing from his learnings from University, he starts with Fa’aaloalo (Respect) Loto maulalo (Humility) and Tautua (Service)

“We can all be taught the same thing. I sat in the same classes as every other psychologist that came to my school but the difference in how we impact lives depends on how we deliver services”

Dr Faaleava fondly recalls sessions with Samoan inmates where he has been able to connect with them on a personal level through the language.…more

Emmanuel “E-MAN” Carlos 

Pro Boxer

Samoan / Cook Islands 

Kia Orana, Talofa and G’day CoconetTV fans.

It's an absolute honour to share a little insight about myself, my life and my journey so far.  My name is Emmanuel Carlos and I'm 26 years old. I was born in Sydney, Australia but now living in Melbourne, Victoria.  My father is Samoan, from the village of Sogi (Chan Chuni) and my mother is Cook Islander (Vakatini). Everyone is always misled by my surname Carlos, and always mistake my background with anything but Polynesian. The Carlos name comes from my step grandfather who is Spanish.

I was born and raised here in Australia. I'm what you call an Aussie. Even though I was born in Oz, I am very proud of my pacific heritage and culture. 

I'm a professional boxer, my current record is 10 fights - 9 wins with 7 knockouts. The one loss was against Junior World IBF Champion Dwight Ritchie a fight I took on a week and a half notice.…more

The extraordinary life of Arrianna Princess Auva'a who is the first fa'afafine in the US military.

She tells her story here in this Coconet exclusive and you can check out her new comedy page - Jordan and Princess Comedy Channel on Facebook here 

Follow Arrianna here on Facebook & Instagram:

TESSA TEMATA 

New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.

Cook Islands / Samoan 

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I can trace my Cook Island heritage back 26 generations to Kaitini Ariki, the eldest child of Uke who settled the island of Mauke.  My father, Tiatoa Temata, married my mother, Jane Crichton, whose aiga are from Asau in Samoa.   There is also a wee dram of Scottish voyager in there dating back to the 19th century when a sailor called William Crichton decided to settle in Samoa.

I was born and raised in Taranaki.  The seventh of nine children.…more

PATRICA, OCEAN & THE ALATINI FAMILY 

FAMILY FOOD FIGHT CONTESTANTS 

TONGAN / MAORI 

TIANNA TUAMOHELOA 

Miss Nevada USA 2019 

Samoan / Tongan / African-American / Japanese / Irish

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I grew up a Military brat where both of my parents were in the United States Army. I was born in Fort Riley, Kansas, moved around to about 4 states from the South to the West Coast and finally my parents retired to Las Vegas, Nevada where we have lived for the last 14 years. Though my 3 brothers and I grew up in the mainland, we were always reminded of where we truly come from. My parents Simi, Jr and Salamasina Nomura McMoore Timu Tuamoheloa hail from Illilli, Utulei and Lealoaloa, American Samoa. My father is Samoan/Tongan/African-American and my mother is Samoan/Japanese/Irish.