TOKYO HULA - DOC EDGE FESTIVAL
Tokyo Hula is one of 3 Pacific documentaries screening at Doc Edge Festival 2020 which is currently screening fully online for the first time ever. TOKYO HULA is the final film in a trilogy of award-winning documentaries directed and produced by Lisette Marie Kaualena Flanary about a modern renaissance of hula traditions (Nā Kamalei: The Men of Hula (2007) and American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawaiʻi (2003)).
We speak to Director Lisette Flanary about the film below. Tokyo Hula is available to watch on the Doc Edge Festival site on Friday 19th of June and Tuesday 30th of June. Buy your tickets and more information here.
.…more
NEW NAVIGATION CHARTS BRING ECONOMIC AND MARITIME SAFETY BENEFITS TO TONGA
Navy disaster relief vessels and other large ships will no longer rely on old fashioned plumb lines and charts measuring in fathoms to enter some of Tonga’s waters, as they have done since the 1800s.
A partnership between Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Pacific governments is coming to fruition with the publication of new electronic navigational charts for the Kingdom of Tonga.
The new charts, created using hydrographic surveys of the undersea world around Tonga, will be vital if large ships are to navigate the reefs and hidden rocks safely. They also ensure compliance with international maritime regulations.
Ms Kelela Tonga, Director of the Marine and Ports Division at Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure, says the charts are of great importance for the safety of navigation of all vessels.
“The production of these charts is a milestone for the future of safe shipping within Tongan waters,” she said.…more
Over 73,000 Pacific People supported throughout COVID19 crisis
As the country moves to Alert Level One the Pasifika Medical Association through Pasifika Futures - the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Pacific families, reflects on the colossal effort from Covid 19 Support Partners who tirelessly worked throughout all the Alert levels to serve our most vulnerable Pacific families.
The impact of this work: 17,755 Covid Support Packages delivered across the country, from Kaitaia to Invercargill, to 13,300 Pacific families, made up of 73,156 individuals. Eighty percent of those receiving support needed the help as they were no longer able to meet their family’s basic needs and 54% experienced a loss of family income.
Debbie Sorensen, the Chief Executive for PMA and Pasifika Futures says the 42 centers and partners across the country that distributed the packages to families, should be applauded for their quick response.
“It’s a testament to the connections our partners have to their communities. We made sure our partners had resources within two days prior to the lockdown to help and distribute to families in need.” she says.…more
The Cookout
By Kristian Fanene Schmidt
Our generation of Polynesian people love Black culture. We indulge in it everyday of our lives – from literature to fashion to politics. It’s evident that some of our excellence has been influenced by Black excellence.
Culture is dynamic. It’s complex, it’s fluid and it’s changing. I’ve always been interested in how we, as Polynesian people, are drawn to and engage in Black culture. But does our admiration ever cross the line and become appropriation? Why? Or why not?
Appreciation
As far as art goes, it’s to be expected that artists will look to the greats for inspiration.
Music
We love some R&B, Soul, Hip Hop and Reggae – all created by brilliant Black minds along with Country, Rock, Gospel, Jazz and Blues.
From the beautiful songstress Aaradhna…
… to Nesian Mystik …
… to Katchafire ...…more
Pacific short films - Doc Edge Film Fest 202
As part of the Documentary Edge International Film Festival amazing line-up, there are two incredible Pacific short films that you can now watch from the comfort of your home FREE! Check out more information on both the films below and click here for access to the full 2020 Doc Edge Film fest online.
All short films in the festival are free thanks to Chorus and are available from 12 June – 5 July.
'Ofeina'o Lesieli
'Ofeina'o Lesieli (trailer above) is a documentary short film set in the capital city of Nuku'alofa which takes place in the Kingdom of Tonga - A tropical country situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. This idyllic, tropical country is often coined ‘The Friendly Islands’ due to the hospitality and charm of its residents. Here we spend a day in the life of Lesieli, a bright and loveable young Tongan woman living with Down Syndrome.
After having discovered a passion for table tennis, Lesielis’ life has become blessed in new and exciting ways.…more
PMA Scholar: Caring for grandmother, the inspiration for nursing career
As a 13-year-old, Simione Tagicakibau helped care for his fragile and ill grandmother in his homeland of Fiji. Now at 35, that experience as a teenager continues to inspire Simione in his nursing career and fuels his passion to care for the Pasifika community.
“During my experience with my grandmother, I saw how the nurses did their jobs and had a passion for caring for others. This is why I pursued nursing and had the motivation to work in health.”
A recipient of a Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) medical scholarship, Simione initially studied nursing in Fiji and worked as a nurse in his home country and the Cook Islands. He moved to New Zealand in 2015 and settled in Christchurch for better opportunities.
“New Zealand provided me with greener pastures and has allowed me to further develop my nursing knowledge and skills.”
Simione had been working in the Pacific Islands for five years.…more
Keepin it Fresh at the Milk and Honey Festival
Samoan artists Disciple Pati and her sister Nari Keep It Fresh at the Milk and Honey Festival in Auckland.
They were part of a female led festival for International Women's Day ... check out the summer vibes here!
.
.
CREDITS:
Director - Shimpal Lelisi
Editor - Sapati Apa
Camera Operators - Fa'anati Mamea & Adrian Mcbirney
Sound Operator - Marcus Lawson
Talent - Sapati & Henauri Apa-Fepulea'i
Racism from the view of a young teine uli - half Samoan half black American living in Savai’i
By Datia Wilson
It is so weird when the term racism comes to my attention. As I gather my thoughts, I don’t even know where to start. I come from African/Native American, Samoan and Welsh descent. There is nobody I know who hasn’t experienced some sort of racism - including myself.
Growing up my father would try to educate me about slavery, Black history, and some of the struggles they had to experience due to the colour of their skin. Privileges and opportunities that were taken away or fought harder for because their complexion was darker.
My grandfather came 3rd out of 100 applicants for a role at NASA (his dream job) but was passed over because he was black. I also remember a time where my father and I waited for over an hour to be served by a European lady, but there was no line.
This discrimination needs to stop. The thought and the feeling of your worth being inferior to others is not nice at all.…more
OPINION: Pasifika NRL (mis)pronunciation – don’t (dis)respect my name
By Lefaoali’i Dion Enari
Channel 9’s rugby league personality Erin Molan’s recent ‘hooka looka mooka’ comments when referring to Pasifika rugby league players was nothing short of racism.
To purposefully (mis)pronounce (with an accent) Pasifika names is not only poor taste, but mirrors how much race relations work that still needs to be done.
Although Pasifika people’s presence and cultures are interwoven in the Australian fabric, we still face many race issues.
What is concerning is people like her continue to portray us to mainstream society as exotic savages, brown entertainers and primitive immigrants.
This is not the first racial incident involving Pasifika people in Australian rugby league, as former Pasifika players have spoken out on the racial vilification they received both on and off the field (Lakisa, 2019).
The Australian government has a well-documented history of prejudice against Pasifika people. The White Australia Policy discouraged migration from the islands between 1901-1973 (Lee, 2009). Upon arrival many were labelled unqualified, unexperienced and only able to work as unskilled labour (Vasta, 2004).…more
BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS GALVANISE PASIFIKA VOICES
The killing by police of unarmed black man George Floyd in the US has galvanised activism around the world including an outpouring of support from the Pasifika community in New Zealand and around the world.
Advocates say Pacific people can relate to the targeting and harassment by police that the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted. Past protests by Pacific people, including Samoa's independence movement The Mau and The Polynesian Panthers against the Dawn Raids of the 1970's have also inspired many of today's Pasifika generation.
Pacific Islanders from New Zealand, Australia and the US who attended Black Lives Matter marches last week and more recently over this weekend share why it was important for them as Pasifika to support our black aiga both in the USA and here in our own communities.
.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Anonymouz aka Faiumu Matthew Salapu
I love to create art & content that documents events and causes that spotlight where our society currently is, and more importantly, could be.…more