HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: 'JPG'
Jnr Tanielu / 'JPG' aka 'juxtapose'
Creative
Samoan
I am a multidisciplinary creative. Initially I started as a self taught digital illustrator/ graphic designer, then I made a transition into the art form of painting. I like using various mediums but as of late, acrylics have been my go-to. My artworks are inspired by my interests and memories as a youth of the 90s era.
Both my parents are Samoan, they moved to New Zealand in the mid 70's. We grew up in South Auckland and later moved to West Auckland when I started school.
When/how did you realise you wanted to pursue a career as an artist?
As the youngest growing up and being the only boy with four sisters, I spent a lot of time drawing, skating, and gaming to keep myself occupied. You know just doing my own thing, that’s where I first discovered my interest in art. Art was like the only thing I really engaged with as a student and it stuck with me through my teenage years.…more
SAMOA CUP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2018
Basketball teams from Samoa, Australia and New Zealand came together for the 3 Day Samoa Cup Basketball Tournament in Auckland last week (3rd - 5th Jan 18). It's an annual tournament open to all Samoans to participate and for the first time since the tournament started 4 years ago, invitational teams representing the Cook Islands and Tonga (NZ based) participated.
Divisions included Under 16s, Under 19s and Open teams for both Men and Women held at Pulman Arena in South Auckland with the purpose of uniting Samoan players to compete against each other for spots in teams which will be selected in upcoming FIBA events and even to represent Samoa at the Commonwealth games should they qualify.
When the tournament first started 4 years ago there were only 7 teams competing, last year there were 20 and this year it more than doubled with over 40 teams entered boosted by overseas team entries - 5 teams came over from Samoa as well as teams from Samoa Basketball Australia - Victoria, NSW and Queensland.…more
"The Greatest Showman" Coco review
The Greatest Showman.
Whats better than seeing your aunty, I mean a bearded lady at your family xmas party?
Seeing a bearded lady at the movies! In this case in "The Greatest Showman", The PT Barnham tale of how the modern day circus came to be.
Hugh Jackman returns to his musical roots with a performance worthy of White Sunday praise. Not only does he play the lead in this sometimes funny and sometimes exciting musical, but he also reminds you of just how white teeth can be. It makes you close your lips for the whole movie.
Dental whites aside, Hugh "Whiteteeth" Jackman and cast do a wonderful job of stitching together 90 mins of song and dance.
Ironically it does feel like one of Jackman’s earlier movies, the X men - A group of misfits come together to find a place where they can belong and call home, a bald man in a wheel chair houses them all and calls them the Xmen - Which is exactly what PT Barnham did to create the first ever circus.…more
2017 - THE YEAR THAT WAS
So many golden moments for our Pasifika communities across the diaspora in 2017 from the Golden Globes to the streets of Manurewa and the sports fields of Teufaiva in Tonga, starry Islanders have made their mark on the world in a dazzling variety of ways.
Some of the Coco highlights this year have included: -
FIAO'O FA'AMAUSILI & THE BLACK FERNS
Led by their Samoan Captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili it was the year of the Black Fern for Rugby highlights this year, as the kiwi team beat out the All Blacks and England to scoop the pools as World Rugby Team of the Year.
The New Zealand women dominated at the World Rugby Awards ceremony held in Monaco, with three awards going the way of kiwi teams and players.…more
PACIFIC PEOPLE RECOGNISED in NEW ZEALAND'S NEW YEARS HONOURS LIST
Former All Black and Manu Samoa rugby coach Tuifa'asisina Bryan George Willams aka BeeGee is now a 'Sir' and has been appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby, only one of 3 new Knights & four Dames in the Honours List.
It is his fourth honour, having previously received the Order of the British Empire in 1983, the Samoan Order of Merit in 1996 and the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013.Other Pacific people honored on this years list come from a wide variety of sectors and includes -
"Coco" review
In and amongst the madness that is xmas shopping and school holidays, both of which can twist the soles of our rubber jandals, many of us look forward to what little respite our friends at Pixar and Disney can give, to cool tensions and in many cases, save us from using our jandals as frisbees to be thrown at peoples faces.
Luckily enough, there is a decent crop of animated movies it the local cinema to keep us all in check this holiday season. From not so raging bulls to young witches on broom sticks, it’s a good time to be that good Dad, Uncle or Aunty, and take the kids to the movies.
Leading the animated assault this year is Coco (queue music...I’m in love with the coco), a story about a young boy (Miguel), whose quest to become a famous musician goes against the wishes of a long line of relatives who are hell bent on keeping him in the family shoe making business. If this was a Samoan story, this film would end here.…more
SUNSET SMOKEY EYE
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.
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: Maria Jessie
Maria Jessie
Entreprenuer
Cook Islander
My name is Maria Jessie, I'm of Cook Island & Maori decent & I'm the founder of 'Intuitive Hands'.
A little bit about yourself?
Well here's a little. I was was brought up by my mother in Herne Bay/Ponsonby, in what I like to refer to as "the glue pot era". She came over to Auckland as a late teenager from Aitutaki, the most beautiful atoll in the pacific. Met a rather dashing Scottsman, (whom like many other papaa at that time had a rather strong fetish for Duski maidens) and voila... Here I am.
What inspired you to start massaging?
I was so fortunate to spend a couple of years living at home with my grandparents in Aitutaki as a young child. And that is where I believe I was passed on the gift from my grandmother to help others through massage. She was a natural healer through medicinal plants and would treat everyone in our family and all over the island for many things.
Something special happened to me while I was in her care.…more
PASIFIKA MADE GIFT IDEAS
We've put together a list of Pacific Island owned or made products that would make fantastic gifts or presents for friends, family and loved ones for any occasion.
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ARTS & CRAFTS
RISE BEYOND THE REEF
A homegrown value and supply chain in partnership with rural remote women and their communities in Fiji.
Viti Levu artisans from Ba, Ra, Macuata, Nairai and Bua use traditional knowledge and natural materials to handcraft beautiful mats, bags, gift sets, earrings, home decor, dolls and more.
They have just recently made Gift Cards available on their site too.
Follow them on Facebook here and shop online via their website here
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LEIDA TAPU CREATIONS
All-natural, genuine products handcrafted from the finest quality lito (young coconut leaves) and shells from Penrhyn in the Cook Islands.
If you're in Rarotonga, stop in at the Rongohiva hut in Avatiu or email rongohiva@yahoo.com for enquiries.
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KOKO & KI
Koko & Ki is a contemporary Samoan & South Pacific inspired art & design line.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: CELINA YANDALL
Celina Sosefina Yandall
Entrepreneur / Personal Trainer / Radio Host
Samoan
My name is Celina Sosefina Yandall. I’m a Samoan girl born and raised in Long Beach, California. I’m a personal trainer, a radio host for Island Block Radio, a singer and aspiring actress, and the baker and owner of Sweet Nina’s Cookies.
How did your business Sweet Nina's Cookies start?
2008. I was a junior at a private high school when I started baking cookies. I was playing volleyball year round and private school was already expensive, so my mom made up a cookie recipe for me because she wanted me to sell cookies to sort of help out with the funds for school and volleyball.…more