KAHUKU'S HAKA
The Hawai'i State Championship final in November saw the Kahuku Red Raiders and the Saint Louis Crusaders meet again.
Saint Louis went on to win 30 - 14 to claim the Open State Football Title but what was interesting about this game besides the game was that the Kahuku Red Raiders were not allowed to perform the haka.
In 2010 a haka was composed for Kahuku's football team which became a tradition for the boys to perform at the beginning of their games (similar to the hakas performed in New Zealand and the South Pacific islands prior to rugby and rugby league games).
Last year the Kahuku Raiders were told that if they did the haka it would be considered "Unsportsmanlike" and they'd be given a 15 yard penalty. They did it anyway and took the penalty.
THIS year, the team were told that any player performing the haka would be banned so the community got together - friends, family and fans - to help the team and THEY performed the haka in the stands for the boys.…more
Our Hair Stories: Melarnie Manuel
Kia Orana, my name is Melarnie Manuel. My friends and family call me Lani.
I am of Cook Island descent. My mother was born in Tukao, Manihiki and my father was born in London, England. Since I was a young child, I've had more hair styles than the years I have lived.
I'm 24 years old and I'd like to consider I have had my fair share of horrible cuts and wonderful up dos. When I was little, the luxury of growing my hair out was not in my Mums opinion, something to up keep. We (and when I say we, I mean me and my hair) had our days of the ugly home job fringe, the saga of me cutting my own hair and the cheap trim. There has not been a significant time in my childhood where at any time, my hair was any longer than the below.
As a Cook Islander, I've had the wonderful privilege of knowing and having women and girls around me with long, thick hair.…more
THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE STORY IN RUGBY - Sevens From Heaven
Sevens From Heaven is the story of Fiji Rugby Sevens, the winners of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2015/16 and the team that inspired the world in Rio when they won Fiji's first ever Olympic medal, and a gold at that!
Discover how a tiny island nation with limited resources took on the world at Rugby Sevens and won. Go inside the team with never-before-seen footage to see what it took to take a team from an island in the South Pacific to becoming the best in the world.
Suggested Links:
Fiji 7s win Gold at the Olympics
Na Qito Vakaviti - Traditional Games
Credits:
Created by HSBC Sport in collaboration with Zoomfiji - https://www.facebook.com/1zoomfiji/
Produced by Hill + Knowlton Strategies
Music: Composed by Ross Budgen - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQKG...
JOSEPH PARKERS PANTS
*** COCO EXCLUSIVE ***
Every time Joseph Parker steps in the ring he wears a new pair of shorts but what you probably don't know is that he designs them himself!
He also buys all of the material, picks the colours and goes shopping for everything himself too.
For his upcoming WBO Heavyweight Championship fight, he took the Coconet along with him on one such shopping trip.
Joseph Parker - Our future Heavyweight Champion of the World
Pacific Film and Digital TV Fono
Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Coconut Grove
Last night on Karangahape Road, the First Thursdays event was in full effect. For the first time, all things Pasifika were incorporated in the form of Coconut Grove, a celebration of music, dance, culture, crafts and food. It was refreshing to see K-road alive with the Pasifika community, socializing with friends and family and enjoying the performances.
Not only was Coconut Grove a celebration of our beautiful culture, it was also commemorating the Polynesian Panthers 45th birthday. Manuia lou aso fanau!
The evening began with a karakia and a special mention to the White Ribbon and Free West Papua campaigns. A Samoan dance group from Southern Cross in Mangere then kept the crowds entertained with songs and dance.
Inside were craft stalls! Some of our favorites were jewellery made from recycled plastic bags, and hand crocheted clothing.
The evening was a fresh and vibrant display of island culture. Keep an eye out for our official Coconet story coming soon!
Prime Ministers Pacific Youth Awards
Coco Congrats to the winners of the 2016 Prime Minister's Youth Awards! The success of these young Pacific New Zealanders were celebrated at the awards last night at Parliament.
Winners were as follows: -
Air NZ Leadership & Inspiration Josiah Tavita Tualamali'i, 21 yrs, Christchurch
Auckland Council Community Star Award Emma Takataka, 21 yrs, Otara
AKO Aotearoa STEM Award James Penfold, 20 yrs, Dannemora, Auckland
GCSB STEM Award Roneima Teumohenga, 18 yrs, Palmerston North
Creative NZ Arts & Creativity Award Jahra Wasasala, 24 yrs, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland
BNZ Commercial & Corporate Award Manako Nemaia, Auckland
NZIS Sports & Fitness Award Ayesha Leti-I'iga, 17 yrs, Porirua
Mafutaga Tau, 18 yrs, Porirua
Deloitte Business & Enterprise Award Sanita Betham, 18 yrs, Wellington
Jahra Wasasala with her Prime Ministers Pacific Youth Creative NZ Arts & Creativity Award.
Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga says the awards recognise exellence and achievement in commerce, the arts, sports, community and leadership.
"The nine inspiring winners have been recognised for their impressive contributions to New Zealand's economic, social and cultural life. These inspiring young people are role models for all New Zealanders.…more
Riverdale with KJ APA
Riverdale is a new series set to air on the CW network early next year. The show is inspired by the iconic Archie comics, and New Zealander KJ Apa (who is part Samoan) stars as the lead, Archie Andrews.
Riverdale will be a subversive and mysterious take on the lives of Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica.
"Its definitely 'Archie', but a little darker, a little more complex and a little weirder than you might remember from the digest you bought at the supermaket," executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa said in an interview with EW at Comic Con in July.
Cole Sprouse (Jughead) & KJ (Archie)
We spoke to KJ this morning , and he is just as excited as we are! "We've all worked really hard to create something epic for people to enjoy. I can't wait for everyone to see it, especially everyone back home.…more
Tafa Dr Esther Cowley-Malcolm and why she is 'Standing with Standing Rock'
Today while Americans celebrate 'Thanksgiving', many Native Americans remain united at Standing Rock to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline and protect the Missouri River & sacred sites of the Sioux Tribe.
Native Americans have seen this kind of drama unfold for centuries and have long marked Thanksgiving as a day of remembrance rather than a celebration. Native American Jaqueline Keeler who is a member of the Dakota Sioux Tribe says they don't think of it as a National Holiday the way the rest of the country does "Thanksgiving tells a story that is convenient for Americans but it’s a celebration of our survival. I recognize it as a chance for my family to come together as survivors, pretty much in defiance.”
As freelance writer David Denis Jr observed sarcastically "Make America Great Again means we get to celebrate Thanksgiving while Native Americans are getting their land taken from them.... Just like the good old days"
Many indigenous people from around the world have travelled to Standing Rock to show their support and stand in solidarity with the indigenous people of America.…more
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS: LEILANI MOMOISEĀ DALLAS
LEILANI MOMOISEĀ DALLAS
RADIO NEW ZEALAND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & SPARK SPORTS PRESENTER
SAMOAN
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I've heard you say one of the first things you ask people in your 'Snacks n Chats' interviews is 'Where are you from'? What would YOUR reply be?
Also if someone from Samoa asks where I'm from, I know I have to include that my village is Vaito'omuli, Palauli in Savaii.…more