Iupati named Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year
Arizona Cardinals Offensive Lineman Mike Iupati has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year Award presented by Hawaiian Airlines.
The Award recognizes the most outstanding professional football player of Polynesian ancestry.
The 6-foot-5-tall, 330-pound American Samoa native was born to Aposetola and Belinda Iupati and is of Samoan ancestry. Iupati attended the University of Idaho where he played for the vandals and earned All-American and All-WAC honors.
"As a proud Polynesian and Samoan, I am honored to be selected as the inaugural Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year," said Mike Iupati. "I would like to congratulate the other finalists, Marcus Mariota, Rey Maualuga, Koa Misi and Manti Te'o as they represent the very best of our culture and the National Football League."
Iupati, in his sixth season out of the University of Idaho, has helped lead the Arizona Cardinals to a 13-3 regular season record.…more
Sol3 Mio star weds sweetheart
Pene Jnr Pati - one quarter of the accalaimed Opera-trio Sol3 Mio, tied the knot in front of friends and family at the Villa Maria Estate in Auckland on Friday afternoon.
Photos by PoppyMoss Photography
Pene married fellow Opera singer Amina Edris in the same setting where he had proposed to her just over a year ago.
With close family and friends in attendance, the ceremony and celebration was a family affair with all four of the Pati siblings involved in the ceremony.
Amina looked picture perfect in her one-of-a-kind wedding dress, with her bridesmaids in gorgeous pale blush-pink dresses.
The groomsmen, including fellow Sol3 Mio boys Moses McKay and brother Amitai Pati (the best man) looked elegant in their matching grey suits.…more
Rieko Ioane, Sonny Bill Williams share trade secrets
Sonny Bill Williams arrived for his first official day in All Blacks Sevens camp on Sunday with numerous question marks hanging over his head.
"The big thing for me is just getting out there and doing it, getting reps in," Williams said.
"I've got confidence that I'll be able to pick it up eventually but that's the reason I'm a full-time Sevens player this year, because I knew coming into it that it would be really tough and I've got to give it my all."
Rubbing shoulders with Sevens veterans DJ Forbes and Tim Mikkelson has been invaluable for Williams' education in what is his fourth professional sport and he has already begun drawing from their combined 62 tournaments' worth of experience.
But it's not only the old heads helping out, with 18-year-old Reiko Ioane revealing he has also been sought after by the code-hopping star for advice.
"He definitely has a lot of learning to do.…more
Samoan designer fights for freedom through fashion
Stunning, gutsy and bold are just some of the words people on social media have used to describe the designs by young Samoan designer Janice Brown Setu-Galo.
The pacific fashionista has been heralded by some for pulling off ‘print on print’ with designs that are putting a definitive stamp on the industry.
But it’s about more than just clothes.
After a decade-long career in the fashion industry left her feeling unsatisfied, she bravely embarked on a new journey.
The creative designer went on several mission trips, and found that she wanted ‘helping people’ to be at the heart of her work every day.
A revelation which became a turning point in her career.
“It came to a point in my life where I really wanted to amalgamate what was in my hand and what was in my heart” said Janice.
And so, Salt & Light Threads was birthed.
The brand combines her passion for fashion and creativity, alongside her innate desire to help others.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Dr Semisi Lolohea
Dr Semisi Lolohea
General Surgeon, Colorectal Surgeon
I grew up in the Islands where I went to school and I was 17 years old when I moved to New Zealand. It was my first time outside of Tonga and it was quite daunting. My English wasn’t very good. I could have reasonable conversations with people but it was very hard for me adjusting in the first year.
And did you know at that time that you wanted to pursue a medical career?
Yeah I was always quite keen on doing medicine. I worked hard with my studies but it was challenging because of the language barrier. When I made it into Medicine school I could understand what they were talking about but asking questions and actually having a conversation with the Teacher was a struggle. Sometimes I wanted to answer questions but I was a bit embarrassed because I could not speak English properly. It remained a barrier even all throughout my career but over time I gained more confidence.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Susana Leota
Susana Leota
32 years old, living in Samoa.
Legal Adviser, National District Health Board
Describe your family background?
I have 6 other siblings and we also often grew up surrounded by lots of extended family. My parents raised us with traditional fa’asamoa values but they also encouraged us to adapt in western society. They taught us to value education and encouraged us to read lots of books. We had to speak politely and use our manners. We often labeled as posh kids by our peers.
Do you have a treasured memory from your childhood?
I attended a school for kids with special needs or who had vision impairment and one year they put on a Halloween party. My parents dressed me up as a little Taupou. I remember it was raining and the treasure hunt went around the whole school. I needed crutches to walk on and my Dad didn’t want me walking the distance in the rain so he piggy-backed me through the whole treasure hunt. That’s one of my favourite memories.…more
Afakasi Alien in New York
After 32 hours travelling, 3 planes and surviving the beast that is LAX airport, this South Auckland afakasi woman arrived blurry eyed and bloated with airplane food at JFK airport New York City.
I jump into a yellow cab and head to Brooklyn as the driver ducks and dives between traffic like a pro. We trade stories about our home towns and what brings us to New York. I tell him I am a poet and here to check out one of the largest youth literary organisations in the world.
I arrive at my friends place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn just as the sun is setting. I am greeted by smiles from the papas playing chess in front of the stoop. Clearly, my years of travelling are not evident in my overweight suitcase . . . but a girl never knows what she may need, ya feel me? (that’s me trying to ‘New Yorkify’ myself). Once settled in, I am taken for a walk and shown the nearby laundromat, grocery corner store, the subway, bars and restaurants.…more
HEALTH BENEFITS OF TARO
The health benefits of taro include its ability to improve digestion, lower your blood sugar levels, prevent certain types of cancers, protect the skin, boost vision health, increase circulation, decrease blood pressure, aid the immune system and prevent heart disease, while also supporting muscle and nerve health.
Taro root, which is the thick, tuber stalk of the taro plant is an extremely important part of global cuisines and diets, as it has been for thousands of years.
In fact, taro is considered one of the first cultivated plants in human history. Its scientific name is Colocasia esculenta and it has a truly fascinating history.
It is believed to be native to Southeast Asia and southern India, but it is cultivated and used all over the Pacific Islands. Every culture uses taro in a slightly different way, depending on how it is prepared and the variety of the crop that is grown. It is also one of the few crops that can grow in flooded areas, due to its petioles, which can transfer materials even whilst underwater.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Lilian Su'a
Lilian Su’a
Samoan
Theatre Director, Aspiring Film Director
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What inspired you to work in theatre and film?
I’ve always wanted to make films because I loved watching movies when I was little. There was one fale in our village in Fugalei, and they had a TV. Whenever they turned it on I I would just kind of stand outside their fale by the pillars and just peak in. Back then, they’d be playing imported movies from America like The Lion King. We would watch Cartoons and it was like the ‘in’ thing in the village. Myself and the village kids would just stand outside and watch and we weren’t allowed to go inside the house unless the owner would see us and invite us in. It was the only fale in our whole village that had a TV and that’s where you would find all the kids. I guess that’s where my fascination with movies started.
And that led you to what you’re doing now?
Yes - directing and writing Theatre productions.…more
Virgin Coconut oil effective in treating diabetes!
Can Virgin Coconut Oil be the superfood that everyone is saying it is?
Source: Health Impact News
25.8 million children and adults in the United States, 8.3% of the population, have diabetes.
The current rate of people becoming diabetic in the United states is doubling every 10 years. This has resulted in a windfall for pharmaceutical companies capitalizing on this “disease” with drugs designed to treat type 2 diabetes, but not deal with the underlying cause. These drugs have serious side effects.
One of the most popular diabetes drugs, Avandia, was pulled off the market in 2011 after a number of studies showed that the drug increased the risk of heart attacks among type 2 diabetes patients. The manufacturer of the drug reached a $3 billion settlement in December 2011 over its fraudulent marketing of the drug, the largest federal criminal drug-company settlement to date.
Information that is finally making its way into the mainstream media is that type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle and diet issue that can be reversed without drugs.…more