Known as the “Super Bowl of surfing,” the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was held for the first time since 2016 in Hawaii over the weekend, as organizers said an estimated 50,000 people were packed on the beach to watch.

This also marked just the 10th time the event has ever been held due to the tournament’s rules which require open-ocean swells to reach a minimum height of 20 feet before it can commence.

The tournament also featured women for the first time ever.

The format saw athletes surfing two rounds of five heats each - each surfer could ride a maximum of four waves in each round.

After eight hours of intense action, the wave of the day award went to native Hawaiian pro surfer Zeke Lau - catch his highlights from the experience in the video above.

Ultimately, Luke Shepardson ended up taking the crown scoring a near-perfect 89.1 out of a possible 90 points, with three waves counting to the final result, and each scored out of 30.

Samoan

Comic Book Artist, Professional Wrestler and Owner of 'Bloody Samoan Art' Company

We got to hear from multidisciplinary artist Michel Mulipola also known as Bloody Samoan, about the amazing work he has been doing since our original Humans Of The Island profile on him in 2016. Since then he has accomplished a long list of achievements including working on an exciting new project with Disney. 

Hear about Michel's work here... 

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You've been working with Disney this year, what has that experience been like for you?

Working as a Story Artist for the Disney Animation Studios has been an absolutely fantastic experience for me. As I have no background in the animation field, the challenges presented by this new (to me) medium has pushed my creative limits in a good way. I have learnt so much over the last 6 months from everyone in the Story Team.

I've been fortunate to be able to work from home in Māngere for Disney but I was lucky enough to work from the Disney Animation Building in Burbank, Los Angeles in November/December.…more

Over the weekend former Samoan NFL player Manti Te'o was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.

His football career included a Heisman Trophy runner-up finish during his senior year at Notre Dame where he won a number of individual awards including the Maxwell Trophy and his journey was recently told in the Netflix 'Untold' series.  

Te'o was enshrined along with 11 year NFL veteran Mike Iupati, a two time All Pro guard and four time Pro Bowler.

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He spoke with NFL journalist Steve Wyche here ahead of the induction weekend - watch the video above and the full interview via NFL Total access here 

Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck is a massive NFL fan and also grew up playing rugby most of his life.

He decides to ruffle a few feathers and breaks down whether he thinks a rugby player could make it in the NFL or not ... 

Former WBO heavyweight world champion Lupesoliai Joseph Parker will fight live on New Zealand free-to-air television for the first time on January 22, with Warner. Bros Discovery ANZ having secured the broadcast rights to screen the kiwi slugger’s fight against local hero ‘One Smack’ Jack Massey in Manchester, on TV Three.

The Samoan fighter will be looking to get himself back into title contention with a win in Manchester.

“I’m going to smash him,” Parker said of his looming bout with Massey, an elite cruiserweight who will be stepping up to heavyweight for the first time.

“He’s got big balls I’ll give him that,” said Parker. “But there are divisions in boxing for a reason. I’m going to be the bigger man. I’m going to fight like the bigger man, back him up and push him back. I’m going to make him think about if he really wants to be in the heavyweight division.”

Parker had the chance to eyeball local hero Massey at an open workout at Manchester’s Trafford Centre Shopping Complex on Wednesday.…more

By Thomas Airey 

Never have the Manu Samoa 7s entered a New Zealand leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series as the top seed until this weekend, the 21st and possibly last ever tournament in Hamilton.

Not even the all-conquering 2010 world champions earned that honour – Stephen Betham’s side stumbled at the quarterfinal stage in South Africa before the Wellington event.

That is the unprecedented level at which current coach Muliagatele Brian Lima has his young team performing.

Not only did they win their first tournament title since May 2016 last month in Cape Town, Samoa haven’t missed the quarterfinals of a World Series leg since he took over.

During the four year reign of legendary coach Sir Gordon Tietjens, the Manu made the top eight 11 times in 34 attempts.

Muliagatele was appointed after Tietjens’ contract expired in August 2020.

He gave Samoa’s local veteran players the chance to prove themselves and make his squad, but right from the start looked to rebuild for future success.…more

I was 14 when I first dreamed of one day receiving a Malu but I never imagined the difficult journey that I would embark on.

As a teenager I told my parents and they said one day I’d be ready. 10 years later that day finally came, and I was joined by my older sister who would be my soa.

When the day came, I felt ready. Mentally I felt prepared and logistically I ticked everything off of my list. I had the ies, lega, fagu’u, falas, antiseptic cream, protex, ilis and everything I could ever imagine needing.

My sister went first and I waited for her to finish. Her Malu was beautiful and I got a preview of what was instore for me. When it was my turn I was surrounded by all my friends and family, so I felt all their love strengthen me. When I finished being ka’d (tattoed) I got up looked at my legs and it was like a dream come true. I felt relief, comfort and joy rush over me all at once.…more