Fāgogo - Aitu and Teine Sā
Apulu Uta'ile'uō Tu'u'u Mary Kalala Autagavaia breaks down some of the ideas behind Aitu/ atua in Samoan culture, and gives her perspective on the spiritual realm of the Teine Sā and the concept of the Va in Pacific epistemologies.
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Teine Sā trailer
Teine Sā - the ancient spirits of the Pacific are stirring. Revered and feared in equal measure, these sacred gods have crept back into the modern world to engage with five different women facing their own demons..
Teine Sā is a series of stories of modern day issues impacting Pacific women who look to the atua of the past for guidance.
Teine Sā are the ancient spirit women, with the ability to bless and curse in equal measure.
From the notorious goddess Telesa to the Hiama of the Solomon Islands, these tales of the unexpected take age-old stories on many twists and turns.
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#OPINION God's Plan - leaving the results of the next election "Up to the Lord"
Last night the Samoan head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, revoked the results of the general election held on the 9th of April and has instructed the nation to vote again on the 21st of May due to the continued deadlock in Samoa (both parties are on 26 MPs each)
The leader of FAST, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa does not agree with this decision and has spoken out about actions that she calls wrong and unlawful - “We denounce this behaviour, and the misuse of resources and public officials to hold on to power. We must follow this process without diversion or trickery,” she said in a press briefing.
However, the caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has commended the Head of State for his decision to call a fresh election and said that his party leaves the results of the next election "Up to the Lord"
Journalist Va'ai Nah Folasa asks the question "What if Gods plan doesn't suit your own personal plan?"
Last week I wrote an article on Samoa's spiritual and constitutional foundation on God.…more
FAST party outraged by the Samoa Head of States decision to hold another election.
Watch Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's announcement in English from 11:10 mins on ...
Earlier today, the leaders of the two dominant political parties - Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and Fiame Mata'afa Naomi, leader of the Fa'atuata i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) - met with the Head of State today to discuss the possibility of the country heading into another election.
The Head of State Afioga Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II is set to make an announcement later this evening.
Fiame went ahead with her own special announcement an hour ago - summary below:
* The Head of State Afioga Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II has requested another election and the caretaker Prime Minister has agreed to hold another one.…more
THE COOK ISLANDS TRAVEL BUBBLE IS OPEN FROM 17 MAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Cover image photo credit: NZ Herald
More than a year after borders closed around the Pacific, the Cook Islands border will open to New Zealand from the 17th of May with no quarantine in either country!
It will only be open to people who have been resident in New Zealand for 14 consecutive days prior to travel.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
* The border is open from the 17th May and Air New Zealand is offereng flights from Auckland to Rarotonga and return here. Check out Air New Zealand's website for flight schedules and bookings.
* No quarantine in either country. You will not be required to quarantine or self-isolate in the Cook Islands OR on your return to New Zealand.
* Quarantine free travel is between New Zealand and the Cook Islands only and you must have been resident in New Zealand for 14 consecutive days prior to travel.…more
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - ELIZABETH KITE
Elizabeth Kite
Community Organiser / Founder of Tonga Youth Leaders / Pacific Youth Representative to the Commonwealth
Tonga
Elizabeth V Kite is the Founding CEO of Take The Lead (TTL), formerly known as Tonga Youth Leaders, a Non-Government Organization that focuses on empowering underrepresented groups in Tonga to lead in places of national decision making. TTL run’s various leadership programmes including the only annual mock parliament for young women and girls, She Leads Fale Alea ‘O Tonga.…more
POLYNESIANS IN THE 2021 NFL DRAFT
Cover photo credit: The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
The 2021 NFL Draft was the 86th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland from Thursday the 29th of April to Saturday 1st of May.
Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round including the first Polynesian player to be picked in this years draft - Zach Kapono Wilson - who is of Native Hawaiian heritage and was the #2 overall pick. The draft also marks the third time the first three picks (Lawrence, Wilson, and Lance) were Quarterbacks.
There are a total of nine players of Polynesian Heritage who were picked up in the 2021 NFL draft and 2 of them were in the Top 10 draft picks - get familiar with them below.
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Polynesian 2021 Draft Picks in order below:
Zach Kapono Wilson: Native Hawaiian - Quarterback
#2 pick overall, drafted by the New York Jets.…more
Manu Vatuvei reveals himself as sportsman facing drug charges
A well-known sportsman on methamphetamine charges can be named as former rugby league player Manu Vatuvei.
He has outed himself on Instagram, two days before his name suppression was due to lapse.
Vatuvei told followers he wanted them to hear directly from him that he was accused of possessing and importing the drug in 2019.
He denies the charges and is due to stand trial before a jury in October, alongside three other people.
"I'll be fighting my innocence for these charges," he said.
"I know there'll be a lot of questions that will be wanting answers but I've been advised by my legal team that's all I can talk about. So hopefully you can all respect that, and also can you please respect the privacy of my family while I go through this battle."
Vatuvei was declined name suppression by both the District and High Courts, despite his lawyer Greg Bradford suggesting he would be at risk of extreme hardship and his fair trial rights would suffer.…more
Outpouring of Grief and Love after Tonga Leiti's Association President Mr Polikalepo Kefu killed
Earlier today Cruella Tu’inukuafe, the Vice-President of Tonga Leitis Association released an official statement from the Tonga Leiti's Association to announce the passing of their President, Mr Polikalepo Kefu.
Official Statement from Tonga Leitis Association
On behalf of Tonga Leitis Association Patron, Hon. Salote Lupepau’u Tuita Taione and its members, it is with deep sorrow that I wish to inform you of the passing of our President, Mr. Polikalepo Kefu, today 1st May 2021.
Poli, as he has known to many of us, was a selfless humanitarian and a tireless advocate for the rights of those with diverse sexual orientatations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Tonga Police are currently investigating Poli's death and the circumstances surrounding it. It appears that Poli was a victim of a very violent attack. We vehemently hope that those responsible will be swiftly brought to justice.…more
Ms Sunshine Organic Farms, Samoa presents … Growing with Mother Nature 2022
By Floris Niu, Initiative Creator/Cocoa Farmer for Ms Sunshine Organic Farms
Samoa’s first Women’s Farming Calendar, featuring 12 cocoa and mixed-crop growers, their stories, and the attempt to revive traditional or organic farming practices, at grassroots level.
Farming by the Moon:
The ancients observed how the moon affected the tides and by tracking it alongside the sun, they developed calendars to predict agricultural rhythms. The sun was the life giving force, but the moon played an important role in predicting rainfall.
Polynesians understood and moved with the Moon as it proved to them that everything is connected. They followed the Moon phases to plant certain crops and to fish in particular ways or at a particular time, to prevent over fishing.
They thrived under the guidance of the Moon’s harmony with the rest of Nature and existence.…more
ZACH KAPONO WILSON & PENEI SEWELL - The 1st players of Pacific Islands heritage to be picked in the 2021 NFL Draft
Round 1 of the NFL Draft kicked off earlier this evening with the 86th annual meeting of NFL franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 season.
There were 2x Top 10 Draft picks of Pacific Islands heritage.
Zach Kapono Wilson who is of Native Hawaiian heritage and Penei Sewell who was born and raised in American Samoa.
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Similar to Hawaiian born Marcus Mariota who is of Samoan heritage, Zach was picked by the New York Jets 2nd overall in the 2021 draft!
Wilson played in 30 career games for BYU with 28 starts and is the youngest freshman quarterback to ever start for the Cougars. In 2020 he earned Pro Football Focus All-America Second Team, Phil Steele All-America honorable mention, Co-Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and finished No. 8 in the Heisman Trophy voting.
He is one of six siblings and grew up in Utah. His first love wasn't football but basketball and for most of his youth his father took him to basketball tournaments around the US.…more