Date with daughter at Denny's...

Denny's Restaurant New Lynn

Yesterday got to spend some time with our middle child i.e. mother/daughter time at Dennys which happens to be our fave family restaurant for desserts, downtime or celebrating.

With the upcoming weekend ball season and our eldest busy sorting out all the requirements of making it special in it being the last ball as a senior in high school, it gave me some time to reflect on how quickly time goes by and before you know it, our children become adults and then have families of their own.

So having a special time to check on how things are or to just hang out provides special memories going forward and a time to chill and take time out of busy schedules to reconnect. It's especially important with teens both male and female to check in and see how things are going instead of assuming that all is well.

Thinking of making this time even more regular as we do with church attendance, attending regular work meetings, occasional family meetings and other meetings that we often can 'park' our families needs to fulfil other commitments that often aren't that important.

Now looking forward to scheduling these in for my children and showing appreciation for all that we learn as a family...

Viewing the Vunilangi Vou art space in Otahuhu...

Front store at the new Vunilagi Vou art gallery/space in Otahuhu

Last week, I was able to view 'Vunilagi Vou' new art gallery/space in Otahuhu with an amazing wahine toa (strong woman) Ema Tavola, the curator and artist who is of Fijian heritage and has curated many exhibitions in Auckland and also overseas with a lot of insight into the Pasifika art scene.

It was neat to take some of my family members to view the inaugural exhibition of some 13 Pasifika artists with different styles and backgrounds, the materials used and their perspectives.

It was neat to also see the space and future planning for possible group exhibitions in the space and for bringing our communities into the space to share art ideas. For those wanting to view the art gallery, it's at 4/256 Great South Road, Otahuhu out in South Auckland.

What's so neat about this new initiative is that it's very grassroots and within the Pasifika niche community of Otahuhu and having a conversation with Ema further confirmed the information of a space for new, emerging and seasoned artists who would like to exhibit within the space.

If you're wanting to know more about the artspace and art gallery, check out the website on: www.vunilagivou.com ...

Tonga vs Kiwis @ Mt Smart Stadium...

It's been interesting to watch the massive Tongan support for their National Tongan Rugby League team here in Auckland over the last couple of years. In fact, on the weekend when I went with my family to view a new Art Gallery in Otahuhu, in the main shopping area, a huge presence of police were there as the weekend began with festivities in the anticipated matchup between the Tongans and the Kiwis (although there is a police station there).

With Otahuhu being the HQ Headquarters during the last couple years with the Rugby League world cup and other featured rugby/league matches, it's been interesting to see how many Tongans have displayed National pride in supporting their National team/s on mass.

I think it all started four years ago with the Rugby world cup and supporters displaying the Tongan flag/s on their cars but then it went up another level with cars beeping up and down Otahuhu main street with upcoming games and congregating on mass that last year the Otahuhu main street was cordoned off to traffic with concerns that a few hooligans were spoiling it for the many.

And now you are able to 'spot the Tongan' house, car or person resplendent with red (and white) Tongan flags donning houses, outside car windows (often waving) or red Tshirts, hats, shoes, Sweatshirts and even dresses, pants and wigs, and not forgetting the face paint.

And last night's match was no exception when Tongan supporters travelled on mass to support their beloved team decked out what has been coined "the sea of red" something that mainstream NZ is now becoming accustomed to.

"Malo au pito" (thank you) Tonga for showing NZ what it means to show solidarity and pride for your Pasefika nation. Although the game wasn't won on the field, it was won in the hearts and minds of Tongans who participated in supporting their team and there's always next year... (or the Rugby World cup upcoming)...

Dancing with the Stars 2019 Champion - Manu Vatuvei...

This last Sunday I watched the finale of 'Dancing with the Stars' 2019. Having always loved dance and music from a young age in learning cultural dance: Cook Islands, Niue, Maori, Samoan and contemporary in growing up in church and sometimes in high school, it was so refreshing to see Manu Vatuvei win the total prize.

For those of us who've been brought up in a community where dance and music is an expression of what we enjoy: be it in cultural dance, or expressive dance in church or at Socials or Disco dances (which used to be big in the 1970s - 1980s) or enjoying music and dance at home, or at birthdays, weddings etc. It was such a joy to watch Manu having a great time and even showing a few tears of vulnerability along the way.

In fact, I enjoyed his performances as a Pacific (Tongan) man expressing his joy through dance that I had to vote for him, a few times, in order to hopefully secure his position as the most favoured dancer of the season and also to support his fundraising charity which was 'Kids Can'. So fitting for what he accomplished.

It's sad in that often people think that ballroom dancing is for sissies, but when you see Manu's effortless dancing you get to understand that it actually takes a lot of coordination, listening to instructions, learning the moves and telling a story through expressing in movements and showing emotions and that's why Manu won my vote plus the fact that he was a great role model for males in dancing.

But I mustn't take away from his dance partner who really honoured him through sharing their beautiful choreography and breathtaking moves although I'm not sure that I'd feel very comfortable if my husband danced so close to another woman as they do on the show but I guess that's that nature of the dance.

So again, congratulations to 'the beast' in Rugby League but a beauty in dancing and all the best to the Tongan Rugby team tomorrow as they play again the Kiwi's. May the best team win!

Ration Challenge (Refugee Box) 2nd year ...

The contents of my Ration challenge food for 7 days

The Ration Challenge is on again from 16 - 23 June and I'm on Day 3 after having a cleanse day on the first and then having crepes yesterday.

This is my second year of taking a week out of my normal routine and only eating the contents out of a box that would normally be supplied to refugees all over the world.

Whilst doing this, people can post on social media and seek sponsorship for the organization to fund many initiatives out there for refugees who often aren't able to fend for themselves due to dire or difficult situations.

The idea of the Ration challenge started in 2014 when two friends raised money for refugees with the challenge which then started off in Australia, the following year, with many taking up the challenge to support. Since 2016, NZ became a partner with many taking up the challenge for the week-long ration challenge and it's sponsored by an organization called 'Act for Peace' which is an International Aid Agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

The 7-day box of supplies (that you have to purchase) consists of:

1. Dried Lentils: 170g
2. Vegetable Oil: 250ml
3. White Rice: 1920g
4. Plain Flour: 400g
5. Tin of Sardines: 125g (or vegan/vegetarian alternative)
6. Dried Chickpeas: 85g
7. Red Kidney Beans tin: 400g
8. (1 spice) as I was able to sponsor myself

This year I gave the challenge to my younger sister and so she joined my team and is also supporting it. If you would like to sponsor our efforts just jump on our page and sport our 'Pacific Hibiscus' team. https://my.rationchallenge.org.nz/helentauaufilisi  (highlight and click). It's also named after our organization 'Pacific Hibiscus' and feel free to ask any questions etc. or you might even want to give it a go or maybe plan for next year. 

It's feels like fasting (on my first day), going vegan and vegetarian (as I'm saving the sardines until the weekend) all at once. By the third day my I know I feel a little lighter plus I can probably tighten the belt a notch but definitely feels good to be doing something for others (Social enterprise at a micro scale).

Try it, you might even like it and it may be even good for you...

Attending 'New Dawn' Pacific Social Enterprise Summit...

Credits: Pacific Business Trust's 'New Dawn' Pacific Social Enterprise Summit

Today I had the opportunity to attend the 'New Dawn' Pacific Social Enterprise Summit, courtesy of our Pacific Business Trust who was able to sponsor myself as Director of Pacific Hibiscus and other Pasifika businesses, or social enterprises, NGOs (Non-Government Organisations), creatives, community organisations or groups etc. to their inaugural summit towards encouraging more Social enterprises as a new direction forward for the Trust.

This is very exciting going forward for our communities. A couple of months ago when I first saw the ads, I must admit that I didn't really read it closely enough and thought that I wouldn't have the time or inclination to attend but upon reading the fine print, I realized that it was something that I was already doing (informally) and wanted to know more about formalizing the social enterprise side of our business.

John Pulu (Tongan) of 'Tagata Pasifika' (TV presenter) was the MC Master of Ceremonies for the day and day started with a Pasifika solo dance performance and then Ps Lui Ponifasio (Samoan) shared some reflections opening prayer for the commencement of the summit.

Faamatuainu Tino Pereira (Samoan/Pasifika business leader) started discussions with Hon. Aupito William Sio (Samoan/Minister for Pacific Peoples) adding his perspective from a governmental point of view. A global perspective of Social Enterprises was shared by Tara Singh, US speaker (Founding Chair of NEXUS) and Leata Alaimoana-Roberts (Samoan) discussed her work in Australia with Impact investments and the role social enterprises in the Pacific region.

At home, in New Zealand, Helene Malandain (French) discussed the work that her organization of Akina Foundation was doing in different regions. As a result, I found out that generally speaking, S.E. or Social Enterprise / Social Entrepreneurs were about businesses or organizations doing good in their communities and caring about the community wellbeing, sustainability, the environment etc.

It was great to see the work of a neat Christian couple: Emeline and Alipate Mafile'o (Tongan) who have done some neat work within our Pasifika communities with the mentoring programmes of Affirming Works and most recently Tupuanga Coffee and several Community Cafes scattered all around Auckland eg. Otahuhu Train station, Mangere Arts centre, etc.

There were many more speakers at breakout panels representing:

1. Creative and Cultural
2. Social and Health
3. Finance, Employment and Tech
4. Environment and Sustainability

Now looking forward visiting the Pacific Business Trust in the new future with its new vision of encouraging a Social Enterprising movement amongst our Pasifika businesses and organizations with a vision of supporting and caring for our people...

www.worldcat.org - World Library Catalogue ...

World Library Catalogue -
a vast database of books in libraries around the world

Yesterday, I was inquiring (researching) into some different aspects of my writing, when I stumbled upon the World Library Catalogue website and started checking through to see where some of our books were placed in various libraries within NZ and overseas.

In an earlier blog, a couple of years ago, I came across this website and found it interesting to search through but didn't acquire a lot of information, however, this time I was quite intrigued by some of my findings.

As far as I am aware, the World Library Catalogue has a vast database of books that have been registered with their ISBN (International Standard Book Number) into their system in libraries around the world. You are then able to search for a particular book through their title/s etc. and see which libraries around the world that you are able to access them on. You are also able to find out how many kilometres/miles those libraries are away from your location.

It was a great pleasure to yesterday inform our Mana Mangere Writers Collective (we meet monthly) that our first book 'Mana Mangere Voices' (2017) had listings in various Auckland libraries, the University libraries of Auckland (of which I am an alumni of), University of Otago, MIT (Manukau Institute of Technology), the Alexander Turnbull National library in Wellington and the University of Hawaii at Manoa that I visited back in 2015.

For our second book 'Sense of belonging' (2018) copies were also found in Auckland libraries, The Universities of Auckland, Otago, Canterbury, as well as in Porirua (Wellington) public library, Alexander Turnbull and especially interesting was the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

In viewing the other books that I had written i.e. the Pasifika plays; poetry and short stories collections; the bilingual picture books, it was quite a privilege and interesting to see that Universities had picked up our books, in various locations nationally and internationally in perhaps recognizing the academic or research qualities behind the books, particularly of relating to indigenous principles and values in giving a voice to our cultures, ancestral knowledge, cultural knowledge and values etc.

So much so, that I found our 'Pacific Hibiscus' poetry book listed in Zentralbibliothek Zurick library in Switzerland, the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Auckland, Canterbury Universities as well as Christchurch, Auckland and Porirua public libraries. With one of my plays 'Su'e the lost son' listed in the University of Essex, at Colchester, in the U.K.

With more writing and books to come, you never know where you might find your favourite Pasifika books listed in libraries nationally and around the world...

Pacific Hibiscus - our Imprint name...

Imprint, Company name and Poetry collection

Several years before I began the journey into self-publishing, there were some iconic moments, that I recall, made me think that there was more to my thoughts than just a dream of becoming a writer.

From a very young age, I enjoyed reading stories about how other people lived. I also enjoyed drawing, painting and creating art, watching movies and learning about makes us tick.

By the time I started in my career as an educator, I believed that there was more to life than just being a teacher and kept walking in that direction.

Sometimes, I believe that the creator or our Atua (God) places within each heart, a dream, or a purpose to fulfil. As well as being a daughter, wife, mother, sister and friend etc. I feel that part of that purpose, for me, is being fulfilled in the books that we are currently considering, writing, planning and self-publishing for our readers.

What's it's taught me and that I want to share with many a down and out sad writer, passionless dreamer, tired mother, almost giving up student, frustrated friend etc. is to never give up. To keep walking towards that vision, that goal, that dream and to never lose sight of it.

You might want to become a dancer, an elite sportsperson, a business owner or creator or entrepreneur etc. whatever that dream might be, it's important to keep honing those skills, to stay within that field and broaden your knowledge, to begin to share your dream with other believers in you and to never lose faith.

For years, I kept knowing that I hadn't reached my goal and that "something's missing" as the 1980s song goes. And in the late 1990s, I started writing out my thoughts in creative journals, I wrote poetry, started storylines and years before our company was even birthed, the name 'Pacific Hibiscus' stayed within my mind for several years.

When I intrepidly started our company in 2015, I registered the name as Pacific Hibiscus and then a couple of years later, wrote a poetry collection and named it 'Pacific Hibiscus' in honour of the purpose that I was given and the journey as a female writer, hence the hibiscus flower as a feminine symbol and the word Pacific, from where I am from both in being born as a Samoan in New Zealand and being brought up with Maori, Samoans, Cook Islanders, Niueans and Tongans in my schooling life and in church.

Our Imprint name has special meaning to me and as we start to develop the vision even more, I thought it was important to stop, take stock, be thankful to God for the journey that started so many years ago and then continue to forge ahead to share this unfolding story with others who also have a dream and to encourage them, even after decades, that it's never to late to start as I did, as there's no time limit on a dream...

Celebrating graduation 2019 ...

Leota, Alice, (me) and Savaiinaea, Tamatoa at our graduation

This week I had the privilege of celebrating graduation with my class of 2018. I'm pictured here with two of our graduating students of Samoan descent: Leota, Alice Meredith and Savaiinaea, Tamatoa Manoa from the Certificate in Te Kunenga o te Ao Tikanga (Indigenous Research/Inquiry) class, Level 4.

It's an interesting paper to teach and I've learnt a lot too. As a 36 weeks course, you are encouraged to learn indigenous inquiry (so far different from research) about indigenous leadership particular from your own cultural group i.e. Mana tangata (the cultural significance of people); and then through Mana whenua (the cultural significance of the environment) you learn about significant environmental practices and knowledge surrounding them; Mana Ao Turoa is about looking at the development of future innovations and further inquiry with Mana Reo being, the importance of our indigenous languages and knowledge to sustain and maintain for future generations.

It's been an interesting journey because I knew when I was teaching in secondary school that it wasn't really what I wanted to be doing and now in teaching and learning within tertiary education with adults and supporting their learnings (although I probably learn a lot more from them), it's been a privilege to meet wonderful people like these students above who bring much knowledge, experience and understandings into our classrooms.

I also have the privilege of supporting them into Masters degree learning for those who wish to continue their journeys and often friendships build as we support each other in our educational journeys with laughs and sometimes tears along the way as we build trust and share about each others lives.

I've definitely come a long way from being a student who aimed high to learn as much as I possibly could to pass those exams at high school and Uni to the best of my abilities and now I get to support others too in their climb as well as to share some of those stories in books. I definitely have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for. Thank you God!...

Manurewa Marae weekend noho marae...

Manurewa Marae: beautiful interior cultural designs and stories

This last weekend I spent at Manurewa Marae with a couple of other classes joining mine to listen to our guest speaker: Matua Rereata.

He is one of 5 distinguished indigenous speakers sharing matauranga (Maori word for knowledge) with communities to help to share indigenous practices with whanau (families) all over the country and internationally throughout the Pacific.

The 5 areas that were identified that I am also very interested in includes:

1. Living by the Stars: Prof. Rangi Matamua
2. Maramataka: (understanding the phases of the moon for everyday living) Matua Rereata...
3. Navigation by the stars: the late Sr Hekenukumai Busby (master waka builder), Matua Hoturoa
4. Elite sports: Dr Ihirangi
5. Social work: Matua Riki

I was privileged enough with my class to attend the talk and were very blessed to have learned so much information in a short amount of time. It is about reclaiming much of the old indigenous knowledge that has been lost in many areas since colonization and claiming it for current practice to help heal, nurture and feed families, individuals and communities.

This has been really exciting work as it feels as if I was born for such a time as this in being able to pool the knowledge to share through books, discussions, on blogs and social media. It also helps to inform my doctoral studies through the information that I am learning about.

In coming weeks, I'll be able to share some of the new ways of understanding within these blogs and some of the ancient practices that are now being utilised by families to support their wellbeing and through a more holistic lens...

Watching 'Aladdin' movie with family...

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of having a 'girls night out' with my mum, sister, niece and daughters. All up 7 of us and we decided to go to view the latest Disney movie starring Will Smith as the gene.

If you haven't already watched it and you're a fan of the Disney princesses movies etc. I enjoyed this movie with its interesting sets, set somewhere in the Middle East and with some neat costuming and colours. No spoiler alerts so no worries in reading the rest of the blog.

I like the way they tried to make it look authentic and it stayed true to the original cartoon with some nice renditions of the original songs. We especially like the flying carpet and the Iago, the 'villain' parrot also stayed true storyline.

Definitely would recommend this to families for taking your little ones, the two main characters of Jasmine and Aladdin can definitely sing and just in case you know the words to some of those classic songs, then you can sing along too.

A great night out for us girls...

Book launch, birthdays and relaxation...

Book display at Papatoetoe war memorial library book launch

This last long Queen's birthday weekend was very busy with the birthday celebration of my beloved with a book launch of our latest non-fiction picture book title 'The 1918 deadly epidemic in Samoa'.

That was followed by my mom's significant birthday celebration and then recovery over a BBQ for Queen's birthday weekend. With the week ahead of so much accomplished (thanks to God) and more to do.

A big thanks to Leota, Alice for hosting our book launch, last Friday, at Papatoetoe war memorial library and the pre-launch/post-launch book readings at: Mayfield School (Otara), Papatoetoe West School and Holy Cross school (Papatoetoe).

We also managed to visit my old school twice to share a Samoan storybook 'The footprint of Moso' with our youngest's class and also with the Samoan bilingual unit to learn about the 1918 epidemic that killed so many and that was part of Samoan history that few have known about.

As a result, the next historical picture book in the series that we are considering to write to around the event known as "Black Saturday" in which the two worlds collide and still very few diaspora Samoans know about this event that cemented in the minds, of Samoans of the day, to become independent from colonial forces and to be self-governing.

But that's another story for another time. Suffice to say that it's always nice after a book launch to relax as we send out our latest offering and begin to prepare for the next journey. Never a dull moment in the lives of prolific writers. A true blessing to share these stories with you, the reader/s :)...