Who are your Pacific heroes?

Who are your Pacific heroes?

I was well out of high school before I fully understood that the history we learned there is not really mine. I mean, I loved the stories of Socrates, Da Vinci, Magellan and Napoleon, Martin Luther and Abraham Lincoln, and I still think it’s important to know these historical figures, especially as we navigate the Western world they helped to shape. But years later when I discovered the story of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, I couldn’t believe that I, a now grown ass Samoan woman, had never heard of him before. And then when I was telling all my Samoan friends about this Head of State who lost his life defending the freedom of our ancestors, no one in my generation or younger had heard of him either.

Well that just made me sad.

I understand that Samoan history is not too relevant in many parts of the world, but I went to school in Hawaii, Saipan and New Zealand. You’d think that education in New Zealand, especially, might want to include a few stories from the history of a people they once colonized, who still make up such a huge part of their migrant population. Why aren’t all of us in the Pacific learning more about our own history? (Aannndd breathe.)

Anyway, thank goodness for books – and for the growing number of passionate writers documenting the history of Pacific people. I hope these stories become required reading for more of our schools.

A few months ago I helped a friend organize a workshop for the school holidays program at a local library. We decided to make it a leadership workshop focusing on 3 heroes from Pacific history – yayy! – and off I went to look for these heroes in books.

I found our first Pacific hero in a series of readers by David Riley called Pasifika Heroes. One of his Cook Island Heroes is Ru… Now let me tell you about Ru.

Ru the Explorer

Ru was one of Polynesia’s ancient, seafaring heroes. A lot of stories about Ru are fantastical legend now, but all legends are based on truth, right?

Ru was a master navigator who loved to explore the oceans. He invited his friends and family along on yet another high seas adventure, but most of them were afraid to leave home.

So in a rousing speech, Ru told them to be fearless, to embrace the excitement of discovery. He taught them that they should always be moving forward, that the mysteries of the ocean were waiting out there for them.

Ru got his people so inspired that his whole family – all his wives, all his brothers and their wives, etc. – joined him on his expedition. Aaannndd you can read the rest of this story in Cook Island Heroes. (Go find out why Ru included 20 princesses as part of the crew on his voyage.)

Spoiler Alert: Ru lead the expedition that eventually discovered, populated and governed – quite cleverly – the island now known as Aitutaki.
I found my next Pacific Island hero in another David Riley book.

Haloti Ngata

Tongan American football star Haloti Ngata is a modern day Pacific hero.
Haloti’s success was inspired by heroes in his own life. He was named after his uncle, who played college football, and decided to follow in his footsteps. It was his father, though, who taught him the value and power of hard work. Haloti remembers one day when he was a teenager tempted to nap on the floor instead of doing his chores. He heard his father come in and quickly jumped into a plank position, as if he had been doing push ups instead of sleeping. His father expressed his approval, encouraging him to keep up the good work. In honour of his father and uncle, Haloti worked hard enough to eventually play football for Oregon University.

He was devastated when his father was killed in a tragic accident. And then a year later, Haloti suffered a knee injury which ended his football season. Imagine how discouraging that was for him. He just about gave up.. but thanks to the support of great friends and teammates, he fought through the challenging times – kept the faith – made it to the NFL in 2006 and went to the Superbowl in 2013.

You can read more about Haloti Ngata in David Riley’s Tongan Heroes.

Lauli’i Willis

I have been gushing about Lauli’i the Daughter of Samoa – and our last chosen hero – for several years now. Hers is another story I can’t believe I didn’t know growing up.

So Lauli’i was born in Samoa in the mid 1800s – back when the only people documenting our stories were foreign explorers. Her American husband took her to an editor in California who recorded her life story, as dictated to him, in her own words… and her incredible description of Samoa back then? I can hardly imagine that world today.

I’m still in awe of Lauli’i because hers is the only indigenous Samoan ‘voice’ I’ve ever read from before the 20th century. She’s a Pacific hero not only for leaving behind a written record of her life, but also because as a very young child, she survived an extraordinarily dangerous time in Samoan history.

I’d be here all week if I started telling you Lauli’i’s thrilling true story. You really should read it yourself it’s FREE online, even, at Google Books.

You’re welcome.

More Pacific Heroes

Who are your heroes from Pacific history? Whose stories do you think our schools – especially in the Pacific – should be teaching? Tell us in the comments below.

In 2019, Manaui: The People of Oceania will begin highlighting our contemporary heroes – the men and women in our own communities who have inspired success amongst our people through their own achievements. We’re calling these heroes our Manaui Wayfinders.

We’re accepting nominations now.

In the comments, please also tell us who you think we should interview as our next Manaui Wayfinder.

What does Manaui mean?

What does Manaui mean?

The short answer?

Manaui represents the nurturing land from which we rise, stretch out into the world, but never abandon. No matter how far we reach, we will always be connected to home – and to each other – through the strong, sinewy roots of our history, family, traditions and way of life.

Okay, but what does the word “Manaui” actually mean?

Here’s the long story:

In Samoa’s matai protocol, every ali’i (high chief) title is connected to an allotment of customary land. The ali’i in my family calls his tulaga maota – the site of his home – ‘Magaui‘.

According to my mother, this name comes from the words, ‘maga‘, an opening, and ‘ui‘, the act of turning or twisting. It refers to something our people were known for back in the day – pigeon hunting!

More specifically, it talks about the slingshot we’d use on the hunt – its Y-shaped head is the maga (opening) and ui is how we’d turn and twist it to find the perfect angle for our shot.

But I’ve loved the word Magaui since long before I knew what it meant. It reminds me that no matter where I am in the world, I’m intrinsically connected to Samoa – to my family, our traditions, our legacy – and that the precise piece of land “…from which we rise” has a name.

I’ve always been entrepreneurial and I love making up names for my little ventures, but I always knew that my one BIG project – the one that would have my heart and soul – would be for the People of Oceania.

My people.

And I knew that this project would need a name as momentous as its purpose. Magaui.

To signify that it was borrowed (and to make it easier to pronounce) I changed its spelling and found out that Manaui – with an n – is the Tongan word for a certain deciduous tree. That got me thinking…

The land(s) of our heritage.

Us, rising up from this land.

A large, flourishing tree…

(…used medicinally for childbirth).

Far-reaching branches…

…stretching out into the world…

…as if to share knowledge,

to breathe life…

…into new generations.

Manaui.

[ma’naui:]

It just feels right.

Spending the day at Vavau beach? Don’t forget these essentials!

Spending the day at Vavau beach? Don’t forget these essentials!

Gorgeous Vavau beach – on the southeast coast of Upolu – would be the highlight of any trip to Samoa. Make sure you’re ready to make the most of it!

  1. Always have a camera with you to take pictures of this beautiful, serene beach located in the heart of Lotofaga – Upolu. So have batteries packed or charge your phone so you don’t miss out on that ONE shot.
  2. FOOD is must! A packed lunch – whether it be a picnic, suppers, munchies etc. – as the drive from town to Vavau is an hour and a half and there’s no mini-mart or food stop near Vavau beach.
  3. Extra change in your wallets in case people of the village are chilling at the entry of the beach and ask you for a entry fee (true story) LOL xD
  4. Prepare a driving / trip playlist of your favourite jams. The drive to Vavau is a journey for a tourist – the views of the local villages & other hot tourist spots (especially Lalomanu) are breathtaking outside your window on your way to the kuabax.
  5. Vailima + Vavau Beach = Best swim ever! Share a brew or two with the family or friends you have traveled with for the day. And then, just take in the beautiful clear Samoan waters, air and view of just one of our many hidden gems in SAMOA
Video credit: Vavau beach, Samoa – Amazing Planet
7 things I want to know before travelling to Samoa for the first time

7 things I want to know before travelling to Samoa for the first time

I’d be lying if I said I had always wanted to go to Samoa. As a second generation immigrant, life in New Zealand and all it’s comforts (first world problems) were all I had ever known.

My only connection to my Samoan roots were through my grandmother Vae and grandfather Pili.

They had always wanted me to go to Samoa and learn more about my heritage. But like most spoilt kids these days, my response often consisted of loud sigh and an empty promise.

Years passed and eventually both my grandparents passed away…When life got tough, I would find their words stirring within me. I never knew why. And I was too stubborn to care.

Even more time has passed but now my outlook on life has changed. I have mellowed out (a little bit) enough for me to humble myself and learn. And with culture being a central part of my work life, I am in a position to go out and rediscover myself in a way I’ve never done before.

Despite my fear, shame and embarrassment of not knowing anything about my Samoan roots, I made a goal to go in 2018 and track down my ancestors. This will in some ways serve as a reminder of my commitment to do this and not to chicken out for unknown (made up) reasons.

Samoa is one of the most popular holiday hotspots in the Pacific. Below are some of the reasons why the thought of going there scares me. Hint: Refer to first world problems.

My nana and grandpa would slap me over the head for waiting this long and still not knowing as  much as I should about Samoa. While it’s true I could google some of these things, I wanted to offer a snapshot into my naivety and fears as they are today. I’m not proud of them but they’re true and I want you to know that I am trying and learning.

I will be revisiting each of these after my trip so you can see how different Samoa is in my head compared to the reality.

1. Weather

I spent Christmas in Auckland in 2017. The weather was unbearable for me… I just checked the weather for that week and it averaged 21 degrees. That can’t be right can it!? Otherwise, I’ll turn into a human raisin as soon as I step off the plane.

Is the heat dry or humid? And when is the coolest time to travel to Samoa? And how much sunscreen should one take if you’re planning to be there for 2 weeks?
[rara_spacing spacing_height=”2px”]

2. Etiquette

The extent of my Samoan etiquette was when I lived with my grandparents as a child. This included making tea for guests, crouching low and saying ‘tolou’ when walking past people (this was my best guess at spelling the word but it sounds like ‘too low’ – you know what I mean!), saying ‘talofa’ when greeting people and ‘fa!’ when saying goodbye.

What are some of the major do’s and don’ts when dealing with the Samoan people?
[rara_spacing spacing_height=”2px”]

3. Transport

The map of Samoa looks small enough for me to walk the island…but then so does New ZeaIand (compared to the rest of the world) and that is definitely not walking distance. The thought of travelling between islands is exciting although I’ve never been on a boat long enough to know if I get seasick.

What is the best to travel around and between the islands of Samoa?
[rara_spacing spacing_height=”2px”]

4. Food/Drink

I have always proclaimed that my number one reason to travel is to taste the food of other cultures. Although I’m familiar with some versions of Samoan food (shout out to Otara) but I’m excited to try actual Samoan food in Samoa.

Any recommendations on foods to try that we don’t have or have but are not as good as in Samoa? What is the ‘Marmite’ of Samoan foods that I absolutely have to try?

I’ve always taken tap water for granted (we all do) but the thought of going without it scares me somewhat.

Is water freely and readily available by tap? Or is it best to buy bottled water over there? Can you drink from fresh water streams?
[rara_spacing spacing_height=”2px”]

5. Sleeping

As someone who suffers from sleep apnea, I don’t often sleep away from home or at friends places.

Do people live in regular houses or is it under a roof in an open marae-style? (I can’t think of any other way to describe what I am picturing in my head – Sorry!)

Additional Side Question: Are the power sockets there the same as in NZ?
[rara_spacing spacing_height=”2px”]

6. Toilets/Bathrooms

I hate camping because if there is not a seat to sit on and toilet paper, I’m drowning myself in the nearest pool of (clean) water. This point proves just how first world my life and problems are.

Please tell me there are flush toilets and toilet paper…Even if there isn’t I need to convince myself to still follow through with this, so lies will be accepted for this point.
[rara_spacing spacing_height=”2px”]

7. Dangers

Tourists are typically oblivious to these but locals and people familiar with Samoa will know what to look out for. Any wildlife, people, phrases etc I need to be aware of so I don’t get hurt or beaten up over there?

So… what now?

…This is where you come in!

I am reaching out to you as a reader. I want to hear about your experiences!

Please comment any insights and suggestions below or via our various social media channels using the hashtag #beforesamoa. I will be recording my thoughts and experiences while I am in Samoa for the follow up post #aftersamoa.

3 times in history that Samoa fought for freedom

3 times in history that Samoa fought for freedom

Every Samoan should be proud to know these stories from our history. These will make great bedtime stories for the kids, too.

Tongan King vs the Sons of Atiogie

In the old old days (like from 1200 to 1300), Samoa was ruled by Tonga.

For 100 years even!

It’s ancient history now – no hard feelings – but apparently, the Tongan king at the time was a bit of a tyrant.

In those days, a man named Atiogie (he’s a famous guy in Samoan legends, you should look him up) had 3 sons and a grandson who grew up to really not like this Tongan occupation. These brothers and their nephew got so rebellious and riled up so many other protesters that it lead to a military conflict kinda situation.

The angry Samoans drove the king’s forces from one end of Upolu to the other until the king had no choice but to board one of his naval ships and head home to Tonga. But the old man’s last words to his former subjects expressed admiration for their valiant effort:

Mālie toa, mālie tau

…which means something like, “Respect to you, warriors. Good fight!”

Germany vs Le Mau a Pule

Lauaki Namulau’ulu Mamoe, 1909. Photo by Thomas Andrew. Te Papa.

If only the fighting had stopped there. Thanks to lots of drama and two civil wars, even, our islands were far from at peace.

Those clever bigger countries lurking in the Pacific took advantage of all the local fighting. They chose sides and provided weapons to perpetuate the war (and stole land while the locals were busy killing each other, but that’s another story).

And then, in 1900, our country was finally divided and conquered. The USA took what is now known as American Samoa, and Germany took the rest.

Yes, today’s independent Samoa could have still been German Samoa, but not all our people were happy about that. The most outspoken protesters were a group of early freedom fighters led by a Savai’i man named Lauaki Namulau’ulu Mamoe.

This guy was a pretty impressive orator who led the Mau a Pule in challenging Germany’s control of our islands.

Mau means opinion and can refer to being firm or resistant. A pule is a leader, so Mau a Pule is something like… the resistance of the leaders.

Germany eventually had enough of all this outspoken-ness and exiled Namulau’ulu plus friends to Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

That happened in 1909, Germany’s rule was over five years later, then in 1915, Samoa’s new colonists (New Zealand) sent a ship to bring Namalau’ulu back to Samoa.

Sadly, the old man died on the journey home.

New Zealand vs O Le Mau a Samoa

After New Zealand was in control for a while, Samoans started to miss Germany’s rule. Things got that bad. (Find out just how bad over at One Samoana).

Only eleven years after Namalau’ulu died, Samoa was in full on resistance mode again, this time against New Zealand. The new wave of protests were led by a businessman named Taisi Olaf F. Nelson and our Head of State at the time, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III.

Taking their cue from the first resistance, they called this new movement Le Mau a Samoa and published a newspaper – The Samoan Guardian – to help spread their message.

…and it caught on in a big way. One of my favourite stories is how women took over Le Mau after their husbands were forced into hiding by the New Zealand military.

Nelson was eventually exiled to New Zealand, but he just took his protesting all the way to the League of Nations in Geneva.

Back in Samoa, Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III paid the ultimate price for his part in the protest against New Zealand. He was gunned down by military police during a peaceful demonstration.

Ughh… that story is too sad and dramatic for me to get into all over again.

Even after this tragedy, it still took a few more decades before New Zealand left Samoa.

In 2018, Samoa will celebrate 56 years of independence. May we never forget the brave men and women in our history who loved us enough to fight for our freedom.

Are you a descendant of any of these historical heroes? Please share your stories about your ancestors in the comments below.

[Featured image: Parade, Apia. From the album: Samoa, circa 1916, Samoa, maker unknown. Te Papa (O.041845)]

Pin It on Pinterest