tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41751374255779069602024-03-12T22:52:11.418-08:00Strength+BeautyThe Empowerment of Young Polynesian WomenStrength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-7068139022123348332010-05-06T15:41:00.006-08:002010-05-06T15:51:26.647-08:00May 6th: Tiana Liufau - Choreographer and Creative Director of Nonosina<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYoPKSYcPin3vNLMIzTFLe9SyJGy6URZKZ9viMmVbs-HF-oAKm2ISeaGElQ7bjNrSuAIyCCxv7gWh1z2a1ZExp-19xtUvDWroP7TQ2n6Pq2j3On566EPD5B7GikzLL5ojUZW6TVOMrezt/s1600/Tiana.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYoPKSYcPin3vNLMIzTFLe9SyJGy6URZKZ9viMmVbs-HF-oAKm2ISeaGElQ7bjNrSuAIyCCxv7gWh1z2a1ZExp-19xtUvDWroP7TQ2n6Pq2j3On566EPD5B7GikzLL5ojUZW6TVOMrezt/s320/Tiana.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468308857081686946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Tiana Liufau is the eldest daughter of Mel and Riki Liufau in Orange County, California. Tiana began her performance career in Tahitian dance as soon as she was able to walk. By the age of 10, she was pursuing Tahitian drumming under the direction of Tuko Tekurio. Tiana is one of the pioneering females to enter the male-dominated realm of Polynesian drumming. Tiana currently serves as Jr. Creative Director for the Nonosina dance ensemble and leads the drum ensemble along with her first cousin Iosefa Pumphrey. Though her continuous journey to bring Polynesian fine arts to the masses, she has expanded her cultural boundaries to incorporate dance and musical influences from Afro-Brazilian, Taiko drum, and hip hop. She continues to value the influence that her "Gram" Estella "Nonosina" Reid has in her life.</div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="RU" style="font-size:100%;">Check out the work of Nonosina!! It's a one of a kind Polynesian Dance Company with flavor and style!<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tiana!!!!! You continue to inspire me and many more young Pasifika women in dance and music!! You are one of a kind!! Love your style, love your work! Keep dancing to the beat of the drums because you're empowering young women everyehere :)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="trebuchet ms" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ofa Lahi Atu Sis!! </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" lang="RU"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-85850195396227341382010-05-06T11:53:00.005-08:002010-05-06T12:20:15.881-08:00May 5th: Ulamila Kurai Wragg - Journalist and Co-Founder of Pacific WAVE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrGGrgbDc-aXkziNsoiB8WBe-0DCAqD2CpeINT7TnJ6FePC_fwTpywCP-Odw3DhsAijaZbdPjJcygbwY0rSouwp_VOt5uAsHpKZfK11-6ILQY8soHdjfqoog9HMQ3kYyJOpQe11w5PI4f/s1600/c_wragg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrGGrgbDc-aXkziNsoiB8WBe-0DCAqD2CpeINT7TnJ6FePC_fwTpywCP-Odw3DhsAijaZbdPjJcygbwY0rSouwp_VOt5uAsHpKZfK11-6ILQY8soHdjfqoog9HMQ3kYyJOpQe11w5PI4f/s320/c_wragg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468250115826362226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Ulamila Kurai Wragg is certainly on the frontline when it comes to reporting on climate change. The veteran journalist and mother of four dwells in Vaimaanga beach in Rarotonga (one of the Pacific's beautiful Cook Islands). The tropical paradise she calls home has seen its share of increasing sea surges, eroding shorelines, cyclones and dried river beds. Ula is on a mission to put it to an end.<br /><br />For the past 20 years she's covered climate change in Fiji and the Cook Islands in addition to coordinating the non-profit Pacific WAVE (Women Advancing a Vision of Empowerment) Media Network and heading up its climate change team.<br /><br />This month, she joins other Climate Wise Women making a wave in the fight against climate change in a 30 city, 18 country speaking tour. On the agenda? Getting politicians, government negotiators and media to wake up to the effect of global warming on women, children, families and communities around the world.<br /><br />Here's a lil more about Ulamila from a recent interview: <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />My name is Ulamila Kurai Wragg [Climate Activist] and I am from the Cook Islands.<br />When invited to speak about how climate change is impacting my island home at the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week in New York in September, I did not know what to expect. </span><div align="justify"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;">But I felt positive because I was going to be part of this great team of people working to ensure that a fair, ambitious and binding deal is locked and sealed in Copenhagen come December.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I met the media and (as a journalist) I got a taste of my own medicine. Plus, I was more careful with my second language, English, and did my best to captivate whatever audience I had.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">But nothing prepared me for what I felt when I encountered three inspirational women – Sharon Hanshaw from Biloxi, Mississippi; Constance Okollet from Uganda; and Ursula Rakova from the Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea. I came with an open mind and I absorbed as much as I could from them.</span></div></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We were part of the ‘</span><a href="http://www.tcktcktck.org/" peppycount="94"><span style="font-family:arial;">TckTckTck Campaign</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">’ as climate witnesses. The diversity in our representation gave life to our agenda to get global leaders to act and they must act fast.<br />They have to sign that moral deal because as </span><a href="http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/aboutcc/problems/people_at_risk/personal_stories/" peppycount="95"><span style="font-family:arial;">climate witnesses</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> we are testifying that we are now living and regularly dealing with rising seas, hurricanes, eroding shorelines, vanishing islands, flash floods and much more in our daily lives.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Constance’s story of hunger, Ursula’s fear of her island now ‘a paradise no more’ and Sharon’s life of rebuilding after ‘Hurricane Katrina’ moved me to tears. I could feel their fears and aching hearts because I am a mother of four children living on an island with receding shorelines.<br /><br />My mother told me stories that I cannot repeat to my children because there is nothing here to prove that there was a creek that meandered around some swamp where they would catch little fish and feed eels. All we see today are dry beds half eaten away by the waves.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I live on the beautiful Vaima’anga beach in the Cook Islands, my fears are now mounting as we enter into the cyclone season. Yesterday we put extra nails into some new roofing irons and are stashing away emergency boxes in case we have to vacate our house. We have learnt to always “prepare to expect the unexpected”. Proactive rather than reacting.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We are teaching our children what to do when cyclones hit us, we are also warning them to stay away from the shores when they see big waves crashing pounding the lawns.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After New York, I felt that there was still more work needed to drive home the issue that leaders have to work on a fair deal and seal ASAP.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I now see that there are many layers to this issue of climate change but I am proud to hold up my corner as a climate witness. But I am not seeing the leaders working on theirs.<br />I will moan about the leaders and their moral obligations but I refuse to be a victim of the situation. We are standing up to do our own bit making sure that we stay alive to see this through.<br /><br /><br />Kia Manuia Ulamila for being the best rep there is in supporting the efforts of climate change and representing for us Pasifika women on this issue. There needs to be more awareness on it and therefore I stand behind you in journey and endeavor and express my support for you.<br /><br />Many arohas to you for your work and we will as Pasifika push together with you for this issue and fight for what we know is our land and our culture.<br /><br />Ofa lahi atu! <3<br /></span></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-6157637453802897722010-05-06T11:24:00.007-08:002010-05-06T11:49:39.386-08:00May 4th: June Teaurima - Founder of Pasefika LIFE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mStG1Jl4Z9dKGt2bcacnNVKaD1qHsFBOfbmu15eqOKr7hkerqVjBqHALtlDqeYEAE1t50PxOQO8SWRcgXYmdaaEMoQTNqz9uwdaWe_QRrDueBG_UZPWaEYlWJqRGbYmSZTSr_PmVS1rP/s1600/June.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mStG1Jl4Z9dKGt2bcacnNVKaD1qHsFBOfbmu15eqOKr7hkerqVjBqHALtlDqeYEAE1t50PxOQO8SWRcgXYmdaaEMoQTNqz9uwdaWe_QRrDueBG_UZPWaEYlWJqRGbYmSZTSr_PmVS1rP/s320/June.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468246531395213106" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">June Teaurima is a New Zealand born Samoan residing in Sydney. She is a mother of two beautiful girls and married to a wonderful man of Cook Island descent. </div><p style="text-align: center;">Her life revolves around family, her faith and her desire to reach out to our Pacific Island young people. </p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;">As a business woman, her heart is to help give back to our younger generations. Pasefika LIFE is a business birthed through a vision to reach out and assist in sowing the seeds in helping to transform the lives of our young people.</p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;">Through our programmes, she hopes and prays that we are able to touch the lives of our young people – and help bring about a change in mindsets, breaking the negative stereotypes that our people have of themselves, and the community has of our people. </p><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;">Pasefika LIFE developed culturally specific workshops facilitated by Pacific Island and Maori role models to empower our young to believe in themselves, build resilience and raise expectations of personal achievement.</p><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;">She has a background and vast experience in Training and Development, Retail Management and Supervisory, Customer Relations and Communications and Internet Network Marketing. Her hope is to be able to utilize her experiences to assist in raising the standards and expectations of our Pacific young people.</p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;">She believes the changes begin with a decision and mindset - a decision to educate ourselves, to set goals and work towards attaining them and living a purposeful existence.</p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;">June is passionate about her culture, and open to learning more about who she is and where she came from. Her desire is to share a part of her heritage, her past, and her experiences to help those around her identify with who they are – and where they are heading.</p><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;">June, no words can explain how grateful I am and blessed that we were able to find each other and work together in helping our youth. I am honored to have met you and look forward for many more opportunities with you and hope to meet you at our next Strength+Beauty Conference. You have inspired me as a young Pasifika woman especially because of all the challenges and trials you have been through because of what we share in common. Thank you for being a bold, beautiful and empowering leader for us Pasifika women everywhere.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">
<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;">This one's to you <3</p> <p style="text-align: center;">Alofa Tele
<br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;">
<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:pasefikalife@optusnet.com.au">
<br /></a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-87402217626616258792010-05-06T11:07:00.005-08:002010-05-06T11:21:36.670-08:00May 3rd: Hinewirangi Kohu Morgan - Maori Activist, Artist, Poet and International Speaker<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGXeVj0og4LlSn3bmCHFNTVnrVQX3UKM1IjsOxF-NpdUNptMD2HcT6tSbYD_JYVvxzACsYpDxzrkgwHE3VCOKLsyrrqS_YzvTA9ngiU97NxCiBscSCKEQUjBj5u5jW3kOcqWDAPe1vAp0/s1600/HINE.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGXeVj0og4LlSn3bmCHFNTVnrVQX3UKM1IjsOxF-NpdUNptMD2HcT6tSbYD_JYVvxzACsYpDxzrkgwHE3VCOKLsyrrqS_YzvTA9ngiU97NxCiBscSCKEQUjBj5u5jW3kOcqWDAPe1vAp0/s320/HINE.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468237765249314242" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">Hinewirangi Kohu-Morgan is a Maori artist, poet, and activist, who lives and works in Aotearoa (New Zealand). She is a Board Member of the International Indian Treaty Council and is a Representative for the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific movement. </p><div> </div><p style="text-align: center;">Hinewirangi is a founding director of the Maori Women’s Centre, which runs programs that help end domestic violence and rebuild community while promoting radical changes in the dominant political and economic system. She teaches in her homeland of New Zealand and abroad, conducting workshops on all aspects of the Maori philosophies of mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;">Her areas of expertise include traditional Maori parenting and healing; Maori flute-making; and indigenous poetry and drama. Her published works include a four-part collection of poetry entitled <em>kanohi ki ti kanohi</em>, about her travels to indigenous communities around the world. </p><a href="http://www.lannan.org/lf/bios/detail/hinewirangi-kohu-morgan/">Hinewirangi Kohu-Morgan</a> was one of the original advisors in the development of the Mauri Ora Programme. Her expertise in waiata, pakiwaitara and tikanga Māori was invaluable.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">She went on to record all pakiwaitara featured in the programme as well as the 'Live It!' series. That latter, gave practical insight into how cultural aspects from information contained within each kete could be implemented into every day life.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hinewirangi supervised and co-ordinated Mauri Ora waiata albums, Waiata for Hui Gatherings, Waiata Tawhito and Songs of Liberation. Again the latter was based upon her selection, links with composers and singers and recollections of their use.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Today Hinewirangi continues her work in education delivering programmes in prisons, speaking at a variety of conferences (national & international) and supporting initiatives in early childhood.<br /><br />Te aroha au Hinewirangi for all that you do in bringing awareness to the issues that are most pressing to the Maori culture and people. By inspiring many you inspire us Pasifika women to remember our people and our ancestors. Kia Ora for being an awesome advocate for us Pasifika women.<br /><br />Aroha atu <3<br /></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-54309375909292809062010-05-06T10:54:00.006-08:002010-05-06T11:04:30.830-08:00May 2nd: Haunani Kay Trask - Hawaiian Indigenous Leader and Public Speaker<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXeulD9WnR7UEtjBNZONIhaRWgOICjBJMpj6I68v1SQRiMhi_tQ9CAhKzsyH04COMcjpWuwiSYiJ_6GXX_yGyD6QafPSoZtLwKbJtjMIK7bjHdsdh4tO9bFaogD-5OTYIFNViMcTUOGTH/s1600/Haunani_contact.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXeulD9WnR7UEtjBNZONIhaRWgOICjBJMpj6I68v1SQRiMhi_tQ9CAhKzsyH04COMcjpWuwiSYiJ_6GXX_yGyD6QafPSoZtLwKbJtjMIK7bjHdsdh4tO9bFaogD-5OTYIFNViMcTUOGTH/s320/Haunani_contact.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468234665992799362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><em><strong>"We are not happy natives...the anger is actually a safety valve...what's the alternative? I'd rather make art than, you know, commit murder"</strong></em><br /><strong>--Haunani-Kay Trask</strong></blockquote></div><br />Haunani-Kay Trask is a riveting public speaker, indigenous leader, and human rights organizer in her Native land of Hawai‘i. She has spoken at venues across the Pacific, including New Zealand and Australia, in the United States and Canada, in Europe, including at the United Nations in Geneva, the Human Rights forum in Strasbourg, and the Basque country in Spain, and in Africa at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="bodygeneva">For the past twenty years, Trask has enlightened audiences about conditions facing indigenous peoples, including the global struggle for human rights. Described by the San Francisco Examiner as the “radical firebrand, feminist author and native daughter of royal blood who is one of the leaders of a growing sovereignty movement in Hawai‘i,” Trask was ranked one of the top Native leaders in a 2001 poll taken by <em>The Honolulu Advertiser</em>.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="text-align: center;" class="bodygeneva">Trask has authored four books, including the bestseller, <em>From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawai‘i.</em> Alice Walker has called the book, “A masterpiece on decolonization,” that is “so powerful, it will change the way you think about Hawai‘i and all the lands seized by force forever.”</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="bodygeneva">Go to: http://www.haunani-kaytrask.com/ to learn more about her :)<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="bodygeneva">Mahalo Nui Loa Haunani to all that you in dedicating your life's work to see change within the life and land of the Hawaiian people. Thank you for your hardwork and dedication, we honor you and celebrate your work.<br />Much Alohas <3></p>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-22899096104418481202010-05-06T10:39:00.003-08:002010-05-06T10:52:21.287-08:00May 1st: Anapesi Kaili - H.Y.P.E Movement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEv-h6Ws4tY44BWdKRplfctuE97SIqDK6EG4Bc4KjqhujB_HYQF5vi0r5eCPcgBCyA5vpT7BDkMLlXuV55qWHGbgYkw3EIsO007B8d0_hYnh145N1oa9e64_fMjeV7UIIFm2GBVDR17we/s1600/13843_238219146398_565406398_4803417_4222161_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEv-h6Ws4tY44BWdKRplfctuE97SIqDK6EG4Bc4KjqhujB_HYQF5vi0r5eCPcgBCyA5vpT7BDkMLlXuV55qWHGbgYkw3EIsO007B8d0_hYnh145N1oa9e64_fMjeV7UIIFm2GBVDR17we/s320/13843_238219146398_565406398_4803417_4222161_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468231749381379698" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />‘Anapesi Ka’ili is the daughter of Tevita & Lakalaka Ka’ili of Kolofo’ou, Tongatapu.<span style=""> </span>Her paternal grandparents are ‘Ilaise Mafi from Ha’ano, Fakakai and Pangai Ha’apai; and Viliami Soakai Pulu from Ma’ufanga and Kolonga Tongatapu.<span style=""> </span>Her maternal grandparents are Meliame Loata Toki of Tu’anuku, Vava’u and Tonga Poteki Malohifo’ou of Koloa and Neiafu, Vava’u and <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Lakeba</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Fiji</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>‘Anapesi is a transnational child who was raised both in the <st1:placetype st="on">Island</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Tonga</st1:placename> and in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Salt Lake City</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Utah</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></div><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="">She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from <st1:placename st="on">Utah</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype>, a Master of Education in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from <st1:placename st="on">Northern</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Arizona</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> and is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Education, Culture and Society at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Utah</st1:placename></st1:place>.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="">'Anapesi currently teaches in the Ethnic Studies Department while also serving as the Program Director of the Pacific Initiative for the <st1:placename st="on">America</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">West</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Center</st1:placetype> at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Utah</st1:placename></st1:place>. She has conducted field research on the Navajo Reservations and also within Pacific Islander communities in both <st1:state st="on">Arizona</st1:state> and <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Utah</st1:place></st1:state>. Her research areas have focused on Pacific Islander Pedagogy, History and Epistemology, Native Languages and Cultural Identities, and Pacific Islander Diaspora, Migration, and Transnationalism. Her current Doctoral research explores the experiences of Pacific Islander American students in higher education and the ways in which they navigate academic success in predominantly white educational institutions.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="">'Anapesi volunteers much of her time in the community by helping to lead and organize the H.Y.P.E. Movement, a grassroots movement started by Tongan college students to unite their Pacific peers and break free from all the stereotypes and negativity that has been projected upon them by society and often times internalized by many young people.<span style=""> </span>She also serves as the Editor-in-chief of popular Planet-Tonga website (www.planet-tonga.com) and the Pacific Eye Magazine (<a href="http://www.planet-tonga.com/pacificeye">www.planet-tonga.com/pacificeye</a>).<span style=""> </span>She also serves as the Education Director for the National Tongan American Society, Vice-Chair for the Minorities in Education National Committee, an Education Representative for the Pacific American Foundation, a faculty mentor for the McNair Scholars Program, a faculty mentor for the Pacific Islander Student's Association, and a member of the Governor's Pacific Islander Advisory Council, the Coalition for Minorities Education Advisory Committee, Utah's Educational Summit Board, the County Mayor's Council on Diversity Affairs, and the Governor's Ethnic Minority Health Taskforce. 'Anapesi has also held leadership positions in the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society and the Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="">‘Anapesi is deeply passionate about social justice and the ways in which history, culture, and indigenous epistemologies inform our understanding and practice of social justice.<span style=""> </span>Here are her thoughts:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="">The H.Y.P.E. Movement to me is more than just a response to some of the tragedies (i.e. violence, drop out rates, poverty, suicide, etc.) that we are currently facing in our Pasifika communities, but it is really a reclaiming of who we are as Pacific peoples.<span style=""> </span>It is a way of decolonizing our minds and recognizing that the trend that our young people are falling into is something that is not reflective of our culture or who we are as a people but rather it is reflective of what happens when young people are being forced in a society to be stripped of their culture, and their history.<span style=""> </span>This movement is about changing consciousness and redirecting our path for the future!<span style=""> </span>I hope this movement at the very least will force people to think about what it means to be Pacific Islander in the 21st century and what legacy we want to leave behind for the next generation!<span style=""> </span>The H.Y.P.E. Movement is a grassroots movement developed by young Tongan university students who were devastated by the direction they saw our young people headed toward.<span style=""> </span>They approached me to advise them and we have been pushing it forward since.<span style=""> </span>It was launched in <st1:city st="on">San Francisco</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">California</st1:state> in June 2008 and since that time we have taken the H.Y.P.E. Movement to all the major <st1:country-region st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> cities with large Pacific Islander populations, as well as numerous <st1:place st="on">Islands</st1:place> in the South Pacific.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Wooohoooooo GO ANAPESI!!! You ROCK!!! Ofa lahi atu ka koe mo ho'o tokoni moe ofa. You are the bestest and look forward to working with you more in repping the H.Y.P.E and driving our youth to pursue their dreams and letting them be all that they can be.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">LOVE YOU SIS!</span><br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:11;" > <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]--></span>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-65528960291599170232010-05-06T10:29:00.002-08:002010-05-06T10:38:23.340-08:00MAY 2010: Pacific Islander Hertitage Month!!!<div style="text-align: center;">Malo e Lelei, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Talofa, Iorana, Kia Ora, Aloha!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EVsus3M1zEHPMJ_HFVyC6tRKrph6usS__oHg2a5eq_7zPAB0xKFhQcjB50xTvG1yD7gAEL_JihqSGOGka1vHaou2dBpyNnbR6XDkuQochL8RJ6EQZsyUUynHWw6yXXPlK6bY3lyc9acI/s1600/main2010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EVsus3M1zEHPMJ_HFVyC6tRKrph6usS__oHg2a5eq_7zPAB0xKFhQcjB50xTvG1yD7gAEL_JihqSGOGka1vHaou2dBpyNnbR6XDkuQochL8RJ6EQZsyUUynHWw6yXXPlK6bY3lyc9acI/s320/main2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468228029664062578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's been already a year and we are back in the month of May celebrating the many achievements of your Pasifika people and the many things they've been doing to create change. The list is long but so is the month of May, so get ready because we are just getting started!! I'll be posting up many up and coming events and highlighting individuals worldwide that have been making a difference for our communities :)<br /><br />So Stay Tuned and Stay Up!!<br /><br />Alofa Tele <3><br /></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-52018655330943055222010-01-15T13:56:00.002-09:002010-01-15T13:59:16.354-09:00New Beginnings....Happy New Year!Sorry haven't kept up to date with things...just been busy with life :) But to get back into the swing of things I'd like to keep you posted with Polynesian women that are doing big things from Music to Art to Education or Sports. I want to acknowledge and give recognition to all their hard work they do in being role models for our upcoming generations.Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-34433238369738898212009-06-30T21:42:00.011-08:002009-07-01T10:06:12.715-08:00Emerging Leaders Pacific Dialogue 2010!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnPb6PWTElbfCj5kApQqXHGV64vXHPexVIeY85RgZSxdzNdQk0O8_nBnbBu1vVXuhnSf_44kRL9mZX2dKTkr55uYLPv2OpTcwIlVDm_myx366Y0tRyQDCDs72YboXZnELirVz21Bjwu-2/s1600-h/EPLD_2010_(2).png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353554339398849554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 229px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnPb6PWTElbfCj5kApQqXHGV64vXHPexVIeY85RgZSxdzNdQk0O8_nBnbBu1vVXuhnSf_44kRL9mZX2dKTkr55uYLPv2OpTcwIlVDm_myx366Y0tRyQDCDs72YboXZnELirVz21Bjwu-2/s320/EPLD_2010_(2).png" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51);font-size:13;" ><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span lang="EN-US">We are seeking high ca</span><span lang="EN-US">libre</span><span lang="EN-US"> men and women who are already on a path to senior leadership to apply for the Emerging Pacific Leaders’ Dialogue (EPLD) 2010 that is scheduled to take March 2010. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51);font-size:13;" ><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;">This intensive, exciting and intellectually demanding program will bring together 120 individuals to examine, discuss and report on current strategic issues across the Pacific.</span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:100%;"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51);font-size:13;" ><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">Leaders in the Pacific region need to have clear vision and strong skills to address the complex challenges of globalization and interdependence and be mindful of the importance of preserving the values that bind people and communities.</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51);font-size:13;" ><div><div><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; FONT-STYLE: italiccolor:#ffffff;" ></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; FONT-STYLE: italic">The Emerging Pacific Leaders’ Dialogue</span><span lang="EN-US"> is committed to inspire and uplift outstanding individuals with proven leadership experience or high leadership potential so that they may contribute to</span></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;"></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">* leadership and governance in the Pacific region</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">* the long term development and stability of the region</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">* promotion of regional understanding and co-operation through an improved network of key relationships across sectors and nations</span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;color:#ffffff;"></span></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;">The Emerging Pacific Leaders’ Dialogue</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"> (EPLD)</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-WEIGHT: 700; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="font-family:sans-serif;"> 2010 is an event of national and regional significance scheduled to take place in March 2010 which will strengthen the capacity of the region’s future leaders to manage challenges collaboratively, positively and creatively.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:HelveticaNeue-Light;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;"><b></b></span></span> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:HelveticaNeue-Light;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><b>Participants will come from:</b> Australia, Cook Islands, East Timor, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Other Pacific countries and territories may also be invited to participate.</span></span></span></p><div><b><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;"></span></b> </div><div><b><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">More info: </span><a style="COLOR: rgb(55,67,82)" href="http://www.epld2.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">www.epld2.com</span></a></b><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /></span></div></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#000000;"></span></p><b></b></span></div></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-88658477873672710032009-06-19T12:43:00.006-08:002009-06-19T13:39:01.508-08:00The Alaska Run for Women: Island Style!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhzLY9njmTFjo56gU9O7UCh2ZYdEtqseSzUxZOpbwlx0bZy-xuEEzTwmB8efFw6IRevK4G30lGM-QUovWo8_6Qkya-45JD03RIVd1IkqVUl8884TKf7GV8FgLbTx7XzX79QOUkekOUdlf/s1600-h/4952_1079500107753_1233786560_30232404_4115010_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349155963522770818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhzLY9njmTFjo56gU9O7UCh2ZYdEtqseSzUxZOpbwlx0bZy-xuEEzTwmB8efFw6IRevK4G30lGM-QUovWo8_6Qkya-45JD03RIVd1IkqVUl8884TKf7GV8FgLbTx7XzX79QOUkekOUdlf/s320/4952_1079500107753_1233786560_30232404_4115010_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;">Aloha</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></em></strong><br />On the behalf of Pasifika women everywhere<br />My sisters, cousins and aunty ran the 5 mile Alaska Run for Women on Saturday June 13th in dedication for women who were diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It was a cause we were willing to do because of the lack of awareness in our community about the many illnesses we face as young Polynesian women.<br />Out of the 5, 400 women that were there walking and running with us, we were the only Polynesian women there. That spoke deep volumes of how much we need our community to start focusing on important health issues and to address the needs that are usually left and forgotten. Be an advocate and join the global movement!<br />Remember next year's run and come out and join us!<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">With much Alofas!</span></strong><br /><br />Elisiva GallardoStrength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-50113749158344521582009-06-01T23:52:00.012-08:002009-06-11T22:45:19.749-08:00Strength+Beauty = Success!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqNyt5Qzs1DySAvOT6mVWD54Xx6xD38gaN4PjeuDDbhMd9q-l9RpNTjEKZN6CY_PB4YxAfCiEfjjNYO__dcC2qxZAKIcQeQoqtfv9R7FIFzw711AMvNu-e3eb6xVOe5LeLEXeTV3BZ0iv/s1600-h/n1306750504_30431919_3562478.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqNyt5Qzs1DySAvOT6mVWD54Xx6xD38gaN4PjeuDDbhMd9q-l9RpNTjEKZN6CY_PB4YxAfCiEfjjNYO__dcC2qxZAKIcQeQoqtfv9R7FIFzw711AMvNu-e3eb6xVOe5LeLEXeTV3BZ0iv/s320/n1306750504_30431919_3562478.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345794518144068402" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Strength+Beauty: The Empowerment of Young Polynesian Women</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></span><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What defines a young woman's journey in life is her value of tradition, culture and people. As the Tongan proverb says, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mo'ui manatu ki ho tupu'anga" (Live a life in constant remembrance of your origin/ancestors). This quote reminds us that we should never forget where we came from and to always remember those who have come before us. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The day was filled with emotions of the past and the honoring of Polynesian women worldwide and the stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. It was also a day filled with great empowerment and wisdom with each young woman braving her voice and telling her story. Young and old women sat together now encouraged and strengthen by their own will to succeed in life. As traditional dances were being performed it reminded us as young Polynesian women what titles we hold, what values we share and what traditions we keep. It also gave us a reason to remember that in our culture we are more than just women, we are grandmothers, mothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and last but not least warriors. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Every eye was kept on each young woman that performed watching as the gracefulness of her hands were revealed, the beauty of her structure and the culture of her song in itself was revived with each performance. Even though the Anchorage Museum was opening that day, we had our own rendition of a museum at the event. Display tables were set in the back to show the true craftsmanship of the arts from Tonga, Samoa and Hawaii. Items such as tapa, baskets, fans, mats and wooden masks were displayed. This shows the hard work and dedication that Polynesian women put in creating more than just the arts and crafts that people see but the heart that is put in the work in showing its true beauty and value to our culture.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As Strength+Beauty T-shirts were given out and worn and Spasifik Magazines were being read, it showed that the excitement and the support of the event was more than a success but a day that Polynesian people were being recognized for their achievements and accomplishments and not criticized or judged by the negative stereotypes that Polynesians are known for.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To this day I still see young Polynesian women wearing their Strength+Beauty T-shirts showing that they are proud to be young Polynesian women supporting each other through their efforts and their causes. There's more to what I see that represents a young Polynesian, it's the true value of her work and her dedication that each woman brings to her family that we are honored and respected. I am proud to say that this event will continue each year to bring about the goodness of our culture and remind us young Polynesian women we are more than what other people think of us, we are women of honor, respect, wisdom, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">strength and beauty</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Malo Aupito to ALL the supporters of this event, the sponsors and the people who attended!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ofa Lahi Atu!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Elisiva Gallardo</span></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-7806147210152477962009-05-27T22:50:00.004-08:002009-05-27T23:34:44.134-08:00May 09' Pasifika Woman of the Day!: Dame Whina Cooper<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SyHhtuVwLQgqNgIyl2dkIFkuA7RFCnxdIIxDErVLaabOJMDad49D1aEBlmv1FcFNhSvWvY4ZJnYJAR4tDSXSgabFdGY8izUIqYOpu9SQYGuYiCdI-9X8X8qTuct8mNi8yQ8x6EqYlKQF/s1600-h/rs+whina.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SyHhtuVwLQgqNgIyl2dkIFkuA7RFCnxdIIxDErVLaabOJMDad49D1aEBlmv1FcFNhSvWvY4ZJnYJAR4tDSXSgabFdGY8izUIqYOpu9SQYGuYiCdI-9X8X8qTuct8mNi8yQ8x6EqYlKQF/s320/rs+whina.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340766707422908050" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; ">Dame Whina Cooper</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A leader in her own right Maori activist Dame Whina Cooper revolutionized the rights for all Maoris by engaging in issues such as land rights and social justice and actively protesting for these issues to protect and preserve the Maori culture and its people. As the daughter of tribal chief, Heremia Te Wake, Cooper identified with her father's role as a leader and became more than just a leader within the Maori culture but a influential woman that would carry on a legacy that would live through the roots of the land and its people. Cooper led her first protest at the age of 18 concerning the draining of a local swamp. This would then jump start her on a journey of being more than just an activist but a mother to her people. In 1951<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">she would become the first president for the Maori Women's Welfare League through which she fought for issues such as health care and an increased role for women in native Maori rights. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Dame Whina Cooper, you are more than just an inspiration but a woman of great strength and courage. Defying the old ways you brought forth a generation of Pasifika women that would look to all your accomplishments and achievements and be proud of all the hard work and efforts that you have put forth in seeing the Maori culture thrive. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">On the behalf of all Pasifika women we honor you in all your work and give acknowledgement to the amazing role you played in reminding us Pasifika women what we are made out of.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Malo Aupito,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Elisiva Gallardo</span></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-37190940921811813002009-05-25T17:55:00.002-08:002009-05-25T17:58:52.189-08:00The New Strength+Beauty 2009 T-shirt Design!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Iqvq_jE_2LYDcnpeLc3T7j__oq1o6shpaMR8ROLOCfdNvNb83I30LY7rceVJ6SDaZC_z2v3LCHQ87lioBBauu2cWtAlR3Jt3WinjpqDDeEpLUPW0fzBBsXzYmlwFnumjHlPs6hLnSz6Q/s1600-h/mail.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Iqvq_jE_2LYDcnpeLc3T7j__oq1o6shpaMR8ROLOCfdNvNb83I30LY7rceVJ6SDaZC_z2v3LCHQ87lioBBauu2cWtAlR3Jt3WinjpqDDeEpLUPW0fzBBsXzYmlwFnumjHlPs6hLnSz6Q/s320/mail.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339945927119444594" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>The new T-shirt design for the Strength+Beauty Program is in!!!! Big thanks to Jewlz and Vasco for the revamp of the design!!! Love You Both!!<div> </div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-10519902234594704072009-05-22T09:27:00.006-08:002009-05-22T11:38:52.359-08:00May 09' Pasifika Woman of the Day: Jamaica Osorio<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd77wTp03DzDtW5_Q5cIEr8FDKsV3XYDnjVwTNigBIKpRcFE6jJoFPFJEZ_58BnnPhHXEBrH57-Gvje2P3zF_M2ekaMJMya8jwbU4neSyJIiX1E_Gk2ljsUggY2gjL4WTysyHF9Z9gEXki/s1600-h/Nursery011BW.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338714207823436386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd77wTp03DzDtW5_Q5cIEr8FDKsV3XYDnjVwTNigBIKpRcFE6jJoFPFJEZ_58BnnPhHXEBrH57-Gvje2P3zF_M2ekaMJMya8jwbU4neSyJIiX1E_Gk2ljsUggY2gjL4WTysyHF9Z9gEXki/s320/Nursery011BW.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Jamaica Osorio</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">As she walks up to the mic, she chants about the old Hawaii and what it use to be. Generating the voices of the past through the essence of her presence. Jamaica Osorio, a competitor in the new hit TV series "HBO: Brave New Voices" represents Team Hawaii. Growing up she learned the ways of living the island life from learning hula everyday to working in the taro patch at her school. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">As a young girl, Jamaica gives credit to her father for gaining a cultural identity with being Hawaiian. "He's the reason I went to Hawaiian immersion school and learned about Hawaiian things," she says. "He's the one who pushed me to write about Hawaiian issues and these wrong things that are happening. Like the housing market—Hawai'i is really expensive and it's really sad that so many Hawaiians can't afford to live here."</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">From the raw emotion that she brings on stage, she also brings the essence of the mana that every Polynesian woman has. Thank you Jamaica for being a young woman with a voice so passionate about the current issues in Hawaii and being an advocate in these issues by addressing it with spoken word. You are a strong Pasifika woman never afraid in stepping down but always rising above it all.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Malo Aupito Jamaica!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ofa Lahi Atu</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Elisiva Gallardo</span></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-62011008734411944892009-05-20T13:51:00.005-08:002009-05-20T14:42:12.451-08:00May 09' Pasifika Woman of the Day!: Lino Nelisi<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJCXi5UqGZML4oh8vIEH1n9umv5V9YZHbVa8co4oixZEkL3LhKWofWM_JMyLcQtcwO0DDg-9NVNMtMxsMrNCMabn5i6FaBY5TTjGO5PmO_QwYhqNBva2zGY9oD3C_uwsste0FR-H5fJDW/s1600-h/nelisilinoimg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338027891453958578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJCXi5UqGZML4oh8vIEH1n9umv5V9YZHbVa8co4oixZEkL3LhKWofWM_JMyLcQtcwO0DDg-9NVNMtMxsMrNCMabn5i6FaBY5TTjGO5PmO_QwYhqNBva2zGY9oD3C_uwsste0FR-H5fJDW/s320/nelisilinoimg.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lino Nelisi</span></span></strong></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Lino Nelisi is a children's author whose books celebrate the cultural diversity of New Zealand. Nelisi is Niuean and Samoan and has worked as a primary teacher in Niue and Auckland and also works as an advisor in Pacific Studies education at the Auckland College of Education. She has completed Masters of Education Degree specializing in Pacific Nations education. Her work is published in English, Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Niuean, Tokelauan, Cook Island, and Spanish.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Here are her published works: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Nelisi's titles are </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Aiani moe Pia aitu</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1993); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Koe ama uga</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1994);</span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Venise and the little red radio</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1996); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sione's tale</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1992); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Te taro O Sione</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1992); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Koe tale ha Sione</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1993); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">O le talo Sione</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1993) which was a finalist in the Childrens' Picture Book Award in 1993; </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fishing with Spiderwebs</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1994)which was also a finalist in the Childrens' Picture Book Award in 1995; </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Sione Went Fishing</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1996); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That's the way</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(1998); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">El taro de Sione</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1996); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tane steals the show</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1997); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tane te whetu o te ra</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (1997); </span><cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He ika mawhitiwhiti pungawerewere</span></cite><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (2000).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">Lino, I thank you for all that you contribute in the education of our young Polynesian kids. In our communities we do need more people like you to encourage our youth in reading and writing. Thank you for writing books that would capture their imagination and give them a reason in wanting to read more. You have immersed our culture in children's books so that these kids would have a reason to learn and feel more close to home. May you keep writing more books to carry forth our younger generation of Pasifika kids to higher opportunities of education.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">Malo Aupito Lino!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">Ofa Atu,</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; ">Siva</span></p><p><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></strong></p><strong><br /><div align="center"><br /></div></strong><br /><div align="center"></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-83915489617177618892009-05-19T11:42:00.003-08:002009-05-19T15:20:57.495-08:00May 09' - Pasifika Woman of the Day: Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8Dm79_VGl-gutNhAvXczGyWCkDl4VrN5NZ6_0EdN1AT7dUAAdxcqZnPIW3T1Ln9CzkA-50ePkbRp-KbKCOk-raryKYOvxC2_FveMRvVwWMdA91ANYfV13p0w2S_z3_O8KxgEtmabIrpc/s1600-h/n509501110_2976815_3392864.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337678975862304978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8Dm79_VGl-gutNhAvXczGyWCkDl4VrN5NZ6_0EdN1AT7dUAAdxcqZnPIW3T1Ln9CzkA-50ePkbRp-KbKCOk-raryKYOvxC2_FveMRvVwWMdA91ANYfV13p0w2S_z3_O8KxgEtmabIrpc/s320/n509501110_2976815_3392864.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu</span></strong><br /><br /><br />This young Tongan woman is a mover and a shaker. Fuifuilupe Niumeitolu has been an advocate for education and has been a part of growing that by teaching courses such as U.S Social Movements, U.S. Women's Histories, Film History and Theory at City College of San Francisco and New College of California. Fui is currently pursuing her PhD at UC Berkeley in the Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies.<br /><br />She is an inspiration for us Pasifika women to continue our education and to pursue our goals as a reason for to explore other avenues and areas in representing the culture from which we come from. As like many other Pasifika women, Fui also pays tribute to her successes from the love and support of her sisters Loa, 'Amelia and Vaimoana and her mother, Litia. Fui's contribution towards the empowerment of Pasifika women is encouraging and meaningful. Thank you Fui, for being a young leader and creating a path for other young Polynesian to follow in being more than they can be. Malo aupito ho'o ngaue mo ho'o ako.<br /><br /><br /><br />Ofa Lahi Atu!<br /><br /><br /><br />Siva<br /></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-15472725259227253812009-05-18T16:51:00.008-08:002009-05-19T15:22:24.597-08:00May 09' Pasifika Women of the Day: The MENA Women!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgS_4GHCe5FULKyVq5zP8AVh5OCF2zJBcq1HMglhJspuarKSSO3Wwrdj9Ca4onnY2UbBM4szlumoni9FQv2eQuKlmR_MMB754HvIvltPSPJCg0VzMBTK44uKJnFKIDvU3A8ekXhiFykih/s1600-h/mena+sisters01+-+copy.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><br /><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337358949764640594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgS_4GHCe5FULKyVq5zP8AVh5OCF2zJBcq1HMglhJspuarKSSO3Wwrdj9Ca4onnY2UbBM4szlumoni9FQv2eQuKlmR_MMB754HvIvltPSPJCg0VzMBTK44uKJnFKIDvU3A8ekXhiFykih/s320/mena+sisters01+-+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">MENA</span></span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">These four sisters have brought forth the cultural fashions of the South Pacific and have taken it to another level. MENA Fashion was started in Samoa in 2002 by the influence of their mother, Mena Loheni. As young teenagers they were taught by their mother to sew and design their own clothes thus creating the ever growing force of MENA! Since its launch in 2002, MENA has been flourishing across the South Pacific from Hawaii, Cook Island to Samoa and New Zealand in bringing their fresh new flavors of Pasifika fashion. The designs are as fresh and unique and the colors bring forth the life and art of the South Pacific. The dresses speak for themselves of the hard work and dedication these sisters put in representing Pasifika culture and its creative and unique designs. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I am proud to honor these women this week for all that they've done in representing young Polynesian women everywhere and the creative talents they bring in putting the South Pacific on the map for fashion and style! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Check out their website: www.mena.co.nz</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><div align="center"><br /></div></span><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Malo Aupito! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Ofa Lahi Atu,</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Elisiva</div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-79299740000118499772009-05-18T15:56:00.003-08:002009-05-18T16:06:15.651-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtyHcw3hRTx2mZ8n2VvpiJabbLRBJfhE_RRVL3nxD1L7jost79uwgigg5wnV4KOHLihD08SwM3yDOvQQjQQdYUlGqEbhyphenhyphen3m3aITcgcmT1ShS7XHi-10Xrbiv_6s1HaArr3g10BDugdvyk/s1600-h/FINAL.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtyHcw3hRTx2mZ8n2VvpiJabbLRBJfhE_RRVL3nxD1L7jost79uwgigg5wnV4KOHLihD08SwM3yDOvQQjQQdYUlGqEbhyphenhyphen3m3aITcgcmT1ShS7XHi-10Xrbiv_6s1HaArr3g10BDugdvyk/s320/FINAL.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337318423923125746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Strength+Beauty: The Empowerment of Young Polynesian Women!!</span>! </span><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;">Date: May 30th, 2009</div><div style="text-align: center;">Time: 12:00 - 4:00 pm</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where: Student Den (UAA Campus)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please RSVP on FaceBook, MySpace, Blogspot, or</div><div style="text-align: center;">Email Me: elisiva.maka@gmail.com or</div><div style="text-align: center;">Call at 350-1327.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Malo Aupito!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Elisiva Gallardo</div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-58499929817865903442009-05-09T23:41:00.006-08:002009-05-10T00:29:19.515-08:00Happy Mother's Day!!!!Happy Mother's Day To All Mothers Across the Globe<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">To All Mothers</span>: </div><div>May your days be filled with many blessings of joy and happiness as we spend this day in dedication and honor for all the hard work and efforts you have put forth in raising our families. As young women we seek your knowledge and wisdom of what it is to be a woman of great value and faith. </div><div>As it says in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Proverbs 31:10-31</span>, </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Charis SIL';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">W</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ho can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; line-height: 15px; "><table width="100%" style="font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.22em; "><tbody style="line-height: 1.22em; "></tbody></table><div id="tag-status" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></div><table width="760" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.22em; "><tbody style="line-height: 1.22em; "><tr style="line-height: 1.22em; "><td width="561" valign="top" style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-top: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: auto; margin-left: auto; "></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(121, 149, 205); "><img src="http://file046b.bebo.com/12/large/2009/03/30/06/7778412610a10463705734l.jpg" border="0" width="376" height="500" class="fn-image" id="10463705734" align="middle" onload="setTimeout('fnload(\'10463705734\')',1000);" style="line-height: 1.22em; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " /></span><br /></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial; font-size: 48px; line-height: 15px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL'; ">Pictured here: Amelia Maka (My Grandmother) and Otusia Simiki........I Love You.</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL';">May this verse remind you all of the virtuous women in our lives and the abundance of blessings God continues to grant us here on earth. May you all have a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Mother's Day</span> and may God Bless you all.</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL';">Ofa Lahi Atu,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Siva</span></span></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-29543545178383965422009-04-26T23:03:00.006-08:002009-04-26T23:19:00.054-08:00:2009 S3 Pacific Music Awards:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQSUye7mCnYV3CcpoywcQwnHiQ0sQ6iDw0zcOvq4jJNAa7NiN-I795LLd47CckbgD8FZOgoRr8e1hc_L8W-73t-Jv7WzIpa8v-Y9a7Em6ysa39vU9Uk9l90FMXWzNzciJIp4Cw0Cti8c8/s1600-h/20AprilPMA1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329265981810879202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQSUye7mCnYV3CcpoywcQwnHiQ0sQ6iDw0zcOvq4jJNAa7NiN-I795LLd47CckbgD8FZOgoRr8e1hc_L8W-73t-Jv7WzIpa8v-Y9a7Em6ysa39vU9Uk9l90FMXWzNzciJIp4Cw0Cti8c8/s320/20AprilPMA1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The finalists for the <strong>2009 S³ Pacific Music Awards</strong> have been announced with Ladi 6 and Nesian Mystik both named in four categories each.Ladi 6 is a finalist for her highly anticipated and long awaited debut solo album, ‘Time is Not Much’ in the Best Pacific Female Artist, Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist and the S³ Best Pacific Music Album categories.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>She is also a finalist in the APRA Best Pacific Song category for her catchy single, ‘Walk Right Up’. An MC as well as a renowned vocalist, Ladi 6 is known for her energetic live performances, sublime soulful vocals and conscious lyrics. Nesian Mystik is a finalist for their album, ‘Elevator Musiq’, in the Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artitst, Radio 531P1 Best Pacific Group and the S³ Best Pacific Music Album categories.Number 1 smash hit, ‘Nesian 101’, has earned the band a place as finalist in the APRA Best Pacific Song category.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Their cultural backgrounds unite a remarkable diversity of Polynesia in bringing together Maori, Tongan, Samoan and Cook Island ancestry leading to the group becoming one of the biggest names in New Zealand music.Altogether 12 artists and groups have been announced as finalists at a function in Manukau City tonight (16 April) hosted by His Worship Mayor Len Brown and the Manukau City Council.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Also up for more than one award are Angela Afeaki and Devolo.Angela Afeaki is a finalist for Best Pacific Female Artist with her album ‘Tongan Rendezvous’ and the APRA Best Pacific Song award for her single ‘Happy Happy Tonga’. Devolo is in the running for the NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist and the Niu FM Best Pacific Urban Artist award with his album ‘Heaven & Hell’.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The full list of finalists for the 2009 S³ Pacific Music Awards is: </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>BEST PACIFIC FEMALE ARTIST</strong> </div><br /><div>Ladi 6 ‘Time is Not Much’ </div><br /><div>Angela Afeaki ‘Tongan Rendezvous’ </div><br /><div>Iva Lamkum ‘Iva Lamkum EP’ </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>NZ MUSIC COMMISSION BEST PACIFIC MALE ARTIST</strong> </div><br /><div>Devolo ‘Heaven & Hell’ </div><br /><div>Mareko ‘White Sunday 2: The Book of Mark’ </div><br /><div>Vince Harder “Strobelight” </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>NIU FM BEST PACIFIC URBAN ARTIST</strong> </div><br /><div>Devolo ‘Heaven & Hell’ </div><br /><div>Ladi 6 ‘Time is Not Much’ </div><br /><div>Nesian Mystik ‘Elevator Musiq’ </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>RADIO 531PI BEST PACIFIC GROUP</strong> </div><br /><div>Cydel “There’s A Place” </div><br /><div>Horsemen Family ‘My Shout’ </div><br /><div>Nesian Mystik ‘Elevator Musiq’ </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>APRA BEST PACIFIC SONG</strong> </div><br /><div>Angela Afeaki “Happy Happy Tonga” (A. Afeaki/W. Afeaki/J. Afeaki) </div><br /><div>Ladi 6 “Walk Right Up” (K. Tamati/B. Park) </div><br /><div>Nesian Mystik “Nesian 101” (Atai/Manukau/McNulty/Reeder/Rikiau/Strickson-Pua) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>BEST PACIFIC GOSPEL ALBUM</strong> </div><br /><div>St Pauls Methodist Church Otara ‘2008 Choir’ </div><br /><div>South Auckland Community Church Band ‘Set Us Free’ </div><br /><div>Oyster Music – various artists ‘The Gospel According to….’ </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>S³ BEST PACIFIC MUSIC ALBUM</strong> </div><br /><div>Angela Afeaki ‘Tongan Rendezvous’ </div><br /><div>Ladi 6 ‘Time is Not Much’ </div><br /><div>Nesian Mystik ‘Elevator Musiq’</div><div> </div><div></div><div><strong>Source: Spasifik Magazine</strong></div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-15691469521011955692009-04-24T15:26:00.004-08:002009-04-24T15:53:26.457-08:00Meeting Miss South Pacific 2009!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3vXfB4v2QNX4SDggZsfhW3rHhYNRTuP02Xe1IR_Rca9CDRsj6kqQKf0BpRK2QKOnksDgceHLQS6L2viwpBDuMBADOmUuYXIBZKsM1qAzMLeAa8fEXjKz-kopDbIm1wVdZl8DJ-TwfF1n/s1600-h/Niue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328410290715631218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3vXfB4v2QNX4SDggZsfhW3rHhYNRTuP02Xe1IR_Rca9CDRsj6kqQKf0BpRK2QKOnksDgceHLQS6L2viwpBDuMBADOmUuYXIBZKsM1qAzMLeAa8fEXjKz-kopDbIm1wVdZl8DJ-TwfF1n/s320/Niue.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Fakaalofa lahi atu!!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For those of you who don't know, this year in Alaska we are hosting the First Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change. I was able to meet the delegates of the South Pacific from Fiji, American Samoa, Western Samoa, Tokelau, Niue and a few others. It was an honor and a privilege to meet the reigning Miss South Pacific for 2009 Miss Vanessa Marsh who was here on the behalf of Niue to talk about the current issues in regards to climate change. She has been actively involved in getting things going in Niue. This year she will be involved in the first ever Youth Parliament in Niue that will help the youth in addressing issues the youth feel are concerned. This will help the youth recognize their voice in being more involved and active in issues surrounding their government. I thank Ms. Marsh for her support in our upcoming event: Strength+Beauty: The Empowerment of Young Polynesian Women and I wish her all the love their is we can give her from Alaska in all her endeavors!!! Malo Vanessa!!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Siva</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh and go to <a href="http://www.indigenoussummit.com/servlet/content/alaska.html">http://www.indigenoussummit.com/servlet/content/alaska.html</a> for more information on the summit!</div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-40058052287947446912009-04-23T16:32:00.008-08:002009-04-24T15:25:26.228-08:002009 Changing Faces Women's Leadership Program!<p align="left">Aloha! </p><p align="left">Check out the <strong>2009 Changing Faces Women's Leadership Program</strong> that will be held in Honolulu, Hawai'i. I encourage for eligible applicants to apply now! This is a great opportunity for many young women across the globe to activate their interest in strengthening their own communities and developing business that can help the communities grow. See description below for further information.</p><p align="left">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">Theme: Women as Entrepreneurs</p><p align="center">Fostering Economic Growth and Strengthening Communities </p><p>The 2009 program will focus on the important role that entrepreneurship plays in contributing to the development of local economies. Participants will discuss how they can use their entrepreneurial skills, experience, knowledge, and lessons learned to promote community growth and broader linkages between business and the community. The purposes of this program are to:<br />Expand participant knowledge base on the thematic content of the program, through discussion sessions with locally-based experts and field visits.<br />Provide participants with information and skills useful for the enhancement of their own leadership abilities in areas such as communication, strategic planning and negotiation.<br />Promote regional awareness among participants through interaction and exposure to new ideas and viewpoints.<br />Create opportunities to think creatively and strategically about future directions for themselves and their organizations and to formulate action plans to address issues of concern for their communities.<br /><strong>Program Dates</strong>: August 23 - September 1, 2009<br /><strong>Program Location</strong>: Honolulu, Hawai'i<br /><strong>Who Can Apply</strong>: Women from Asia, the Pacific Islands and the United States from all relevant professional backgrounds, including business owners, government and industry regulators and funders, and civil society organization leaders. Successful candidates will have 5-12 years of work experience with the potential to move into positions of greater responsibility and influence. Applicants must have the ability to communicate in English in a professional, multi-cultural setting. Preference will be given to candidates without significant previous international travel experience.<br /><strong>Application Deadline</strong>: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 </p>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-24109764932231645112009-04-20T12:14:00.009-08:002009-04-20T12:41:44.551-08:00Check Out Upcoming Event at UC Berkeley!Please Join Us:<br />CENTER FOR RACE & GENDER'S PACIFIC ISLANDS RESEARCH WORKING GROUP presents:<br />"FIGHTING FOR THE HAWAIIAN 'CEDED LANDS': HISTORY & CONSEQUENCES OF HAWAIIVs OHA et al (2009)"<br /><br />This workshop will examine the latest land struggle in the Hawaiian Islands. We will trace the history of the “ceded lands” and the events leading up to the March 31 U.S. Supreme Court decision in State of Hawaiiv. Office of Hawaiian Affairs et al, No. 07–1372 (2009). At issue is the State of Hawaii’s ability to sell portions of the “ceded lands” which Hawaiian activists remind us were seized, not ceded. This workshop will pay particular attention to questions that remain open since the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, including who is the “public” of the Hawaiian Islands and what are the legal interrelationships between today’s State of Hawai'i and the Kingdom of Hawai'i.<br /><br />When & Where : WEDS APRIL 29 @ 5:00-8:00PM. Center for Race & Gender, 6th Floor Barrows, University of California,Berkeley.<br /><br />SPEAKER BIOS:<br />*JESSIE K. KEOLA MINIER-is an attorney in Silicon Valley, with a practicethat focuses on compliance with federal and state corporate and securitieslaws. In addition, he has conducted research and prepared analyses oflegal issues confronting Native Hawaiians and kama’aina of Hawai'i.<br /><br />*DR. LAURA LEHUA YIM- is an Assistant Professor in the Department ofEnglish at San Francisco State University. Her research and teaching workfocuses on Renaissance English literature and culture, especially domesticand colonial reformulations of epistemology, notions of the person, andland and water law. Her other academic and activist work includesstrategic analyses of political, economic and social institutions inHawai'i.<br /><br />**Food will be provided.-This workshop is organized by the Pacific Islands Research Working Groupand it is generously sponsored by a grant from The Center for Race & Gender at the University of California, Berkeley.<br /><br />For more info fuifuilupe@berkeley.edu<fuifuilupe@berkeley.edu><fuifuilupe@berkeley.edu>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-75450871549379204642009-04-17T20:13:00.010-08:002009-04-17T20:52:17.777-08:00LADI6: NZ's First Lady of Hip-Hop Coming to Alaska!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrfiBDMMRMCpHRDSKJLUY-4f6eEywo9E85TPsg29tXThtLPOFNjZ9joP3FHtsTyzvcDEnr_tEZMwLmXExyTViFm81uLG45BbGQf4O5r5rZLaMu_ZvFPBoHBdyqzWKZ0V8vZ0aOqfCM2Bm/s1600-h/ddpzqsc5_11s3wz5qdr_b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325889537606768450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrfiBDMMRMCpHRDSKJLUY-4f6eEywo9E85TPsg29tXThtLPOFNjZ9joP3FHtsTyzvcDEnr_tEZMwLmXExyTViFm81uLG45BbGQf4O5r5rZLaMu_ZvFPBoHBdyqzWKZ0V8vZ0aOqfCM2Bm/s320/ddpzqsc5_11s3wz5qdr_b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyMS8P4ZzyY_7baO5Qi3HS37fj4031j6QnRJ0tYXOt0j2LnuUiCviLnXqUF6wpNBRicUgRjTlXAsTpCtNTuFA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></p><p align="center">Ladi6 renowned for her energetic live performances, sublime soulful vocals and socially conscious lyrics is a world class female vocalist and MC.<br />Ladi6 started her musical career as part of New Zealand’s first all-girl hip-hop group Sheelahroc. Sheelahroc had the hit track “If I Gave You The Mic” which has become an underground classic.<br />Her band Verse Two quickly gained a reputation as a top New Zealand live soul/hip-hop group. They won the bNet best new act award, toured New Zealand with packed shows and supported international acts such as The Roots, De La Soul and 50 Cent.<br />Ladi6’s touring and collaborations have established her a significant following throughout New Zealand, Australia and Europe. She has performed at all the key festivals in New Zealand including the Big Day Out, Rhythm and Vines, Splore and Parihaka to name a few. She has toured Australia extensively at festivals such as the St Kilda Festival and SoCo Cargo and performing with top international artists in Australia such as Ohmega Watts, Scribe, Fat Freddy’ Drop, Shapeshifter and Freddie Cruger. She has toured Europe and throughout the UK with her partner in crime - Parks.<br />Ladi6’s distinctive voice has featured on some of the top underground albums to come out of New Zealand in the last decade. Her vocals feature on standout tracks by some of Aotearoa’s finest talent including Shapeshifter, Scribe, Fat Freddy’s Drop and 50 Hz and internationals such as top German Hip Hop artist Sepalot.<br />Ladi6’s highly anticipated and long awaited debut solo album Time Is Not Much is produced by Mu from Fat Freddy’s Drop and Parks has just been released in New Zealand and Australia.<br /><a href="http://www.ladi6.com/">http://www.ladi6.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/ladi6">www.myspace.com/ladi6</a><br />For more information please contact:<br />Rebecca Caughey. Manager - Ladi6<br />+64 21 886 024<br /><a href="mailto:rebecca@funktionmusic.co.nz">rebecca@funktionmusic.co.nz</a> </p>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4175137425577906960.post-3818665669766188502009-04-08T18:33:00.010-08:002009-04-12T15:44:56.322-08:00Who We Are: Strength+Beauty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhQHRNHc8Yr712zNSb3XGYPwen_fRaFAIYXLyiRyWsLShQ7lnXe4WSXjz1E-PI9wPDsIMlkOkDPnoSqKNPqStFbuzzv_V0BQfCyW_XNdk00CIQT_bRb_xQdUtmx6M18JPNqY2l1_hqXWL/s1600-h/StrengthandBeauty.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322520406988782946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhQHRNHc8Yr712zNSb3XGYPwen_fRaFAIYXLyiRyWsLShQ7lnXe4WSXjz1E-PI9wPDsIMlkOkDPnoSqKNPqStFbuzzv_V0BQfCyW_XNdk00CIQT_bRb_xQdUtmx6M18JPNqY2l1_hqXWL/s320/StrengthandBeauty.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Project Overview</span></strong><br />This project is geared towards the empowerment of young Polynesian women in this community in addressing the real life issues that they face and examining the historical roles of women in their culture. The program curriculum will weave the real life struggle of young Polynesian women in balancing cultural and generational differences in a Polynesian Woman's role in society with the historical role of Pacific Islander Monarchs and the leadership and educational examples they set in an effort to broaden the young women's perceptions of the opportunities of higher education and to inspire all Polynesian women to fulfill their dreams and become leaders in this community.<br /><br />The inspiration to begin this proposal stems from my own life experiences and the stories of my grandmothers. My life experiences of being torn between two cultures left me with a life filled with much pain and affliction. But it was the power of education that led me to a path of a life unknown to many young Polynesian women. Many Polynesian families within our community struggle to make ends meet making it impossible to allow their children to pursue higher education. Financial hardships for school are not the only problems plaguing our community but the responsibility we hold through our culture to help support and provide for our families. As a young woman starting out at the University of Alaska Anchorage I found myself helpless and alone. At the time of attending UAA my family and I lived in a house that had only 3 rooms for a family of nine. My parents worked hours of overtime to help provide and support our family. As an older sibiling, I knew I had to accept my responisbilities and find a job. I was blessed by getting a job with the Bureau of Land Management as an intern at their office downtown. This job allowed me to work the hours that I could do which gave me more room to focus more on school. The money I got from this job not only helped me support myself in getting my books for school but also helped put food on the table and pay bills. Both my parents held jobs that had long hours making it seem almost impossible to even give me a ride to school or work. Determined as I was I would wake up every morning to get ready to catch the bus for work then take the bus from work to school. This routine lasted for more than half my years at the univiersity. It was a privilege to learn how to appreciate the smaller things in order to work my way up. It was through education that I have been able to shape my life in ways that I can see many other young women achieve. The struggle is short-lived but a life lived by education is a life long lived. My struggle to fight the battle of domestic abuse and depression made me stronger as an individual and as a young woman to empower myself through higher education and culture. My grandmothers stood as my role models in my life always being an example to me to be a strong woman and to have the faith to believe I can make something of myself. They reminded me not only to be humble of my beginnings but also become inspired achieving my dreams and goals in life and to always work hard. Achieving this education I received from UAA allowed me to discover the strengths I had to in me only to overcome through the hardships which motivated me to do the impossible. With education I was able to create a path of new opportunities, ones that I would have never thought would be available to me before. I want to share my personal testimony with other young Polynesian women to share and encourage them that they are not alone in this and that they are capable of achieving their highest dreams in life and being an inspiration unto themselves.<br /><br /><br />From Hawaii to Tonga to Samoa there was one thing in common that these neighboring South Pacific islands had and it was the strength and courage that graces the identity of all Polynesian women. Our inspiration as young Polynesian women came not from what we are made of but of the women that came before us establishing our character through our values in family and culture. Through times of adversity Polynesian women were always known to fight through challenges and hardships yet still stand and remain humble and grateful in all that they have accomplished. Throughout family bloodlines of all nations in the South Pacific, Polynesian women were born with the gifts of inner strength and beauty, sacrificing more than just their lives but giving birth to a generation of women that would continue their legacy and establish a trail of hope and faith for all women to become inspired and empowered. In times of male dominance there were those few women who stood out amongst the rest defying the odds and changing history. Described as women of great humility and respect, they were women given the titles as queens but ruled with the rights and the power of a king. These queens would make a lasting impression on their kingdoms and impact its people and culture throughout the generations. This began a new era of womanhood in which this event will showcase the strengths of Pacific Islander women not only from the past but also the present day.<br /><br /><br />The legacies and stories of their accomplishments live on in many Polynesian women of today’s generation. In today's media they do not recognize Polynesian women for their accomplishments or achievements but through research and technology we are able to bring the resources needed to help reach out to our generation of Polynesian women in encouraging and empowering them through education and culture. The goal of this event is to establish a place for Polynesian women to be inspired, pursue education and learn to become young leaders in the Polynesian community. </div>Strength+Beautyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434537995094333022noreply@blogger.com0