The Moanan

In this welcome back episode, Laki and Gen catch up on a big year of travel, learning, and growth, both personally and for The Moanan. From the Solomon Islands, Palau, Fiji, Samoa, and Australia, to WIPCE here in Tāmaki Makaurau, they reflect on what being on the ground across the region actually taught them — including hard lessons about knowledge protocols, indigenous hierarchy, and the gap betw...

Episode Overview In this episode, we explore indigenous approaches to behavioural health, the power of faith and culture in healing, and how Micronesian communities are navigating contemporary mental health challenges. From addressing youth suicide to reframing Western models through indigenous wisdom, we ask: what does it look like when local knowledge leads the way in community wellbeing? About...

Between the 1960s and 1990s, 193 nuclear explosions were conducted in Māohi Nui (French Polynesia) by France. In our latest episode with researcher & environmental justice advocate Vehia Wheeler (Māohi Nui) we explore the history of these explosions and the lasting effects our region. We also talk about the challenges of connecting our English-speaking and French-speaking islands with one anot...

We're joined by Lefaoali'i Dr Dion Enari - an Associate Professor from Unitec Institute of Technology, matai (chief) and sogaimiti (wearer of the Samoan tatau). In this episode he shares his research insights on the experiences of diasporic communities and highlights the tensions of fa'alavelave (giving), knowledge gate keepers and weighs in on the debate of who should be 'wort...

We are releasing our final Flags of the Moana tshirt drop! Listen in to see how you can win yourself a free tee 😉 tshirts will be available via themoanan.com Dr Zaramasina Clark is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is of Tongan descent and was raised in Fiji. She speaks to her experiences growin...

Asetoa Sam Pilisi is a community leader and current PhD Candidate of Niuean and Samoan descent. He has done youth work and community work for many years in Auckland, New Zealand and Western Sydney, Australia - particularly with Pacific youth. He currently is completing a PhD in Public Health at the University of Auckland focussing on wellbeing, burnout, duty, service and collectivism in the local...

We'd love to hear from you - we have a talanoa episode coming up! Send us your written or voice recorded messages via email or instagram for us to discuss on an episode. Send those through before the end of March.  In this episode we have Vaitoa Teaiwa Mallon (Banaba, Kiribati, Samoa, Irish) & Hele Christopher-Ikimotu (Banaba, Kiribati, Niue) who shed light on the history and current real...

We’d love to hear from you – we have a talanoa episode coming up! Send us your written or voice recorded messages via email or instagram for us to discuss on an episode. Please submit before the end of March 2025.  Innez Haua PhD is a Māori scholar based at Macqurie University in Sydney, Australia. With hundreds of thousands of Māori living in Australia, Haua researches how her people connect to t...

We’d love to hear from you – we have a talanoa episode coming up! Send us your written or voice recorded messages via email or instagram for us to discuss on an episode. Please submit before the end of March 2025.  Dr Sam Manuela (Cook Islands) is a senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand who is well known in the field for h...

We’d love to hear from you! We have a talanoa episode coming up! Send us your written or voice recorded messages via email or instagram for us to discuss on an episode. Please submit before the end of March 2025.  Reverend Billy Wetewea is an indigenous Kanak leader based in Kanaky New Caledonia 🇳🇨 on a mission to spread awareness about what is happening in his homelands. Kanaky has been home to i...

Is University still the pathway to prosperity for our communities? How are Indigenous knowledges valued within Western Universities?  Bula vinaka!  In this episode we are joined by Associate Professor Sereana Naepi, a Fijian researcher and lecturer in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We chat about the Indigenous experience at University's, how Indigenous knowledge is (or isn't) valued in Western e...

Leali’ifano Prof. Albert Refiti is a Samoan academic whose work spans multiple disciplines. Originally trained in contemporary architecture, his recent work has been in Pacific Indigenous concepts and theories such as vā.  In this episode we talanoa about his work relating to vā/wa, differences between the diasporic and communities in the islands as well as the future of Pacific thought. Send us F...

Prof. Jioji Ravulo, a Fijian researcher, shares insights on supporting Pacific communities in Australia. His work covers mental health, substance use, youth engagement, and decolonial approaches to education and society, emphasizing culturally informed solutions to modern challenges. Send us Fan Mail The Moanan is a Pacific-lef social enterprise based in Auckland, Aotearoa. We're building a g...

What do our ancestral connections mean for us today?  In this EP we chat with Dr Emalani Case a Kanaka Maoli academic, activist, teacher, and writer. She shares with us her interpretation of Kahiki the ancestral homeland of Kanaka Maoli and what it means to have love for home. We talk about what it means to be Indigenous today away from home and often on the land of other Indigenous Moanans. She a...

We're excited to share Szn 2 with you!  This a little introduction of what to expect this season.  Send us Fan Mail The Moanan is a Pacific-lef social enterprise based in Auckland, Aotearoa. We're building a global community of thinkers, creatives, and change-makers rooted in Oceania. Whether you're from the islands or just island-curious, join our community: Website: themoanan.com...

Final episode for our Moanan Abroad series! This week we have Kahu Kaiha – a Tama Enana community leader, artist, cultural practitioner and polyglot (fluent in Eo Enana, Reo Tahiti, French and English) from the Marquesas Islands (Te Henua Enana). We cover many topics from French Polynesia to the Tapu System, Marquesean tattooing known as Patutiki, connections between the Marquesas and other nation...

What do our megalithic monuments and artefacts tell us about our past? How might these inform our present?  We're joined by Elijah Lemusuifeauali'i an academic, educator, community connector and traditional carver. In this episode he shares insight into some of the megalithic monuments & artefacts of the Moana and some of his work on Pacific identities in the diaspora. While his ance...

What does it mean to wear the tattoos/markings of your culture? What, if any, are the responsibilities to these markings? Why was Tongan tattooing lost? In this episode we talanoa (talk) with Tongan tufunga tātatau (tattoo artist) Su'a Suluape Aisea Toetu'u about the history of the Tongan tātatau, its significance in pre-Chrisitan Tongan society and his efforts in reviving this art of ta...

EP06 with Mike Tavioni   A master carver, multidisciplinary artist & knowledge holder, Papa Mike shares his knowledge & insight into our ancestral origins, culture, language. He offers wisdom in reminding us of that sometimes change within our cultures & languages signify that they are alive.  Send us Fan Mail The Moanan is a Pacific-lef social enterprise based in Auckland, Aotearoa. W...

EP05 with Dr Lana Lopesi. Dr Lopesi is an Assistant Professor in the department of Indigenous Race and Ethnic Studies, University of Oregon where she teaches Pacific Islander studies, Indigenous feminisms and contemporary art. Stoked to have her on the podcast to share her knowledge & experience with us 🌊 Details to our upcoming events this month: AKL, NZ Live podcast with Auckland Libraries...

EP04 with traditional CHamoru carver Hila’an San Nicholas  Representing a new wave of young Indigenous knowledge holders, Hila’an shares ancient CHamoru wisdom, Indigenous worldviews & about the ancient practice of carving.  Send us Fan Mail The Moanan is a Pacific-lef social enterprise based in Auckland, Aotearoa. We're building a global community of thinkers, creatives, and change-maker...

Did you know that one of the largest Pacific diasporas in the world are Melanesians in the Netherlands?  These are the people of Maluku, who are known as Moluccans. But how come you haven’t heard of them?  In this EP we sat down with our sisters from Maluku who share the Moluccan story. With much of the history being absent from history & general discourse, we got an insight into the Maluku’s...

We are joined by Professor Tēvita O. Ka‘i, a prominent Tongan anthropologist and scholar whose work focuses on Indigenous Tongan knowledge, cultural anthropology, and Pacific studies. As an expert in Tongan cosmology and philosophy, Kaʻili has contributed significantly to the understanding and revitalization of traditional Tongan ways of knowing and being. He emphasizes how Indigenous knowledge sy...

Aloha mai kakou! Welcome to our ‘Moanan Abroad’ season. To kick off this series we have Kalehua Krug . A kumu (school principle), kakau marker (Hawaiian tattooing), scholar and Indigenous philosopher. Originally from Moloka’i, he now resides in Wai’anae on the island of O’ahu.  In this episode he shares with us Indigenous philosophies and worldviews from a Kanaka Maoli (Indigenous Hawaiian) perspe...

We hosted our Pō Talanoa Winter last month with our local community of Moanans. From Christians to Indigenous Spiritualists to Atheists, we had a range of different Moanans in the room discussing a topic that's important to us.  Huge thank you to our guests for this episode - Te Rina (Aotearoa, Tahiti) and Christian (Viti, Samoa). IG: @themoanan Email: hello@themoanan.com Please contact us vi...