Pacific Empowerment

• Episde 26: Cyberbullying in the Pacific: Our Talk on 16 Days of Activism

  This week, I sit down with Lizzie Wong to break down 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and what it means for Pacific Island people. We talk through this year’s theme on ending digital violence and why online abuse is now one of the biggest threats facing Pacific women and girls.I also share my own experience with cyberbullying, and together we unpack the different forms of online harassment that many Pacific women face today. We discuss real solutions, practical safety tips, and how our communities can create safer digital spaces for our sisters, daughters, and mothers.A powerful, necessary conversation for our Pacific people on activism, awareness, and protecting ourselves online. 💜🎙️Support the showHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

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• Episode 25 - Letting Go of Old Traditions: From Catholic Doctrine to Pacific Practices

  In this powerful episode, Akanesi dives deep into how God has been speaking through Scripture - revealing that not all traditions passed down through generations come from Him. Using the recent Catholic shift away from the belief that Mary is “Co-Redeemer” as a starting point, she explores how even long-held religious traditions can change when they don’t align with biblical truth.Akanesi shares a personal testimony about how God has been speaking through the exact same Scriptures again and again, revealing a powerful message for the Pacific.This episode directly confronts harmful Pacific practices that continue to hurt families today - kava addiction, tou‘a exploitation, domestic violence, and silence around suffering. It’s a bold reminder that culture should never have more authority than Christ.God is raising a generation that will say, “It ends with me.”Support the showHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

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• Episode 24 - Epstein, Power & the Pacific: Why No One Is Untouchable

  In this powerful new episode of Pacific Empowerment, host Akanesi dives into the truth behind the release of the Epstein Files, and why this moment matters for our Pacific communities.In this episode, we uncover who Jeffrey Epstein really was, what happened behind the luxury and influence, and the links to presidents, royalty, and elites. Most importantly, we confront the dangerous similarities in our own Pacific communities, especially in faikava spaces where some men believe culture and connection can protect abusive behaviour.This conversation is a reminder to us all: No title, no status, and no culture can protect a predator forever.🎧 Listen and share - because when Pacific survivors speak, truth rises and justice follows.Support the showHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

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• Episode 23 - Discussing Academic Papers on the Tou‘a

  In this week’s episode, I discuss academic research on the role of the tou‘a - the woman serving kava, and what these studies reveal about women’s experiences inside faikava spaces.I focus on the work of Hilda A. Port, author of the doctoral thesis How Do Evolving Kava-Related Practices Impact the Role of Tongan Women Living in Aotearoa? Her research highlights the realities faced by tou‘a, including the cultural expectations, the vulnerability in certain kava settings, and how evolving practices have changed the way women are viewed and treated in these environments.Alongside this academic perspective, I share real stories from Tongan women and men about faikava and tou'a, including my first testimony from Nauru about kava abuse. These testimonies reveal what is truly happening in our communities and why open conversations are needed now more than ever.This episode is for anyone who wants to understand the truth behind the tou‘a role, beyond cultural tradition and academic debate. It’s time to address what’s really going on.Watch on YouTube, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Support the showHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

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• Episode 22 - When Research Misses Reality: Why Kava Studies Don’t Reflect Pacific Life

  Episode Description:In this episode, I analyze Dr. Apo Aporosa’s article of the University of Waikato, "De-mythologizing and Re-branding of Kava as the New ‘World Drug’ of Choice” - a paper that defends kava as safe and culturally misunderstood. But here’s the real question: Can studies done on kava tablets in laboratories truly represent the reality of Pacific Island men drinking bowl after bowl every night?I also share real testimonies from wives in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, women whose husbands’ kava addiction and faikava lifestyle have led to broken families, financial struggles, and emotional pain.Finally, I offer advice for women who are going through this: those dealing with cheating or addicted husbands.This episode challenges the academic narrative with lived experience, exposing what happens when research misses reality.Support the showHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

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