Manavahine: Powerful women of the Pacific

"No nā wāhine uʻi aīwaīwa ā kapolakā! In honor of the heroic women mysterious and unfathomable!" A blog celebrating and honoring powerful women of the Pacific

[womenpacific]

Click here to support Help me return to Aotearoa by Serena Simmons

Kia ora, whanau. My name is Serena Ngaio Simmons. I'm a spoken word poet and English major in my second to last semester at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In June 2014, I was fortunate enough to return to my ancestral homeland of Aotearoa, New Zealand. I fell in love with the home that I h...

My friend Serena is heading to her homeland, Aotearoa, and has a gofundme. Help out if you can, or feel so inclined :) Thanks!

[womenpacific]

This blog will be on hiatus while I'm in Tahiti, trying to get down with my roots. Will recommence January/February 2016

[legrandcirque]

  Princess Ruth Keelikolani with hapa-haole chiefs Samuel Parker and John Adams Cummins as kāhili bearers. Photograph by Menzies Dickson. Hawaii, 1870s.

[womenpacific]

One of my favorite aliʻi!

[womenpacific]

Hi all, I’m trying to raise some funds to live in Tahiti for 6 months.  Tahiti is my ancestral homeland, and this will be the first time I’m living there.  I’m super excited!  But definitely could use some help with funds.  Tahiti is a very expensive place, so I would like to use the money on food, bills, and travel expenses.   If you feel so inclined to help me make my dreams come true, and reconnect with Tahiti, please donate!   A million thanks! Link to donate: http://www.kapipal.com/5f415dfbcba4458e99f413122dffbfd0

[womenpacific]

This ends tomorrow, so reblogging one last time.  Thanks!  

[eveningstarwoman-deactivated202]

Māori Dancers Slay Beyoncé Song With Indigenous Dance

What do you get when New Zealand's indigenous Māori dancing bows down to the sounds of Queen Bey? Poiyoncé: A new type of dance that we're really hoping catches on.

[808urban]

Another wall done by the students of the Lanai Cultural Heritage Center’s summer program. Led by Lana'i’s own Wendall Kaho'ohalahala @max_the_rabbit and @dak.1ne. Special guest artists @sleeplesspds @jamied_tsg @heyheyheylin @hidevani big mahalo for your guiding light!🌟🙏 (at Lanai High & Elementary School)

[black-australia]

Māori students join online protest against the closure of Aboriginal communities

The fight to stop the closure of indigenous communities in Western Australia continues to grow.

Te Kāea caught up with a group of Māori students from Auckland University who have expressed concerns about the Western Australian Government’s decision.

Co-president of Ngā Tauira Māori, Jerry Daniels says, “We want the Australian Government to change what they’re doing and support those communities or else their culture will die.”

Member of Ngā Tauira Māori, Zoe Jones says, “If they want to move into the big city then so be it, but if they don’t, their choices to live in the land they’re growing up in should be aided.”

Across the ditch, some Māori families have gathered together to oppose the WA Government.

In the last two weeks, indigenous communities have protested across Australia, saying cutting funding for Western Aboriginal communities is genocide.

The Commonwealth will withdraw funding for essential services in June to Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.

[womenpacific]

Hi all, I’m trying to raise some funds to live in Tahiti for 6 months.  Tahiti is my ancestral homeland, and this will be the first time I’m living there.  I’m super excited!  But definitely could use some help with funds.  Tahiti is a very expensive place, so I would like to use the money on food, bills, and travel expenses.   If you feel so inclined to help me make my dreams come true, and reconnect with Tahiti, please donate!   A million thanks! Link to donate: http://www.kapipal.com/5f415dfbcba4458e99f413122dffbfd0

[womenpacific]

I'll be leaving in 2 weeks, help out if you can!

[hellyeahscarleteen]

3 Ways to Keep Yourself Safe When You're Not Ready to Leave Your Abusive Partner

If you're in a relationship with an abusive partner, you're not alone – this author can relate, as can countless other survivors, who make an average of seven attempts before leaving for good. You should feel safe, not just if you want to leave, but right now.

In addition to what’s mentioned in this link, we have some info to help folks make a plan to stay safe when leaving an abusive relationship, and when they can’t leave just yet: The Scarleteen Safety Plan

[socialjusticesummoner]

Seriously, I’ve only been able to skim this article so far, but I definitely plan on reading the whole thing later

If you’re being abused by your partner, and you’re reading this right now, then you have awe-inspiring strength.

You’re suffering, but you have the courage to seek out ideas on how to take care of yourself.

I’m guessing you haven’t come across many tips like these. When I was being abused, the only advice I found was about how to leave an abusive partner, or how to heal after you’ve left.

In this society we sometimes talk about abuse victims being strong after they leave, but frame them as weak before hand. I think that is so wrong. Living in an abusive relationship takes a strength that most people cannot even comprehend. you’re not weak because you stay. there are a million reasons why we stay because, frankly, abusers actively work to keep their victims trapped. 

So know that if you’re in an abusive relationship right now as you read this, I think you are strong as fuck, and I am rooting hard as hell for you. 

[socialjusticesummoner]

Honestly, if people feel even a little inclined to reblog this, I would appreciate it. I am not trying to guilt anyone, if you don’t reblog I won’t think you’re a horrible person, that’s totally your prerogative… But if these words can help even just one current victim of domestic violence… I would be so happy. 

[misssatori]

So many people can’t leave. So many. Please be safe.

[womenpacific]

Learn Hawaiian!

[womenpacific]

Updates

On Wednesday, June 24th, state law enforcement arrived on Mauna Kea as escorts for the construction vehicles for the Thirty Meter Telescople. They were met by 750 peaceful protectors from Hawaiʻi...

“Please help raise funds to cover the airfare and ground transporation costs for four Aloha ʻĀina warriors in order to alleviate some of the financial burden and hardship ahead and to show that we will not be deterred by the threat of arrests. One thing Mauna Kea has taught us is that we can and do take care of our own!”

[womenpacific]

Help support this important film!

“Create awareness. Guam is currently going through a crisis.  The rate of “reported” sexual assaults against women is second highest in the nation, only second to that of Alaska.  We have yet to touch on the “unreported” sexual assaults.  Per capita, Guam ranks the highest in the nation!  These figures are startling.

Provoke Change.  We are confident this film will ignite a chord with our audience provoking positive action with the local community; creating a community that will become more cognizant of these acts against women. It is our hope that victims will take-in Monique’s story and find their own strength in coming forward and reporting their attackers.”

[womenpacific]

New Māori alphabet app launched to help all ages

A new digital app which focuses on the Māori alphabet has been launched today.

[sacredarch]

my rainy day project with my pops! indigenous resistance patch is from #foxalive distro, and mahalo nui to my dear friend @equimby for my beautiful reclaim our islands patch ❤️💙

[w4stey]

omfg UP THE HAWAIIAN PUNKS!!

[kumuhina]

Documentary Edge Fest - NZ

[imreallybad-deactivated20150610]

i wish men understood that when women are talking about feminism and rape culture and shit, it’s not just a political conversation. it’s not about being a “social justice warrior” or whatever. it’s about our actual lives being shaped by misogyny since childhood, and the daily reality of living in fear of violence. this isn’t a fucking game or philosophical debate. this is our fucking lives. 

[imreallybad-deactivated20150610]

this post is picking up like 100 notes per minute its outta control 

[reverseracism]

Dinah Jane from Fifth Harmony thinks It's Ok for Her to have Corn Rows and Use the N Word occasionally because "she probably has black in her." Dinah is Polynesian (Tongan) and Danish. Any thoughts?

*sigh*

[eatass-deactivated32235235-deac]

This is actually a very common occurrence for Polynesians actually. It stems from the fact that a lot Polynesians think that because they grow up around black people/aren’t white it gives them the same rights to do things from black culture. But it’s funny (not really) because the amount of anti-blackness in our community is pretty high and ugly.

[womenpacific]

This is so true, glad someone is speaking on it! While Pacific Islanders are appropriating hip hop and AAVE, we also have colorism in our communities. Our relatives in Papua New Guinea are going through a genocide and one of the reasons that issue is marginalized is because of their dark skin. All of Melanesia is constantly marginalized in the Pacific and it's due to anti-blackness.