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Caitlin Manase - Reflection on the PASI 101 Course:

Introduce yourself:

Hey, I’m Caitlin. I’m 21 years of age and doing a BCom majoring in Marketing and Commercial Law. I was born and raised in Auckland and came to Wellington for Uni. Both my parents were born in Samoa where my father hails from the villages of Matavai Safune and Saleaula whilst my mother from Sataua and Saleaula. Because I am doing Commerce, I thought I’d choose an elective outside my degree. PASI101 appealed to me as I was curious to gain a better understanding of my culture and heritage through the academic schooling realm in contrast to how I had learnt about my heritage at home.

What do you think about the PASI 101 course overall?

The course has been very enlightening. Doing Commerce, everything is straightforward and answers are pretty one-sided. There may be different formulas of working out answers but eventually, everyone comes to the same conclusion. With PASI101 being my first Arts paper, I have seen how there are so many interpretations of how a question is answered. It is very opinionated. I have found it interesting how people perceive things and how multifaceted our Pacific people’s way of thinking is.

The concepts and ideas of the course have hit very close to home. It’s crazy to think there is a subject formulated around the Pacific way of life despite our lack of representation in the media or academia, or should I say the negative perpetuation. Taking history back in High School, the curriculum was very ‘white-fixated’. The main topic was based around the Cold War and the English. I recall back in year 10 when we learnt an abysmal amount of history on the Pacific Island migration. It was sad to say the least but expected. That was what was most unfortunate, was that I expected it. The fact that I find it so astounding that there’s a course based on us is also quite disheartening. Why is it that our history in NZ is hardly ever considered NZ history? In saying that, I can’t say I’ve learnt anything that new just because I have grown up learning about my culture by my parents, grandparents and other relatives. Growing up in South Auckland also, I was surrounded by Pacific Islanders. My parents are separated so my mother’s side of the family taught me the fa’asamoa whilst my father’s side taught me the assimilation into NZ for the first generation Samoan. By having these two different perspectives, I was able to gain a clearer understanding and comprehension of my culture.

Did you have an ‘aha’ moment in PASI 101?

An ‘aha’ moment I had was during tutorials. I attended predominantly caucasian and asian schools and even in my current courses now I am surrounded by ethnicities but my own. In saying this, I have had my fair share of being the odd one out in class. I’ve been the person people look at when a stereotype about Polynesians is said aloud to the class and I’ve felt the shame of being of my skin colour. The feeling is something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy so when it came to tutorials and I did my presentation on Albert Wendt and included a part of white-fixation where we deem the white way of life the ‘right’ way of life, I couldn’t help but feel bad for my caucasian and afakasi peers. Some were ashamed of what their ancestors had done and it looked as though they felt a inkling of guilt. We can’t blame the mistakes made by those in the past on us, we can only learn from them. The way they all sat at one table together reflected the way most Pacific Islander kids would flock to familiarity. They looked for someone that looked like them so that they felt more comfortable and although they didn’t know each other, they felt safer as a united front and they felt that they weren’t alone. It was crazy to see that from the outside looking in because I’m so used to being in their position

Was there a certain lecture or piece of material that stood out to you in PASI 101?

I really resonated to Albert Wendt’s piece in ‘Towards a New Oceania’ where he spoke on the discrimination within our own culture. Being a first generation Samoan, I get flack from my parents and cousins who still live in Samoa about not being a true teine Samoa because I cannot speak my language. I can understand it well but when it comes to speaking it, that’s another story. We see how NZ Islanders and non-Islanders mock those with ‘broken english’, that same behaviour is reflected in fluent Samoan speakers mocking ‘broken samoan’ accents. We’ve created this unwritten spectrum where were are either ‘fia palagi’ or ‘fob’. Why is this even a thing? If you identify as a Samoan, you are a Samoan. If we are being held back by white supremacy, why are we adding onto this feeling of not belonging?

What advice would you have for future students who decide to take PASI 101?

For future students, really take in the lessons you’re being taught and create an open dialogue with your peers. It’s so interesting to see people with different walks of life experience things that you’ve dealt with and to see how they’ve reacted. Try to include your palagi peers. You know what it’s like to be a minority so include them in your discussions and help them see things from your perspectives. Also, not just to the students taking PASI101, but to those doing Arts degrees in general, be proud of your degree! I see so many people ashamed of their Bachelor of Arts because they are looked down on by people taking different courses. If it’s what you enjoy and what you love, who gives a crap what other people say. This life is only temporary, so do what you love

Anything extra you would like to add?

Joining the Samoan Association this year was amazing because I got to have fellowship with people like me. This year for So’otaga we were given a verse in the bible and I think that it really goes with what we are all dealing with at uni. The verse says: James 1:2-4 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do it’s complete work, so that you may be mature and complete lacking nothing. Hang in there everyone and all the best with your studies!

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Stormee Agnes Schaumkell - Reflection on the PASI 101 Course:

Introduce yourself:

Talofa Lava everyone, my name is Stormee (on the right) but you can call me storm, Miss Samoa or Rihanna whatever floats your boat really. I descend from the beautiful islands of Samoa (Upolu and Apia) and the Cook Islands (Aitutaki) I am a proud Pacific Islander, and I love wicked wings & tank smoothies. So if you’re ever around the kelburn campus and wanna shout a sis you know what to get! hahaha.

What do you think about the PASI 101 course overall?

In all honesty I love Pacific Studies, I started this trimester just thinking that this course was going to teach me things I had already known about my culture and heritage when in reality it widened my knowledge and taught me more in depth about our Pacific heritage and what it is like to be a Pacific Islander not only in New Zealand but other countries worldwide and the discrimination that receive from being natives in their own country.

Did you have an ‘aha’ moment in PASI 101?

My aha moment in Pasi would be learning about the West Papuans, this is simply because I was clueless as to what was happening in West Papua. And when I had learnt more about them it saddened me knowing that they felt unsafe in their own country even though they are the natives.

Was there a certain lecture or piece of material that stood out to you in PASI 101?

Teresia Teaiwa’s chapter in Tangata O le Moana called Good neighbour, Big brother, kin? Stood out for me the most and the reason why I liked this chapter was because it talked about the Pacific Islands relationship with our New Zealand government. It also talked about the stigmatisation around Pacific Islanders/ Maori within New Zealand, and for me personally I’m always trying to break the stigma. This stood out for me because it enhanced my knowledge about our New Zealand government and being that my dream career is to work within the Government knowing that there are foreign policies set in stone for our family back home in the islands just pushed me even more to reach my goal of becoming an MPP or the future Prime Minister of New Zealand, just so I can help our Polynesian families here in New Zealand and in the Pacific Island. But to also break the stigma around Pacific Islanders succeeding in New Zealand.

What advice would you have for future students who decide to take PASI 101?

If there is any advice I could give to people who are wanting to study PASI 101, it would be to not be so closed minded. Yes, as a Pacific Islander we learn about our culture on the daily with what we witness and hear from our elders and the environments we are in. But this course will take your knowledge to a whole other level, you will learn things that you probably never knew before about your own culture and others.

Anything extra you would like to add?

Another piece of advice would be to not leave your KCQ’s till last minute like your sis over here did!! For real though fam PASI 101 is like your home away from home, it’s open for everybody and not just Pacific Islanders!

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Malia Pole’o - Reflection on the PASI 101 Course:

Introduce yourself:

My name is Malia Pole ́o (on the right), born in New Zealand and grew up in a small town called Upper Hutt. I am the oldest of six children (including me), Mele, Okusi, Gibeon, Meleane and Bernadette and am a proud TONGAN #MMT. If I could sum up the things I love it would look something like this (in no particular order of course) - Family, God, Food and Volleyball (sometimes). I love seeing our pacific community achieving anywhere and everywhere in any shape or form & am continuously supporting our people always.

What do you think about the PASI 101 course overall?

I feel it is a privilege to be amongst the group of students who have the opportunity to take PASI 101 at Victoria University, learning more about our Pacific Heritage, traditions, culture and figure out who we are as Pacific Islanders, and discover what was established before us by our ancestors. I can confidently say that PASI 101 is my favourite paper for many reasons such as; being able to relate to the course in ways I didn't think was possible, I discovered unknown aspects of my Pacific identity that I have not discovered and was able to express my Pacific Culture into my work and weave it into my assignments, making relevant connections to the readings and content that was being taught each week. PASI 101 uses Akamai as an opportunity, a breakthrough, to challenge the predominant westernised culture that our education system in New Zealand is based around and is something that I will be grateful for. Akamai is an assignment option in PASI 101 and gives us the chance to express who we are, it is something we must acknowledge and continue to develop on behalf of Teresia Teaiwa, who created this beautifully and well established course for future generations to learn.

Did you have an ‘aha’ moment in PASI 101?

I remember the day we had a moment of silence for the terrorist attacks for christchurch, Emalani also played a video of Teresia Teaiwa which was in the second week of the course and was my  ́aha ́ moment. The type of  ́aha ́ moment that made majority of the class tear up in class and where I realised that PASI 101 was something that I was very passionate to learn about and wanted to use to discover more about who I am.

Was there a certain lecture or piece of material that stood out to you in PASI 101?

Definitely the readings that were given to us in week five, Albert Wendt ́s  ̈Inside us the dead ̈ and Karlo Mila ́s New Zealand perspective of  ̈Inside us the dead ̈. I was intrigued by the point that was being conveyed by Albert Wendt that although our

ancestors are not with us today, they are still inside us and a part of who we are because at the end of the day, we would not be where we are if it was not for them. Having the New Zealand perspective of Ínside us the dead ́ was also an eye opener because it was a realistic interpretation of New Zealand born Pacific Islanders who may feel more of a disconnect to their ancestors. These readings are what inspired me to choose the questions and ideas I had for my Akamai, where I explored what being a New Zealand Pacific Islander means to people.

What advice would you have for future students who decide to take PASI 101?

Advice for future students? My advice will be short and sweet so that you can get the point:

1. Go in with an open mind - Don ́t walk in to the first class thinking you know everything about our Pacific Heritage because surprisingly there's more to it than you know.

2. Ask for help - If you need help ask. Simple. Ask a past student (me), Tutor, team at Pasi haos and lecturer.

3. Akamai - I recommend doing Akamai! We are given this opportunity to express who we are in a different way than doing the standard, essays and there is not much opportunity like that.

4. Enjoy it - Only do things that you enjoy, if you realise that PASI 101 is for you, follow your heart and STUDY IT!

Anything extra you would like to add?

Through PASI 101 I have not only made new friends or discovered new things that I did not know about our Pacific Heritage, I have most importantly discovered more of who I am and have realised what I am passionate about and that is our Pacific People. We make mistakes and learn from them, so don't be afraid to speak up and share your opinions. I walked into PASI having no idea of what the course is going to be about and am going to now walk out with a new major.... PASI.

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Morag Elizabeth Featherstone - Reflection on the PASI 101 Course:

Introduce yourself:

Born in Scotland. I’m a retired teacher trying to keep my brain working.  I’ve also worked in the Health Admin sector and in the Prison area. Being a mentor for a group of PI girls for their five years at College got me interested in Pacific Studies.  Last year I went to two terms of Samoan language classes. My teacher was someone I taught 40 years ago. Loved every minute of it!

What do you think about the PASI 101 course overall?

I couldn’t be happier with PASI 101.  It’s been a great start to my retirement. I like the variety, the warm and positive atmosphere with just enough academic work to keep me honest.

Did you have an ‘aha’ moment in PASI 101?

Writing my journal for my Akamai performance has been a series of aha moments.  It’s helped me to synthesise some of my feelings regarding my migrant experience.  Also the concept of “a sea of islands” has completely changed my perception of Oceania.

Was there a certain lecture or piece of material that stood out to you in PASI 101?

Pretty hard to go past Ashleigh’s lecture but the Art exhibition and the 3D printer stuff were all memorable too.  All the lectures by Emalani were thought provoking - I’ve never been bored.

What advice would you have for future students who decide to take PASI 101?

Advice to future students - come with an open mind and embrace your values and personal history.  Everyone has their own story and can use the course to ponder their background and where they come from.  Spend time rolling some of the concepts around in your mind, eg. I now think heaps about imagined communities, identity and aloha ’aina.  Keep up with the readings.

Anything extra you would like to add?

Don’t answer blog questions just after you’ve had a whisky!

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Hillary Ata - Reflection on the PASI 101 Course:

Introduce yourself:

My name is Hillary but you can call me Beyoncé. I’m from New-Caledonia and I am here at Victoria University as an exchange student. I’m doing a English Degree majoring in British and American Literature and this is my final year at Uni. I’m from a monoparental family and I am really proud of it.

What do you think about the PASI 101 course overall?

I took Pacific Studies at the University of New-Caledonia but PASI 101 is beyond that. My university call it «Pacific Studies» but I would say that it is «Australia and New-Zealand Studies» as we are mainly focusing on Australia and New-Zealand. 

Being in PASI 101 this trimester pushed me to be more critical, to be more open-minded, to think OUTSIDE the box and to stop being «poly-centric». 

The course breaks all the assumptions that one can have on the Pacific. It is interdisciplinary and it encourages us to use our agency. It is also a way to aknowledge all the problems that we have but we are not responsible of. It helps us to raise awareness, to preach for our lands and our cultures that are either destroyed or taken away by the Western Empires in the name of «colonization».

PASI 101 was not made to be «gentle» or made to contemplate the customs and cultures. It has been made to raise awarness about the geographic, political and economic diversity of the Pacific Islands Regions.

PASI 101 is nourishing our spirit, helping defining who we are and it keeps feeding our imagination.

Did you have an ‘aha’ moment in PASI 101?

Actually, Jess Marinaccio’s guest lecture was my «aha» moment. She keeps us attracted not only in what she was saying but also about her work.

She was AMAZING!

Was there a certain lecture or piece of material that stood out to you in PASI 101?

About a certain lecture I would say Ashleigh’s one. She was amazing! I still have no words to describe how I felt about it. I also really appreciated Gem Wilder’s and Jess Marinaccio’s guest lectures. They were passionated and creative, they were funny and also empowering!

The piece of art that stood out to me was the drawings with the Captain James Cook. By choosing them, I really think it’s important to keep in mind that James Cook is part of our Pacific Heritage and of our history. Even if, you don’t want to admit it, we can’t not change what happened, we just have to aknowledge it. Some people want to erase it from their historical background by asking for independance or by wanting to change their names. But this is a fact, it’s part of our heritage and we, have to accept it.

What advice would you have for future students who decide to take PASI 101?

Taking PASI 101 doesn’t mean that you don’t know who you are. It means that you are ready to aknowledge that your culture is not perfect. It’s aknowledging the fact that your historical background is messy, sticky but not noa at all.

By taking PASI 101, you have to be ready to admit that you had assumptions about one culture,. You will also have to think critically about your own culture. Because yes, nobody’s perfect but everyone has their agency. You will have to accept that some customs might be TAPU for you but will be NOA for others, you will have to challenge all the structures you have raised in.

PASI 101 is not «all white» or «all black», it will not tell who you truly are. But it will help you find your real place and show you how far you can go to defend and to raise a voice for your people.

My only advice for future students is : Keep in mind that this course was created to give a voice to people who have been belittled and put aside for so many years, keep in mind that now, the time has come to change. We can make it different, being in PASI 101 means that you are ready to break every boudaries and every assumptions that you, islanders, have be known for.

Anything extra you would like to add?

A thing I would like to add is : never be afraid of making mistakes or having a harsh opinion on something. The readings will help you to understand the context and will also help you to build a critical reflexion. It’s always goo to go on Youtube and look for videos and testimonies (it keeps it entertaining). Don’t be afraid to speak up in lectures, tutorials and to be curiours during the seminars and guest lectures. You have a question? Ask it. You have a doubt? Ask it. You want to share an personal experience or something you witnessed. Do so. You’re helping yourself but you are also helping everyone in the theatre.

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Reece Koe - Reflection on the PASI 101 Course:

Introduce yourself:

What's up everyone! My name's Reece and I'm an exchange student here for this trimester from Southern California. I'm 100% Japanese by blood, but my entire family on my mom's side is from Hawaii and my mom is a kumu hula (hula teacher) with her own halau (hula school). I've always been surrounded by the Hawaiian lifestyle, so being here in New Zealand has been awesome to see the different ways that Pasifika people have been integrated. As much as I love living in California, its nothing compared to New Zealand. 

What do you think about the PASI 101 course overall? 

Being in this course has been a great experience! I've always heard stories and learned many things from family members, but never have I learned about the Pacific in a classroom setting. This has been an eye-opening experience to me that has made me realize the many similarities Pacific Islanders have and even more so, differences. 

Did you have an ‘aha’ moment in PASI 101? 

My "aha" moment in PASI 101 was watching Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner recite the poem "Lessons From Hawaii". I've always learned about how oppressed Hawaiians are and the long history they have to larger powers, but this flipped the perspective for me. It was the first time I had heard of the Hawaiians being the oppressors. As much as they've played victim throughout history, it was hard to hear the accounts of Micronesians without feeling remorse. This reversal of roles made me realize that we need to look at all topics in this course from a wider perspective; one that takes every side into account. 

Was there a certain lecture or piece of material that stood out to you in PASI 101? 

The lecture that really stood out to me in PASI 101 was when we discussed the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands were used as nuclear targets by the US. This is something that we (Americans) never learn about in school and never even hear about. This type of bullying on a population would be totally unacceptable if it were for on a larger nation, so why is it justifiable on this group of people? 

What advice would you have for future students who decide to take PASI 101? 

Take advantage of every lecture. It's not necessarily like a traditional math class where the material builds on itself, but the lectures do relate to each other. Emalani is very passionate about every topic that is discussed, and it shows in her ability to captivate the class. As great as Emalani was throughout the course, the guest lecturers were a great chance to see an outside perspective on other topics in their specialty. 

Anything extra you would like to add?

Thanks for checking out our clothing items and a special thanks to everyone who helped us fund the project! Shoots!

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Tangata O Le Moana Event Review - By Reece Koe

I went to the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa and took a deeper look at the exhibit called Tangata o le Moana. This exhibit explains "The story of Pacific People in New Zealand". It ranged over many different time periods from the first settlers of New Zealand to current events involving Pacific People in New Zealand. Many different groups were represented in this exhibit including Hawaiians, Tongans, Samoans and Fijians. This exhibit included the many different roles that Pacific People have in New Zealand. They have prominent roles in many different industries that include politics, sports and entertainment.

It was eye opening to see all of the tools that the original Pacific Islanders used. It was very informative to see all of the fish hooks, fishing reels, tattooing tools and hand weapons. There has been a lot of progress in the tools we use today and it was interesting to see the foundations for these products.

The exhibit shed light on the course theme in regards to how much the Pacific People relate to each other. There has been a lot of speculation revolving around this theory but this exhibit shared some studies that proved this. There have been DNA linkages found in people from across the Pacific. There has also been plants and animals found across the Pacific that were brought from the eastern parts of the Pacific. An example of this is the kumara. This was a staple in New Zealand life when settlers first arrived and used in cooking throughout the Pacific, but some theories say it is originally from South America. There are also many similarities in the different cultures across the Pacific. These aspects include language, clothing and dance forms.

An important historical figure that I learned about for the first time was Tupaia. He was a priest who traveled with Captain Cook in 1769 and was able to be an interpreter between the Europeans and many Pacific Islanders. He was highly regarded by both the Europeans and Pacific Islanders for his superior knowledge in many different areas and for his ability to translate between the different languages. In the lecture on Thursday of this week, we learned about him as well and there was one conflicting view. He was accompanied by someone named Taiato. In the museum, he was labeled as Tupaia's servant. In the lecture, April said that he was thought of as his servant but was really just a trusted friend that he like to travel with to feel more comfortable among all the Europeans onboard. I thought this conflicting view was interesting. This is just proof about the clouded information that revolves around the Pacific Islands. While there are many scholars trying to get clear information and justify actions of others there is a lot of ambiguity in the field. This is caused by the sources of information, many of which are just by word of mouth. This is something that really interests me and compelled me to take this class and choose this event. Pacific Studies is a relatively young field of study and places like Te Papa are a big step to inform and document the information that is known in the field.

I would definitely recommend this even to one of my classmates. It was very interesting to see some of the things we hear in class and be able to relate it to real artifacts that the museum has collected over time. While reading and hearing lectures is a very good way to learn, seeing the diagrams and displays that the museum has put together is a very good way to visualize the information in a clean and organized fashion. It is very important to see and hear the many different points of views being covered to fully understand the information.

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Lessons From Hawaii by Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner

Written and performed by Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner. Cameramen: Russell Thoulag & Otis Aisek Editor: Yu Suenaga 

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2019 AKAMAI Proposal - Ena Spitzenberg | Reece Koe | Lima Luaai

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Drew Vai speaking about his inspiration on writing "Go To School", Spread The WORD.

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Selina Tusitala Marsh, who represented Tuvalu at Poetry Parnassus, reads from her poem 'Fast Talking PI' whilst on the Parnassus tour in Derry

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This is "WAYFINDERS: A Pacific Odyssey" by Maiden Voyage Productions on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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The article identifies several rationales for university-level Pacific Islands studies programs and considers their implications for curriculum design and development. It discusses some fundamental conceptual problems associated with area studies generally, before advocating a new emphasis on interdisciplinary forms of scholarship and more-rigorous attempts to decolonize the field of study

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In this documentary 'Naked Samoan' Oscar Kightley, and Māori radio/TV personality Nathan Rarere use DNA technology to trace their families' ancestry. They discover that their forebears originated in Taiwan before migrating to the Pacific via Vanuatu (and the Cook Islands, for those going on to Aotearoa). On the DNA trail they meet locals and find striking cultural similarities — even in Taiwan, where the indigenous people look Polynesian, and provide a haka-like welcome. The film won top honours at the International Oceania Documentary Film Festival in Tahiti.

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Through candid interviews and rare archival footage Children of the Migration tells the stories of the Pacific Island immigrants who came to New Zealand from the 1950s - 1980s and changed the cultural landscape of Aotearoa. Presented by David Sa'ena and actor Vela Manusaute, this humorous and moving documentary includes interviews with All Black Tana Umaga, boxer David Tua, actress Teuila Blakely, hip hop artist King Kapisi and poet Tusiata Avia. Directed by Fijian European Lala Rolls.

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Talofa lava, Kia orana katoatoa, Malo e lelei, Bula vinaka, Namaste, Fakaalofa atu, Taloha ni, Halo olketa, Kam na mauri, Aloha kākou, Tena koutou katoa! This course is a journey through the immense geographic, historical, cultural, political and economic diversity of the Pacific Islands region. Along this journey you will encounter interesting and important information about Pacific societies. You will also come to understand and appreciate how the ways one sees, studies, and reports can produce varying and sometimes contradictory images of the Pacific. A particular focus of this course is on the intellectual and academic heritage of Pacific Studies, so we explore questions of what it means to study the Pacific when the university is our anchor. The theme of PASI 101 is "The Pacific Heritage". By heritage we mean the taonga, or treasures passed to us. Some of these taonga have long histories, while others have shorter histories. Some of these treasures may come to us through our families or communities, while others may be entirely new gifts from people to whom we have no blood or cultural connection. Some of the heritage we explore in Pacific Studies is material (we can touch it, or feel it), while other things we inherit are in the form of ideas and ways of doing things—not physical things themselves. Because of this diversity in the Pacific Heritage, PASI 101 aims to cater to a variety of learning styles. For this reason, you are provided with options on your major piece of assessment. This is detailed on pages 6-8 of this course outline. Pacific Studies is a dynamic field that promotes both intellectual and personal growth — and is in turn a field that is open to having its boundaries pushed and developed by its students — you!

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Then There Were None Trailer