Isoa Kavakimotu

06/05/2026

I can't believe we're coming up on the 8th episode of our podcast!

Join us every Thursday, where we fofofola e fala kae talanoa e kāinga (roll out the mat, so the family can talk) 🇹🇴

Shout out to Plus64

Is a Samoa vs Tonga youth American football tournament a positive step, or a risk for tension? We talk about the first Bay Area tournament and what it could mean for our young people and community pride.

We also get into corruption and the Constitution of Tonga. Starting with Clause 25, we unpack what’s changed, who it benefits, and the bigger questions around leadership, accountability, and power.

Then we break down Faa’i Kavei Koula, the four golden values of being Tongan. Where it comes from, if it’s still lived out today, and how it holds up for Tongans in the diaspora.

We also ask a tough one: does hereditary land and family hierarchy still make sense today? With more Tongans living overseas, what does that mean for inheritance, identity, and the role of the family heir?

And with it being an election year, we talk about why your vote matters and why Pacific voices need to show up.

Plus, a quick nod to White Sunday (Faka-Me) and what it still means to our families.

Fala Talks. Thursday, 6pm. Plus64 YouTube and Spotify.

08/04/2026

I took this photo of my Dad (second from the left) and his siblings following the passing my aunty Heitonga's (second from the right) husband back in 2019. I think this was the biggest collection of my Dad and his siblings since they were kids! And there were still aunts and uncles missing from this photo.

Since then, my uncle 'Otuha'apai (middle) has passed away, and today we lay my aunty Loata (left) to rest.

In the limited time I've had with my late aunty, she packed a lifetime of love and warmth into every hug and conversation we had.

Loata and Susana (right) took amazing care of me back in 2002 when I first went to Tonga. I spent a week with them in Pahu running around like kids do. One time for dinner we went to go and fēngota finemātu'a (sea cucumbers) for everyone to eat. As an annoying NZ-born kid, I wasn't having that 🤣🤣🤣 Loata and Susana some how found some chicken for me to eat to appease my "privileged" palate 🤦🏾‍♂️🤣

Loata and Susana also taught me how to properly vau niu (grateful coconut). That was a fun afternoon and a few sacrificial coconuts later, we had some of the most bomb topai ever 🤤

I can't believe one of my mehikitanga are gone. Loata was a loving mother and grandmother. She's no longer in pain, but in the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father.

Toka ā he nonga moe fiemālie Loata 🕊

27/03/2026

Hi everyone,

I'M DOING A PODCAST (again, finally) 🥰🤣

We released our first episode last week, and our second episode yesterday. Special shout out to Soane for spearheading this, Kennedy, Mele, Salome, and of course Plus64 for letting us do our thing!

Please like, comment and subscribe. Listen to our Fala Talks, and of course the Offside Show with Eliota and the crew!

Fala Talks on Spotify: Link to be update soon.The theme song is produced by SoaneFollow +64 on socials here!https://www.instagram.com/plus64.mp4/https://www....

22/03/2026

🙏🏾❤️

18/03/2026

To Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis. An open letter from a former South Aucklander, a son of cleaners, and a former "vehicle dweller".

My people are not props you get to use as an example of your poor judgment as leaders. Consistently, you have chosen to prioritize the rich over the poor. Trickle-down economics doesn't work when the rich are hoarding wealth!

Aotearoa has just under 2 months of fuel supply. Wonderful, we need more. It sounds like this Iran war caught everyone by surprise, especially the Intelligence agencies. I understand there was no REAL proactive approach to this.

With all the budget cuts this current Temu Trump Government has made, NGO's and food pantries are overwhelmed, our teachers, firefighters, and healthcare workers are still striking, people are still leaving for Australia in record numbers, but hey... Landlords get a tax break 👍🏾

I acknowledge these first-world problems are meaningless in comparison to the lives lost in the war zone. My heart goes out to the families of the loved ones lost 🙏🏾

But to our PM and Deputy PM, poor people aren't props you get to use when you can't do your job properly.

This photo of my Dad is from his 2015 kumara harvest. This guy is a former overstayer, former South Auckland resident, former cleaner that worked his arse off for almost 40 years since immigrating to Aotearoa. He turns 65 this year. Blessed to still have him with us. My Dad plants kumara because it's so bloody expensive. Unfortunately, no kumara this year. My old man is getting old 😭

22/01/2026

Ko hai that shiiiii cuh