[Jake Kongaika/Cubworld]
A couple of months ago I came across this video clip of Cubworld singing in Amsterdam. I was so moved by the whole performance that I immediately became a Cubworld fan! There are many talented musicians out there but very few are talented and humble! Cubworld is definitely among those few and we are honored to have him represent for the H.Y.P.E Movement!
Check out his HYPE video profile below and share it with your friends!
Click on the picture below to check out Cubworld's music!
Get on the H.Y.P.E.-- Cubworld
H.Y.P.E Movement Clarifications...
It has been brought to my attention by some young people and parents that there are some rumors circulating around our community about the purpose of the H.Y.P.E. Movement and what it stands for...so let me clear it up real quick...
Q: Is the H.Y.P.E. Movement's purpose to get young people to emancipate themselves from their parents?
A: NO. Parents are central to this movement without their love and support this movement would not be possible.
Q: Does the H.Y.P.E. Movement encourage young people to rebel against their religious beliefs, spirituality, gospel doctrines?
A: Of course NOT.
Q: Does the word "emancipation" only refer to drugged out Bob Marley fans who like to smoke weed and do drugs?
A: That's ridiculous but if you really need an answer--- it's NO.
To find out more about what the H.Y.P.E. Movement stands for...click on the link on the right hand corner of my blog where it says "H.Y.P.E. Movement Info".
If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me at anapesi@gmail.com
Words from the Wise--Farewell Dr. 'Epeli Hau'ofa
[Picture borrowed from Color Me Fiji's Blog.
I discovered 'Epeli's writings at a very critical time in my academic career when I was trying to make sense of writings by non-Tongan scholars about Tongans. At the time I couldn't fully articulate why their writings never really spoke to me and I had a hard time identifying with their analysis of the experiences of my Tongan people.
Then I came across 'Epeli's words which boldly spoke to me that "human reality is human creation, if we fail to create our own reality someone else will do it for us"...I decided then that I was going to work in constructing my own reality and in creating a platform for us to retell our own stories and reclaim our legacy as Pacific people!
It was 'Epeli who put forth the idea that the Ocean is in Us that we are not just Islands in the Sea but rather that we are a Sea of Islands and that the Ocean doesn't divide us as Pacific people but rather it connects us!
He stressed that the terms Pacific Islander/Polynesian were all terms made up arbitrarily during the time of colonization to conquer and divide the Pacific. Before those terms were invented by outsiders to describe us, we were always the Moana people--the people of the ocean!
"there are no more suitable people on earth to be the custodians of the oceans than those for whom the sea is home...we seem to have forgotten that we are such a people...our roots...our origins are embedded in the sea...our ancestors were brought here by the sea...the sea is our pathway to each other and to everyone else, the sea is our endless saga, the sea is our most powerful metaphor...the Ocean is in Us..."
--Epeli Ha'uofa
Farewell Dr. Ha'uofa! Thank you for inspiring even those of us who have lived away from the Ocean for so long...that even we could carry on the legacy of the Moana people!!! 'Ofa lahi atu!!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Planet Tonga Website Credentialed to Cover Presidential Inaugural Events...
I am a huge OBAMA supporter and so you can imagine my excitement when I received this in my Planet Tonga email...
To Anapesi Kaili, Planet Tonga Website:
Thank you for your request for press credentials to cover the official events sponsored by the Presidential Inaugural Committee 2009 (PIC). This letter is your official notification that the Planet Tonga Website has been selected by the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Committee to cover events at the upcoming Presidential Inaugural events.
Please find all the necessary information attached.
We look forward to seeing you!
Thank you,
Media Credentialing Department
Presidential Inaugural Committee 2009
What an amazing opportunity!!!
"The Promise" (HYPE Song) 676 Featuring the HYPE Kids
[Reppin' H.Y.P.E. at recording studio]
Check out "The Promise" (HYPE Song) 676 Featuring the HYPE Kids
You can download your FREE copy of "The Promise" on the Planet Tonga Website
"The Promise" was written specifically for the Hype Movement. Different issues in our community were embedded in the back of the mind of 676, however to make sure the right audience was targetted, the youth was the main focus. The first verse starts off with 676 - Neti Taumoepeau, and is symbolic of a parent or elder speaking to a child. The second verse of the song was recorded by her niece Abby Langi, (12 years old) and symbolizes the child's response, or the "promise" about to take place. In composing this song 676 wanted the lyrics to be something empowering for our young people. The chorus and the last bridge were all sung by the HYPE KIDS ranging in age from 5 - 13 years old which was a perfect touch and ending to the Hype song, "The Promise".
CHORUS:
This time I promise to
Give it my everything
My heart my strength
I'll give it all let nothing
Stand in my way
Special thanks to the H.Y.P.E. Kids: Kaufo'ou Motu'apuaka, 'Ilaise Matagi, Silia Ka'ili, Saione Matagi, Fine Langi, Zac Tipton, 'Amoni Ka'ili, Daela Tipton, Kyala Brown, Abby Langi, Sulia Matagi, Vaofua Ka'ili, Marisela Medina, Sariah Brown & 'Anapesi Ka'ili Jr.
Read more about the making of the HYPE song HERE and HERE
H.Y.P.E. Movement Commercial-- It's Our Time to Make a Difference!!!
[Reppin' HYPE with Bologna Fungi Film Crew after filming the commercial]
I had so many mixed feelings about the making of this commercial--perhaps I wasn't sure if I wanted to put it out there so bluntly, but after much thought I knew there was no other way around the truth!
I had initially conceptualized the idea for the script with my cousin Richard Wolfgramm after a conversation I had with the Bologna Fungi Film Crew about a commercial that would discuss the current statistics in our Pacific Islander community.
It is always difficult for me to see the statistics of what is happening with our young people, to others it may just be numbers, but to me, those numbers represent a face, a name, a relative--it's never just some random number!
I kept writing and rewriting the script literally until the morning of the commercial shoot. My intention was to help our community understand that the current trends of where we are heading is dreadful and unacceptable and that if we don't take a stand TODAY our Pacific Islander young people will continue to suffer!
It was difficult even in the filming of the commercial to hear our young ones say their lines because it made things so real, so concrete, so immediate! One of the hardest and saddest things for me as an educator is to come across young people who have accepted this craziness as their destiny and see no hope and no kind of future for themselves!
This commercial is representative of what is happening to the majority of our young people ages 15-17! I wish I could say that this commercial was just a random script I wrote to get an emotional response from people, but unfortunately this commercial is reflective of the lived reality of many young people.
Many have asked me why do I spend so much time engaged in this type of work-- and my response has always been the same "how can I not?" How can we not use whatever talents and resources we have to ensure a brighter future for our young people and our communities?
It starts with MAKING A CHOICE!!! I HOPE TODAY, YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE THE H.Y.P.E.!!!
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
GET ON THE HYPE!!!
Much love and gratitude to the Bologna Fungi Film Crew for bringing this script to life in a way that only they could!!!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Take Action...End the Occupation...
Take Action: End Israel's Attacks on Gaza
Since December 27, Israel’s brutal attacks on the occupied Gaza Strip have killed more than an estimated 640 people and injured more than 3,000. Today Israeli artillery shells landed on a UN school in the Jebaliya refugee camp, killing at least 34 people and injuring at least 55.Read more HERE and Take Action!!!
Israel's attacks come on top of a brutal siege of the Gaza Strip, which has created a humanitarian catastrophe of dire proportions for Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinian residents by restricting the provision of food, fuel, medicine, electricity, and other necessities of life.
Make no mistake about it-Israel's war and siege on the Gaza Strip would not be possible without the jets, helicopters, ships, missiles, and fuel provided by the United States.
How many do we have to kill before the killing is through???
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Making of the HYPE Song Video
Check out the making of the HYPE Movement Song... "The Promise" written and composed by 676 (Neti Taumoepeau) featuring our Pacific Islander youth and filmed by the Bologna Fungi Film Crew!!!
Read HERE about the whole idea behind the song "The Promise"!
Add it to your page and share with your friends and spread the word about the HYPE MOVEMENT!!!
It's our time...Rise up Pacific People.... GET ON THE HYPE!!!
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