WEBVTT 00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:14.147 In life 00:00:14.147 --> 00:00:17.984 there is something for everyone that voyaging is to me. 00:00:17.984 --> 00:00:22.122 And it's something that anchors you and pulls you closer to your core 00:00:22.122 --> 00:00:26.226 and closer to who you really are and who your ancestors have 00:00:27.494 --> 00:00:29.496 destined for you to be. 00:00:29.496 --> 00:00:35.668 I think about my experiences in and with voyaging as a relationship 00:00:35.668 --> 00:00:41.307 and so it demands the same love and care and attention as any other relationship. 00:00:41.708 --> 00:00:46.046 And I think once you realize that all of these people, all of these places, 00:00:46.746 --> 00:00:50.250 everything and anyone that comes into your life is a relationship 00:00:50.250 --> 00:00:52.352 that you decide how much you give to it 00:00:52.352 --> 00:00:55.422 and how much you nurture it and how much you mālama it. 00:00:55.422 --> 00:00:57.490 That's what allows it to grow. 00:00:57.490 --> 00:00:58.158 this idea 00:00:58.158 --> 00:01:01.628 that we're not indebted to each other and we don't owe each other community, 00:01:01.628 --> 00:01:05.365 and that we don't owe each other our aloha and our time and our energy. 00:01:05.765 --> 00:01:07.267 Because I think at the end of the day, that's 00:01:07.267 --> 00:01:10.003 really all we have to offer each other is that. 00:01:10.003 --> 00:01:13.373 nobody has to but why don't they want to? 00:01:13.373 --> 00:01:17.177 And so I think that's a challenge that this next generation 00:01:17.510 --> 00:01:20.747 of cultural practitioners, of stewards, of, 00:01:21.314 --> 00:01:25.318 you know, people who are culturally grounded in their identity, 00:01:25.318 --> 00:01:30.090 I think that's kind of that this next piʻi that will need to rise to is 00:01:30.356 --> 00:01:33.660 how can we collectively get everyone to care? 00:01:34.094 --> 00:01:35.595 What drives that? 00:01:35.595 --> 00:01:38.865 You know, that desire to care for each other and care for place? 00:01:38.865 --> 00:01:42.302 And how can we harness that and instill that in our keiki? 00:01:42.769 --> 00:01:45.171 Because it is all about the next generation. 00:01:45.171 --> 00:01:49.209 And I even feel that way still, being kind of this young generation is, 00:01:49.209 --> 00:01:52.479 I think, a lot about, you know, what comes next. 00:01:52.479 --> 00:01:56.549 What about the keiki who are being born now and what's going to be left for them? 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:00.153 Samoan culture 00:02:00.153 --> 00:02:03.790 or most of our people call it the Faʻasamoa or the Samoan way, 00:02:04.157 --> 00:02:08.361 a lot of resilience, a lot of determination, and preservation. 00:02:08.728 --> 00:02:11.731 and I'm I'm really proud to be Samoan. 00:02:12.899 --> 00:02:15.902 When I started working in the National Marine Sanctuary, 00:02:16.302 --> 00:02:19.305 every morning or every day, there was an adventure. 00:02:19.973 --> 00:02:21.641 I think that excited me. 00:02:21.641 --> 00:02:24.878 But the best part was actually learning about what was there before 00:02:25.778 --> 00:02:28.181 all the regulations. 00:02:28.181 --> 00:02:31.851 I got to learn about my own culture, my own people, 00:02:32.352 --> 00:02:36.923 and how resilient they are and how incredibly smart they were, 00:02:37.290 --> 00:02:41.261 or they still are, in terms of managing resources. 00:02:42.595 --> 00:02:45.832 I think it is important for a lot of our young people 00:02:46.466 --> 00:02:49.469 or older people, 00:02:49.702 --> 00:02:51.504 to pursue an opportunity to be 00:02:51.504 --> 00:02:54.707 a representation of our native cultures within 00:02:55.675 --> 00:02:58.745 these spaces there are so many young people 00:02:58.745 --> 00:03:01.714 that was involved in the process that are also Samoan 00:03:02.482 --> 00:03:08.354 and non-Samoan people that have the same ideology of making sure 00:03:08.354 --> 00:03:13.426 that we're not just putting up laws and regulations to prevent our people 00:03:13.426 --> 00:03:18.097 from being self-sustainable, managing their own resources 00:03:18.698 --> 00:03:21.868 like the way our ancestors did for over thousands 00:03:21.868 --> 00:03:24.871 and thousands of years. 00:03:25.572 --> 00:03:26.439 A lot of hula 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:29.475 has to do with the understanding 00:03:29.542 --> 00:03:34.547 of our role within the environment 00:03:35.181 --> 00:03:38.184 and how we interact, and relate to it. 00:03:38.484 --> 00:03:42.622 When you start to interact with the space and you have, 00:03:42.622 --> 00:03:44.224 you know, you're a little bit more invested, 00:03:44.224 --> 00:03:49.662 you start to create relationships and then in all of those practices, 00:03:49.662 --> 00:03:53.866 there's other things like if you go to go and pick limu anymore in a certain area, 00:03:54.234 --> 00:03:57.270 you learn how to pick limu so that you're not, you know, 00:03:57.337 --> 00:04:00.473 you don't want to uproot everything out and then there's no limu left. 00:04:01.007 --> 00:04:03.810 You learn all of these things because you want to make sure 00:04:03.810 --> 00:04:06.813 that the resource is still there, and then you learn how to care for it, 00:04:07.046 --> 00:04:10.016 and then you learn to, inform other people 00:04:10.016 --> 00:04:14.053 who are impacting the space to be a little less 00:04:15.188 --> 00:04:17.857 harmful in their impact, 00:04:17.857 --> 00:04:21.494 All of those things will translate within the hula performance. 00:04:21.828 --> 00:04:26.499 When you get a student who is intimately involved in their space like that, 00:04:27.133 --> 00:04:30.470 when they dance about that place and they dance about the practices, 00:04:30.803 --> 00:04:35.775 those particular practices, it'll show and it'll show a lot different 00:04:35.775 --> 00:04:39.712 from someone who has absolutely no clue about 00:04:39.712 --> 00:04:41.247 what's going on. 00:26:01.893 --> 00:26:04.896 We need one, two three, four, five. 00:26:05.096 --> 00:26:07.499 Sorry. Say what? Count them. 00:26:07.499 --> 00:26:09.568 One. Two. 00:26:09.568 --> 00:26:10.902 Three. 00:26:10.902 --> 00:26:12.103 Four. 00:26:12.103 --> 00:26:15.106 Five. 00:26:16.341 --> 00:26:18.577 You know the drill. 00:26:18.577 --> 00:26:20.946 I mean, I have. 00:26:20.946 --> 00:26:23.949 Look at the top over here. 00:26:24.749 --> 00:26:26.885 We're going to go through the intro here 00:26:26.885 --> 00:26:29.888 where there's, 00:26:30.221 --> 00:26:33.224 drums and a 00:26:33.658 --> 00:26:37.629 couple of other questions around the ocean and the future and whatnot. 00:26:38.163 --> 00:26:39.197 Pause. 00:26:39.197 --> 00:26:41.666 Rephrase. 00:26:41.666 --> 00:26:44.536 If we hear loud noises 00:26:44.536 --> 00:26:46.338 like that. I can pick up. 00:26:46.338 --> 00:26:47.272 Take a breather 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:50.642 and then continue here. 00:26:50.642 --> 00:26:53.645 If that's helpful. 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:02.654 Okay. 00:27:02.654 --> 00:27:04.956 I'm ready when you are. 00:27:04.956 --> 00:27:08.126 We'll start off with your name and where you were born. 00:27:11.696 --> 00:27:14.699 My name is Rex. No. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:19.404 I was born in, Tamaki Makoto, or Auckland. 00:27:19.437 --> 00:27:20.939 Otara. 00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:25.677 And, I grew up in a Samoan and Thai food now, 00:27:26.111 --> 00:27:29.114 but we love American Samoa. 00:27:33.518 --> 00:27:35.687 I know it's super squeaky. 00:27:35.687 --> 00:27:38.690 Well, well, the lines. 00:27:42.527 --> 00:27:43.828 We do another countdown. 00:27:43.828 --> 00:27:45.630 No buttons. 00:27:45.630 --> 00:27:48.633 Like, can. 00:27:52.103 --> 00:27:55.106 I put this phone, all that. 00:28:24.169 --> 00:28:27.172 Or this. 00:28:27.305 --> 00:28:27.639 One. Two. 00:28:27.639 --> 00:28:29.808 Three. One. Two. 00:28:29.808 --> 00:28:31.076 Three. 00:28:31.076 --> 00:28:34.079 Four. 00:28:40.785 --> 00:28:42.420 In about five seconds. 00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:45.423 Start over again with your name and where you from. 00:28:53.298 --> 00:28:56.468 Alpha Rex location is my name. 00:29:05.076 --> 00:29:06.177 Holy shit. 00:29:06.177 --> 00:29:09.180 All the dust went straight into my eyeballs. 00:29:13.017 --> 00:29:15.053 Real life Hollywood shit. 00:29:15.053 --> 00:29:15.787 I know. 00:29:15.787 --> 00:29:18.690 Fuck! 00:29:18.690 --> 00:29:19.624 Okay. 00:29:19.624 --> 00:29:22.627 Ready? We. 00:29:25.530 --> 00:29:25.997 Okay. Ready? 00:29:27.031 --> 00:29:27.599 Okay. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:29.501 It's Alpha 00:29:29.501 --> 00:29:31.903 Rex. Little Kenny is my name. 00:29:31.903 --> 00:29:35.607 I was born in Tamaki Makoto, Auckland, Ontario. 00:29:36.407 --> 00:29:39.477 And, I was raised in some male 00:29:40.945 --> 00:29:45.817 Samoan and then grew up most of my life in the trailer 00:29:46.618 --> 00:29:49.587 American Samoa. 00:29:52.056 --> 00:29:55.226 I want to dive into who you are as a person. 00:29:55.527 --> 00:29:58.496 First and foremost, what you do for a living. 00:29:59.931 --> 00:30:01.466 And then cultural practices 00:30:01.466 --> 00:30:04.469 that you are taking. 00:30:06.171 --> 00:30:09.174 My everyday life, I'm sort of, 00:30:09.974 --> 00:30:12.477 tradesmen all over the place. 00:30:12.477 --> 00:30:14.112 Can do anything. 00:30:14.112 --> 00:30:17.115 We put my my mind into it. 00:30:17.849 --> 00:30:19.684 But I mostly malama 00:30:19.684 --> 00:30:22.687 voyaging canoes or take care of voyaging canoes 00:30:23.087 --> 00:30:26.090 and, I help, 00:30:26.124 --> 00:30:28.259 bring up and train up the next generation 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:31.229 of voyages. So, 00:30:31.229 --> 00:30:33.364 but I mainly focus on, like, learning 00:30:33.364 --> 00:30:36.401 and and just trying to be a decent human being. 00:30:38.203 --> 00:30:40.572 But in cultural practices, 00:30:40.572 --> 00:30:43.575 I try to lift up my culture. 00:30:43.641 --> 00:30:46.544 Of where I'm currently living. 00:30:46.544 --> 00:30:50.682 And then helping out my kids also learn as well, not their culture. 00:30:50.915 --> 00:30:53.918 So, Yeah. 00:30:57.255 --> 00:31:00.258 You talked more about your culture. 00:31:56.347 --> 00:32:00.184 The next person is going to be around 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:04.923 in your journey. 00:32:05.456 --> 00:32:08.459 And missus. 00:32:10.061 --> 00:32:12.497 And how 00:32:12.497 --> 00:32:15.500 comments will shape if any way. 00:32:16.668 --> 00:32:19.671 You know who you are out of. 00:32:22.273 --> 00:32:24.208 School. 00:32:24.208 --> 00:32:27.178 So. And missus, 00:32:30.682 --> 00:32:33.685 My journey started when I first met 00:32:33.818 --> 00:32:38.456 a bunch of these amazing humans that are currently the caretakers 00:32:38.456 --> 00:32:41.459 of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. 00:32:42.727 --> 00:32:45.730 I'm going to drop some names, which is, 00:32:46.064 --> 00:32:49.067 I just want to be, pay respect to all of them. 00:32:49.534 --> 00:32:50.935 I was 00:32:50.935 --> 00:32:54.372 I met these amazing ladies by the name of Jean Brickhouse. 00:32:55.573 --> 00:32:59.110 And then Veronica Apollos is no longer working there at the moment. 00:33:00.912 --> 00:33:02.981 And then Isabelle 00:33:02.981 --> 00:33:05.216 and a bunch of other amazing people 00:33:05.216 --> 00:33:08.486 that actually helped mold my professional, 00:33:09.854 --> 00:33:10.588 journey. 00:33:10.588 --> 00:33:13.591 And I was working at the National Marine Sanctuary. 00:33:15.093 --> 00:33:18.096 These ladies were. 00:33:18.496 --> 00:33:21.232 I think it was the turning point of my professional career 00:33:21.232 --> 00:33:24.235 in terms of professionalism. 00:33:24.268 --> 00:33:27.071 Actually pursuing what I wanted to do. 00:33:27.071 --> 00:33:30.875 But the main focus was to really bring the same 00:33:30.942 --> 00:33:34.712 or the same one way into the National Marine Sanctuary. 00:33:35.646 --> 00:33:38.683 I think my role was to be the liaison between 00:33:39.317 --> 00:33:42.320 assignment people and the federal government, 00:33:42.887 --> 00:33:45.890 which actually kind of opened my lens 00:33:45.990 --> 00:33:48.993 on so many things in terms of like how, 00:33:49.460 --> 00:33:52.463 we can maintain the partnership. 00:33:53.264 --> 00:33:56.267 And also figure out a way that we can move forward 00:33:56.667 --> 00:34:00.371 and identifying how important it is or how vital 00:34:00.371 --> 00:34:04.008 it is for our Samoan way to be at the forefront 00:34:04.142 --> 00:34:09.113 of all the decision making within how to protect our environment 00:34:09.680 --> 00:34:13.985 and, how to protect the next generation of people and our culture. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:16.754 So, I've taken 00:34:16.754 --> 00:34:20.491 a lot of work to all the amazing guys that and folks 00:34:20.491 --> 00:34:23.494 that worked at the National Marine Sanctuary at the time. 00:34:27.865 --> 00:34:32.136 Know there's great and everyone there. 00:34:32.136 --> 00:34:35.139 Rose is. 00:34:38.743 --> 00:34:41.312 I think I want it to, 00:34:41.312 --> 00:34:44.215 be respectful to all the gene break 00:34:44.215 --> 00:34:47.819 houses of the world, and especially the ones who are doing the work in time. 00:34:47.819 --> 00:34:48.986 One out. 00:34:48.986 --> 00:34:53.758 I appreciate all the the effort and, determination to push me 00:34:53.758 --> 00:34:56.761 to where I am today, to be successful 00:34:57.161 --> 00:35:00.164 and to be resilient and 00:35:00.164 --> 00:35:02.533 relentless in the pursuit of success. 00:35:02.533 --> 00:35:05.436 So, buff type of Titan lover. 00:35:05.436 --> 00:35:08.706 So all of our folks in the National Marine Sanctuary, 00:35:08.973 --> 00:35:13.010 the ones who came before and the ones who are now paving the way. 00:35:14.812 --> 00:35:17.815 Yeah. 00:35:18.216 --> 00:35:18.616 Partially 00:35:18.616 --> 00:35:21.619 because I know you on a personal level, too. 00:35:21.886 --> 00:35:24.088 Can you talk about the same way 00:35:24.088 --> 00:35:28.493 that part of your life between walking and the sanctuary, 00:35:28.726 --> 00:35:31.929 hopping on tour and then finding can we can. 00:35:32.396 --> 00:35:36.501 I mean, we can go hours and hours, okay. But 00:35:37.869 --> 00:35:39.237 what was that journey like? 00:35:39.237 --> 00:35:41.873 And you talk about culture and the importance. 00:35:41.873 --> 00:35:46.277 I think we we talk about that doctors working at 00:35:47.645 --> 00:35:50.648 a federal agency basically 00:35:51.249 --> 00:35:55.553 oversees this beautiful sanctuary, which is a part of your home. 00:35:56.187 --> 00:35:58.589 What was that like? And trust. 00:35:58.589 --> 00:36:01.492 Trust me. Safe space. 00:36:01.492 --> 00:36:02.960 We want to be able to share 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:07.999 that story from an indigenous lens that whatever difficulties, hardships, 00:36:07.999 --> 00:36:11.002 but also of the beauty in being in your home. 00:36:11.536 --> 00:36:11.903 Yeah. 00:36:11.903 --> 00:36:14.906 The table voice. How? 00:36:16.707 --> 00:36:19.710 Is your accurate representation of any. 00:36:19.844 --> 00:36:22.446 Let me share a little bit about that. 00:36:22.446 --> 00:36:25.449 Oh, beautiful. 00:36:26.350 --> 00:36:29.353 I wanted to start from the beginning when I first started, 00:36:29.720 --> 00:36:32.723 working at the National Marine Sanctuary. 00:36:33.124 --> 00:36:34.692 Before I said yes, 00:36:34.692 --> 00:36:40.965 I wanted to actually sit down and process my own true emotions 00:36:40.965 --> 00:36:43.968 of being able to have 00:36:44.335 --> 00:36:47.171 a voice within the system, because 00:36:49.106 --> 00:36:50.575 it is the federal government, 00:36:50.575 --> 00:36:54.779 and there is a massive distrust between the local community 00:36:55.846 --> 00:36:58.649 and and the system, 00:36:58.649 --> 00:37:01.619 which is that sanctuaries or Noa, 00:37:01.919 --> 00:37:04.889 to be exact. 00:37:05.556 --> 00:37:09.493 But I went in with an open mind. 00:37:10.328 --> 00:37:12.863 I wanted to be a part in the decision making, 00:37:12.863 --> 00:37:15.866 but also have an opportunity to see 00:37:16.200 --> 00:37:19.203 what's going on within. 00:37:20.137 --> 00:37:20.838 But what happened? 00:37:20.838 --> 00:37:23.841 And actually, the people within the system was the one that made 00:37:24.275 --> 00:37:27.278 my experience much more memorable. 00:37:28.713 --> 00:37:30.248 There is a moment 00:37:30.248 --> 00:37:33.251 early in the beginning, because 00:38:57.535 --> 00:38:58.069 Awesome. 00:38:58.069 --> 00:39:00.905 So, okay. 00:39:00.905 --> 00:39:04.075 I don't know what the chronological order is, right. 00:39:04.642 --> 00:39:08.045 But hopefully I'm here for you. 00:39:08.379 --> 00:39:11.349 Thank to americans.com. 00:39:13.684 --> 00:39:16.220 And then fast forward here now 00:39:16.220 --> 00:39:19.223 to captain of the passage and training program. 00:39:20.057 --> 00:39:22.727 You know, I'm coming through 00:39:22.727 --> 00:39:23.394 with my. 00:39:26.130 --> 00:39:26.497 How do you. 00:39:26.497 --> 00:39:27.631 Where do you even begin? 00:39:27.631 --> 00:39:30.835 I don't know, but we can talk story a little bit about that, right? 00:39:33.971 --> 00:39:36.474 But I went to the National Marine Sanctuary. 00:39:36.474 --> 00:39:39.777 Every morning was an adventure because there were 00:39:39.777 --> 00:39:42.747 so much. 00:39:50.221 --> 00:39:51.055 Okay. 00:39:51.055 --> 00:39:51.822 All right. 00:39:51.822 --> 00:39:53.157 I'll go over. 00:39:53.157 --> 00:39:56.160 Okay. 00:40:38.002 --> 00:40:42.139 And then I slowly met all these incredible people 00:40:42.139 --> 00:40:45.276 that was partnering with the National Marine 00:40:45.276 --> 00:40:48.279 Sanctuary of, of American Samoa. 00:40:48.546 --> 00:40:50.581 The Polynesian Voyaging Society 00:40:50.581 --> 00:40:55.219 was able to send down a master navigator or poor navigator 00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:58.522 by the name of, culpa chat by by yon. 00:40:59.757 --> 00:41:02.760 Rest in peace. 00:41:03.594 --> 00:41:06.564 He was able to actually, 00:41:06.564 --> 00:41:08.999 at a brief moment of talking about the importance 00:41:08.999 --> 00:41:12.403 of seeing the young people in the water, 00:41:12.937 --> 00:41:16.340 enjoying the ocean, and, 00:41:18.275 --> 00:41:20.211 he mentioned that there was an opportunity 00:41:20.211 --> 00:41:24.381 to be a cultural liaison on board the vessel. 00:41:24.582 --> 00:41:25.115 Hokule'a. 00:41:26.217 --> 00:41:29.787 And, I literally almost jumped out of my own self 00:41:30.020 --> 00:41:32.890 because I was beyond excited 00:41:32.890 --> 00:41:35.893 and looking forward to the adventure. 00:41:36.293 --> 00:41:39.296 In that short moment, I didn't realize 00:41:39.797 --> 00:41:42.266 that it was a turning point for my own life. 00:41:42.266 --> 00:41:45.269 My own personal journey. 00:41:46.303 --> 00:41:48.639 After time, 00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:50.975 in that short moment, 00:41:50.975 --> 00:41:53.444 I didn't understand 00:41:53.444 --> 00:41:56.480 because it was the turning point in my life. 00:41:57.848 --> 00:42:01.218 The journey of discovering new spaces, 00:42:01.785 --> 00:42:06.524 new cultures that I only saw on TV or hear it on the radio or the internet. 00:42:07.424 --> 00:42:10.427 But now I'm able to experience them. 00:42:10.928 --> 00:42:13.664 It was, an opportunity 00:42:13.664 --> 00:42:17.601 for a young man from Juan that if any one of us or any 00:42:17.601 --> 00:42:19.803 one of the young people in Samoa would have gotten, 00:42:19.803 --> 00:42:23.440 they would have been here now, sitting in front of this camera and talking to you. 00:42:24.341 --> 00:42:25.242 But here I am. 00:42:26.510 --> 00:42:27.611 As a representation 00:42:27.611 --> 00:42:30.614 of all of our people back home. 00:42:30.614 --> 00:42:34.285 I jumped on the opportunity, and there was a lot of pressure here. 00:42:34.285 --> 00:42:38.856 And there, but the aunties and the moms at the National Marine Sanctuary, 00:42:38.856 --> 00:42:42.026 as always, reminded that we are built for this. 00:42:42.092 --> 00:42:45.963 We were made to be navigators and voyagers. 00:42:47.131 --> 00:42:49.466 So the journey happened. 00:42:49.466 --> 00:42:51.569 I left the island. 00:42:51.569 --> 00:42:54.538 I've traveled all over the world 00:42:54.872 --> 00:42:57.608 into places that not a lot of our own people in 00:42:57.608 --> 00:43:00.611 Samoa would have visited or experienced. 00:43:01.412 --> 00:43:03.581 But what, what I took away from 00:43:03.581 --> 00:43:06.584 that is that it is important for us, 00:43:07.151 --> 00:43:10.154 our people, to manage our own resources, 00:43:10.421 --> 00:43:13.257 be able to, 00:43:13.257 --> 00:43:16.560 provide policies that will protect our oceans, 00:43:17.127 --> 00:43:20.097 our air and our water and our land. 00:43:20.531 --> 00:43:24.268 It is important for our own native people of Samoa 00:43:24.268 --> 00:43:28.572 to manage these resources, be at the forefront of decision making, 00:43:29.673 --> 00:43:32.610 and, also provide opportunities 00:43:32.610 --> 00:43:35.613 for the next generation of dreamers 00:43:35.613 --> 00:43:38.616 and doors and 00:43:39.116 --> 00:43:40.818 also ordinary ones back home. 00:43:40.818 --> 00:43:43.821 Because, you know, I still think of those moments, 00:43:43.887 --> 00:43:47.157 you know, with all the scoldings from the aunties and the and the moms 00:43:48.125 --> 00:43:51.128 that shaped who I am today. 00:43:51.962 --> 00:43:52.730 But I jumped on 00:43:52.730 --> 00:43:56.367 Hokule'a went on and now is over ten years 00:43:57.434 --> 00:43:58.936 was still doing it. 00:43:58.936 --> 00:44:01.705 So the opportunity to be a crew member 00:44:01.705 --> 00:44:04.708 led into becoming a watch captain 00:44:05.542 --> 00:44:07.845 and now currently a captain. 00:44:07.845 --> 00:44:10.681 So it's a lot of learning and a lot of, 00:44:10.681 --> 00:44:14.818 I wouldn't say sacrifices because it is our responsibilities 00:44:14.818 --> 00:44:18.288 to care for these spaces, especially the ones that 00:44:19.256 --> 00:44:21.659 somewhat, at some point was forgotten 00:44:21.659 --> 00:44:24.662 or being pushed away from us. 00:44:27.431 --> 00:44:29.133 I think of all the people that came before 00:44:30.567 --> 00:44:32.102 and now the next 00:44:32.102 --> 00:44:35.105 generation of Samoan people. 00:44:36.106 --> 00:44:38.409 The young ones who 00:44:38.409 --> 00:44:40.778 haven't had those dreams yet. 00:44:40.778 --> 00:44:44.448 I highly advise whoever's on the next side of this 00:44:45.749 --> 00:44:49.653 to grab any opportunities you can get 00:44:51.021 --> 00:44:53.123 and push forward. 00:44:53.123 --> 00:44:54.958 Like, Antigene always say, 00:44:54.958 --> 00:44:57.928 you know, be resilient. 00:44:59.363 --> 00:45:02.366 Be relentless in the pursuit of success. 00:45:03.400 --> 00:45:08.372 So, I challenge you to grab any opportunity you can and 00:45:09.139 --> 00:45:12.142 and keep on pushing forward. 00:45:21.218 --> 00:45:24.221 That was me. 00:45:29.560 --> 00:45:32.563 I mean, I've gotten to about the journey. 00:45:33.997 --> 00:45:36.800 And that's just where we're going 00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:37.801 by ourselves. 00:45:37.801 --> 00:45:40.804 It's the people that. 00:45:40.904 --> 00:45:43.907 Oh, yeah. 00:45:44.975 --> 00:45:47.911 You know, it's funny, like, 00:45:47.911 --> 00:45:51.348 when out there is so unpredictable. 00:45:53.417 --> 00:45:55.419 When the when the holidays 00:45:55.419 --> 00:45:58.422 get really, really hard. 00:46:00.224 --> 00:46:01.658 And you bring people. 00:46:01.658 --> 00:46:04.661 You bring people to the space. 00:46:05.662 --> 00:46:06.597 I think a lot of, 00:46:07.865 --> 00:46:10.267 my own upbringing, my own personal journey 00:46:10.267 --> 00:46:13.270 growing up in inside. 00:46:14.104 --> 00:46:14.738 You witnessed 00:46:14.738 --> 00:46:17.741 so many things that change your life and your perspective. 00:46:18.642 --> 00:46:21.478 But at the end of the day, 00:46:21.478 --> 00:46:24.181 you're trying to provide a 00:46:24.181 --> 00:46:26.383 a life lesson 00:46:26.383 --> 00:46:29.486 to the next generation of people. And, 00:46:31.789 --> 00:46:34.792 but with the guidance of all these amazing, 00:46:35.659 --> 00:46:38.562 people within the voyaging society 00:46:38.562 --> 00:46:41.565 and all of our voyaging, 00:46:41.899 --> 00:46:44.835 family around the Pacific and around the world 00:46:44.835 --> 00:46:47.638 has shaped who I am today, 00:46:47.638 --> 00:46:49.706 but also a an echo 00:46:49.706 --> 00:46:52.709 of the people that came before 00:46:53.243 --> 00:46:56.580 and their, current advice or constant advice 00:46:57.214 --> 00:46:59.917 in terms of 00:46:59.917 --> 00:47:02.553 resiliency 00:47:02.553 --> 00:47:05.556 out there is unpredictable. But. 00:47:07.791 --> 00:47:10.194 A famous navigator from Micronesia 00:47:10.194 --> 00:47:12.863 once said, we always have to look 00:47:12.863 --> 00:47:17.000 to the past of where we came from so we can identify where we're going. 00:47:18.535 --> 00:47:21.538 So we look back. 00:47:21.839 --> 00:47:23.841 To our history 00:47:23.841 --> 00:47:26.710 and figure out how we can move forward 00:47:26.710 --> 00:47:30.113 with the love of with a lot of empathy and love and compassion 00:47:31.114 --> 00:47:32.816 for the stuff for all. 00:47:32.816 --> 00:47:35.686 These are the things that surrounds us. 00:47:35.686 --> 00:47:38.188 Our natural world, 00:47:38.188 --> 00:47:42.926 the air, the water and the land. So. 00:47:45.429 --> 00:47:48.398 We always try to push the pack forward. 00:47:51.201 --> 00:47:54.204 Couple more questions. 00:47:55.272 --> 00:47:58.275 When you think of your your own family, 00:47:58.575 --> 00:48:01.578 your own children, 00:48:01.778 --> 00:48:04.681 you know, what do you hope to achieve 00:48:04.681 --> 00:48:07.684 in the work that. 00:48:08.285 --> 00:48:11.288 You think? 00:48:15.325 --> 00:48:18.328 What kind of legacy do you want to? 00:48:22.499 --> 00:48:23.500 What I want to leave 00:48:23.500 --> 00:48:26.503 behind is a world that is. 00:48:31.074 --> 00:48:34.077 Founded in a lot of peace. 00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.947 And an environment 00:48:36.947 --> 00:48:40.450 that our own children will be able to practice their culture. 00:48:42.619 --> 00:48:47.824 And serve the wake of their ancestors that came before them. 00:48:50.060 --> 00:48:50.661 I think we 00:48:50.661 --> 00:48:54.431 have worked really, really hard to create that environment for our children 00:48:55.265 --> 00:48:58.035 and for our children that haven't had that experience. 00:48:58.035 --> 00:49:00.570 I promise you in the future, 00:49:00.570 --> 00:49:02.539 maybe it's not going to happen in your lifetime, 00:49:02.539 --> 00:49:05.542 but the goal is to 00:49:05.609 --> 00:49:08.578 create that for the next generation of people, 00:49:08.645 --> 00:49:11.648 the ones who are coming after us. 00:49:12.149 --> 00:49:15.419 I want to be remember, has someone that was 00:49:16.787 --> 00:49:18.855 providing a space with a lot of love 00:49:18.855 --> 00:49:21.858 and empathy and compassion, 00:49:22.559 --> 00:49:25.295 but mostly taking care of our communities 00:49:25.295 --> 00:49:28.298 in all aspects of our lives? 00:49:28.632 --> 00:49:31.635 I want to be remembered as that person. 00:49:35.405 --> 00:49:38.408 Not that goofball. 00:49:41.945 --> 00:49:43.947 That was for those three straight 00:49:43.947 --> 00:49:46.950 acting and. 00:49:49.186 --> 00:49:52.189 For put music over the. 00:49:53.924 --> 00:49:56.927 Questions I like to ask people for fun. 00:49:58.362 --> 00:50:00.230 What was your first memory of the ocean? 00:50:02.099 --> 00:50:05.068 First memory of the ocean. 00:50:05.369 --> 00:50:08.338 There's a lot of memories. 00:50:08.438 --> 00:50:11.441 My first memory of the ocean was when? 00:50:12.109 --> 00:50:15.112 In 1990. 00:50:16.513 --> 00:50:19.082 There was a significant, category 00:50:19.082 --> 00:50:22.085 five hurricane that happened in Tarpon. 00:50:24.421 --> 00:50:25.589 A massive hurricane. 00:50:25.589 --> 00:50:30.027 And from 90 to 91, there was back to back hurricanes. 00:50:31.428 --> 00:50:33.363 And I was trying I was very young. 00:50:33.363 --> 00:50:36.733 I didn't understand the strength of the ocean and water 00:50:37.401 --> 00:50:40.404 and even the wind. 00:50:41.038 --> 00:50:43.807 But, I realized that 00:50:43.807 --> 00:50:48.745 nothing can stand within place if the water decides to move. 00:50:48.779 --> 00:50:51.748 And so the 00:50:52.082 --> 00:50:54.985 the true power of nature. 00:50:54.985 --> 00:50:57.988 So for me, I was fascinated by that. 00:50:59.189 --> 00:51:00.924 I ran in and stopped 00:51:00.924 --> 00:51:03.927 trying to swim in the ocean in the middle of a hurricane. 00:51:04.694 --> 00:51:07.197 Back in some amount, but, somewhat on. 00:51:07.197 --> 00:51:09.900 Aloha. My grandfather always said a, 00:51:11.134 --> 00:51:11.468 you know, 00:51:11.468 --> 00:51:14.471 I know you want to understand this, but there is a 00:51:15.238 --> 00:51:18.208 there is the beauty, but there there's also the 00:51:18.208 --> 00:51:20.710 the risks you're going to take as the ocean 00:51:20.710 --> 00:51:23.713 is incredibly strong. 00:51:23.847 --> 00:51:25.048 But that was one of the memories. 00:51:25.048 --> 00:51:28.885 I always remember to be respectful of the ocean, 00:51:29.686 --> 00:51:32.689 to be able to care for and protect the ocean, 00:51:33.156 --> 00:51:36.927 because it is one of the most powerful forces within the world. 00:51:37.527 --> 00:51:40.530 Thank God it's going my way. 00:51:44.434 --> 00:51:47.437 Let me. 00:51:48.205 --> 00:51:50.273 In one sentence. 00:51:50.273 --> 00:51:52.409 What does it mean to you 00:51:52.409 --> 00:51:55.378 to bring yourself to. 00:51:56.646 --> 00:51:58.348 Around the world. 00:51:58.348 --> 00:52:01.351 To see. 00:52:02.285 --> 00:52:03.487 1 or 2. 00:52:03.487 --> 00:52:06.456 Maybe a paragraph. 00:52:07.958 --> 00:52:09.626 I you know, when I first started, 00:52:09.626 --> 00:52:12.629 I didn't know that. 00:52:13.163 --> 00:52:15.265 I was going to become 00:52:15.265 --> 00:52:18.335 one of the few ones within this space. 00:52:20.904 --> 00:52:23.206 I also didn't understand, 00:52:23.206 --> 00:52:26.209 how vital representation is 00:52:26.710 --> 00:52:29.713 within these spaces. 00:52:30.380 --> 00:52:32.182 And the older I get, the more 00:52:32.182 --> 00:52:35.519 I understand that I need to represent our people 00:52:36.353 --> 00:52:39.322 with the utmost respect to the people 00:52:39.322 --> 00:52:42.325 who've been guarding these spaces for a long time. 00:52:43.360 --> 00:52:46.263 And, I want it to be able 00:52:46.263 --> 00:52:49.266 to bring the true. 00:52:50.066 --> 00:52:53.069 Essence of the same or the same one way. 00:52:53.403 --> 00:52:56.773 Our love of culture, space, but also people. 00:52:58.074 --> 00:53:00.744 And, I try to always bring a much fun 00:53:00.744 --> 00:53:04.147 environment with a lot of laughter is a lot of jokes. 00:53:05.081 --> 00:53:08.118 Are people will always laugh when there's something going on because 00:53:09.352 --> 00:53:12.355 it changes the mood of the entire space. 00:53:15.025 --> 00:53:15.692 But our people in 00:53:15.692 --> 00:53:18.929 Samoa has have a very contagious laugh. 00:53:19.029 --> 00:53:22.699 So I try to bring a lot of laughter, good energy. 00:53:24.868 --> 00:53:27.871 But also the fun part to be. 00:53:28.471 --> 00:53:29.739 To be remembered. 00:53:29.739 --> 00:53:32.842 And all these memories can be very sad, 00:53:32.842 --> 00:53:35.845 but also can be very, very happy. So, 00:53:36.913 --> 00:53:39.916 I try to be, a happy ambassador of some. 00:53:43.453 --> 00:53:45.822 Anything you want to. 00:53:45.822 --> 00:53:49.726 Because this is going to live in the context of people from our community 00:53:50.360 --> 00:53:53.363 across wanted to be up here, not just for you. 00:53:55.465 --> 00:53:57.267 I mean, in a no, but for. 00:53:57.267 --> 00:53:57.634 All right. 00:53:57.634 --> 00:54:00.637 So, like, American Samoa, Guam. 00:54:02.973 --> 00:54:05.275 The Hawaiian Islands 00:54:05.275 --> 00:54:08.578 and and you're the first the 00:54:09.045 --> 00:54:12.048 the and I'm I am. 00:54:12.782 --> 00:54:15.252 Emotional people. 00:54:15.252 --> 00:54:15.452 Yeah. 00:54:15.452 --> 00:54:18.455 Sharing that message. 00:54:19.256 --> 00:54:20.523 And I think it's important 00:54:20.523 --> 00:54:23.660 for a lot of our indigenous peoples 00:54:24.828 --> 00:54:28.298 to pursue a space 00:54:28.298 --> 00:54:31.301 that not a lot of our people are, are in, 00:54:32.202 --> 00:54:33.903 and especially when it comes to 00:54:35.071 --> 00:54:38.275 spaces that create policies that help. 00:54:50.053 --> 00:54:52.289 These planes are preventing me from going home. 00:54:52.289 --> 00:54:55.292 And that oh, no, that was caught by today. 00:55:55.385 --> 00:55:56.453 If you go around 00:55:56.453 --> 00:55:59.456 a great Pacific Ocean or one and we are queer or the Moana, 00:56:00.857 --> 00:56:03.760 a lot of our culture are similar, 00:56:03.760 --> 00:56:07.130 but our customs are slightly different within each space. 00:56:07.997 --> 00:56:10.734 I think it is important for these voices 00:56:10.734 --> 00:56:13.236 to echo within these spaces, 00:56:13.236 --> 00:56:15.805 to remind everyone 00:56:15.805 --> 00:56:20.477 around the world that it is important for us to maintain our natural balance 00:56:20.877 --> 00:56:24.814 within our resources, to take and to replace 00:56:24.814 --> 00:56:27.817 and replenish. 00:56:28.685 --> 00:56:31.254 For the young people out there. 00:56:31.254 --> 00:56:34.257 Find something that you want to do for the rest of your life, 00:56:35.458 --> 00:56:38.928 and love it every morning that you wake up when you go to work, you love it 00:56:39.929 --> 00:56:41.164 and enjoy it. 00:56:41.164 --> 00:56:44.234 For me, I found it, which is right behind me. 00:56:45.835 --> 00:56:47.036 I wake up in the morning. 00:56:47.036 --> 00:56:50.006 I dream of being on a canoe, 00:56:50.306 --> 00:56:52.709 trimming the sails 00:56:52.709 --> 00:56:55.078 and sailing all 00:56:55.078 --> 00:56:56.012 in the deepest ocean. 00:56:56.012 --> 00:56:57.814 There is 00:56:57.814 --> 00:57:00.316 an. Yeah. 00:57:00.316 --> 00:57:03.319 Thank you. 00:57:07.624 --> 00:57:10.627 Just say I believe in the deepest voice. 00:57:13.496 --> 00:57:16.499 In the deepest ocean there is. 00:57:18.468 --> 00:57:20.437 My drop. 00:57:20.437 --> 00:57:23.440 That was it. 00:57:25.742 --> 00:57:27.677 Beneath my.