IN THIS ISSUE
13 stories
ENTERTAINMENTThe Magic of Moana Returns: World Premiere HighlightsDisney traded the red carpet for a blue one and brought Moana 2 home to O'ahu, a few steps from the ocean that binds the whole story together.Queenie Taua'a
ENTERTAINMENTA Pacific Gem on the Global Stage: Queenie's Review of Moana 2Bring tissues. A Samoan writer on seeing her family, her village and her ancestors in a Disney sequel.Queenie Taua'a
ENTERTAINMENTActivation, Authentication, and Representation: Keilani's Review of Moana 2A Chamorro writer on the three words that describe the sequel — and why Moana 2 belongs to every island, not just Polynesia.Keilani Mayo
MUSICCelebrating 40 Years of Kapena: A Legacy of Music, Culture, and ConnectionBackstage at Holo Holo Tacoma with the band whose songs have been playing in Pacific homes for four decades.Queenie Taua'a
MUSICKolohe Kai: More You KnowRoman on his dad''s backyard jam sessions, writing songs that keep people here, and how a girl in the band killed the name "Kolohe Boys."Keilani Mayo
MUSICJay Taj: Dream Come True, Right Place, Right TimeThe Chamorro rapper from Santa Ana on a decade of waiting, going head to head on Rhythm and Flow, and carrying the whole moana diaspora into the booth.Keilani Mayo
MUSICDJ K-Swizz: Legend in the MakingAt 21, Kalib Strickland has 11 world titles. The Cook Islands turntablist from Aotearoa on studying his opponents and bringing back old-school turntablism.Keilani Mayo
CULTUREFrom Verse to Vision: How Wayno's Siva Samoa 2k24 Sparked a Cultural DialogueMusu Tapu Sitagata wrote a verse for Samoan women. Theresa Tupuola-Sorenson wrote the answer for Samoan men — and gave it to her daughter and her nieces to sing.Queenie Taua'a
SPORTSBronson Kaufusi: From NFL to Life-Changing Impact Beyond the GameThe former Raven, Jet and Packer on the statistics degree, the athletes he now advises, and why he counts tasks instead of results.Queenie Taua'a
MUSICJosh Tatofi's 'Ouana Lands in NBA 2K25The song we all know and love is now in a game played by millions.Queenie Taua'a
ENTERTAINMENTHavea Matangi: 2024 TikTok Comedy Creator of the YearForty-five rewatches later, we are still not over this family. Havea Matangi takes home the TikTok Award for Comedy Creator of the Year.Queenie Taua'a
MUSICPMN+ Highlights: Our 40 Best Songs of 2024From Kennyon Brown''s "Jehovah" at number one to JKing at forty — the team''s favourite Pacific tracks of the year.Queenie Taua'a
MUSICThe December 2024 PlaylistStuck in the middle between great music and a lot of feels. Ten tracks to close out the year.Queenie Taua'a