Stories From The Pacific

Born of Fijian heritage, but raised in the heart of Western Sydney, Isaac Nasedra accidentally stumbled into environmental forensics, due to a university admissions error, only to discover a lifelong calling to protect the Pacific. From running for state parliament in a sulu, to challenging the status quo of "polite" activism, Isaac is on a mission to prove that Pacific Islanders are not just performers for consumption, but thinkers, philosophers and political forces. Isaac speaks candidly to Wendy Mocke in this episode of Stories From The Pacific on ABC Radio Australia.

He ran out in the front row for New Zealand, pulled on the red jersey for Tonga, and battled in the scrums of France — but it was his hair that made him a global icon.Tevita Mailau's legendary "horsey" haircut became part of rugby folklore: tugged at in scrums, turned into memes, and imitated by fans around the world. What most people didn't know was that even then, off the field, Tevita was the team barber, shaping fades and fixing up teammates long before he ever owned a shop.Today, Tevita runs a thriving barbershop in Caboolture, Queensland, mentors young players, and believes hair is far more than a look. It's confidence. It's culture. It's community.On ABC Radio Australia, presenter Bobby Macumber unpacks the story of a front-rower whose legacy goes well beyond the pitch and whose clippers are now as powerful as his scrum.Listen to the latest episode of Stories From the Pacific.

Kalafi Moala is a Tongan journalist, editor, and founder of the Times of Tonga newspaper, a publication dedicated to holding power to account and giving voice to the people.His fearless reporting brought him into direct conflict with the Tongan government, leading to his imprisonment and eventual deportation from his own country. But Kalafi never gave up. He was later cleared of all charges, allowing him to return home.But there's more to Kalafi than his fight for a free press — after studying in New Zealand, he became a Christian missionary, travelling to Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.In this episode of Stories From the Pacific on ABC Radio Australia, he shares his journey, the challenges of journalism in the Pacific, and what it takes to stand up for democracy and the truth in the face of adversity.

To understand Yvonne Ueda's journey is to picture the weaving of a chedecholl mat — each strand a story, each imperfection a source of strength. Her life has been shaped by preparation, patience, and partnership: from a winding educational path marked by setbacks, to discovering identity through motherhood, faith, and community. Today, she leads conservation projects in Palau with The Nature Conservancy, inspires young people through her church, and tends to her own farm: a dream she hopes will one day become her full-time calling.Listen to Yvonne's conversation with Stories From The Pacific, host Bobby Macumber on ABC Radio Australia.

Home can mean many things: the eucalyptus trees and beaches of Sydney, the chaos of New York City or the warmth of family barbecues with music and food. For Mi-Kaisha, home is both a physical place and a community that raised her. As a proud Aboriginal and Tongan artist, Mi-Kaisha's journey has taken her from family singalongs and NAIDOC celebrations to breaking barriers as the first Aboriginal student at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Her music - blending pop, R&B, and cultural storytelling - carries the voices of her family and community wherever she goes.