From PNG village life to the IT fast lane: How Hane Kokoha reinvented herself through art
About this episode
Hane Kokoha shares her journey from village life in Papua New Guinea to a demanding career in IT, highlighting her path to self-discovery through art and sobriety.
What does it take to put yourself first when you've been taught to carry everyone else? Hane Kokoha takes us from a childhood in Daru, Papua New Guinea, shaped by strict, loving grandparents and a deep "family and village" way of life, into the pressure-cooker of adulthood — a demanding career in a male-dominated IT world, stress, disconnection, and the moment she realised something had to change. Hane speaks about choosing sobriety on her birthday, rebuilding self-respect, and rediscovering creativity — writing, performance and making art — as a "reset button" for life. Listen to Hane's conversation with Wendy Mocke on Stories From The Pacific on ABC Radio Australia.
People in this episode
Host: Wendy Mocke
Guest: Hane Kokoha
Topics covered
- personal growth
- art
- IT industry
- sobriety
- creativity
- cultural background
Keywords
- Hane Kokoha
- IT career
- Papua New Guinea
- creativity
- sobriety
- personal transformation
Mentioned in this episode
Places: Papua New Guinea, Daru
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