Pacific Empowerment
Pacific Empowerment Podcast was founded by a Tongan woman entrepreneur, Akanesi Kaufusi, to uplift and inspire Pacific Island people to take bold action, chase their dreams, and dream as big as they dare. This podcast challenges the limitations of traditional thinking and cultural expectations that often hold our people back. It’s a space to break free from fear, take risks, and rewrite what’s possible - no matter your background or environment. Your situation doesn’t define you. Your vision does.
Podcasting since 2025 • 23 episodes
Pacific Empowerment
Latest Episodes
Episode 23 - Discussing Academic Papers on the Tou‘a
In this week’s episode, I discuss academic research on the role of the tou‘a - the woman serving kava, and what these studies reveal about women’s experiences inside faikava spaces.I focus on the work of Hilda A. Port,...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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1:00:08
Episode 22 - When Research Misses Reality: Why Kava Studies Don’t Reflect Pacific Life
Episode Description:In this episode, I analyze Dr. Apo Aporosa’s article of the University of Waikato, "De-mythologizing and Re-branding of Kava as the New ‘World Drug’ of Choice” - a paper that defends kava as safe and c...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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59:35
Episode 21 - What If Faikava Men and Wives Changed Roles?
Kava addiction has become a silent epidemic in the Pacific, breaking homes, stealing time, and blinding our people to their God-given purpose.In this episode, I read the first testimony from a Samoan wife of an addicted 'ava man.T...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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43:42
Episode 20 - Is Kava Safer Than Alcohol and Drugs?
Many believe kava is safer than alcohol or drugs, but is it really? In this episode, we take an honest look at the hidden effects of kava, alcohol, and drugs on our Pacific communities.We begin by comparing their impact on addiction, he...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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41:27
Episode 19 - Is It a Kava Problem or an Individual Problem?
In this powerful episode, I dive into two major conversations happening right now - one global, one close to home.First, we look at the historic peace deal between Israel and Palestine that was signed this week - a moment the worl...
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38:53