Niuatoputapu lost nine lives to the tsunami and displaced over a thousand people, including many women and children.

The Secretary General of the Tongan Red Cross Sione Taumoefolau has granted us authorization to begin the relief efforts in Utah for the displaced families in Niuatoputapu.

Additionally, we are extremely grateful to the Honorable Alaileula Tuku’aho, patron of the  Tongan Red Cross, who has pledged logistical support for the donated items, once they arrive in Tonga. We are also proud to be working in a partnership with our friends at the Samoan Relief Although local and foreign relief efforts have fulfilled some of the general needs of the people of Niuatoputapu, they are still in need of some items.

Bottled Water
Tents & Tarps
Hygiene Kits (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, etc)
School materials (pens, pencils, crayons, paper pad, etc.)

We will start accepting donations on Thursday, October 8, 2009 at the
Taylorsville City Hall
5320 South 2600 West
Taylorsville, Utah

We also need volunteers to help in sorting and packing the items into the container.
For questions or to volunteer, please contact

‘Anapesi Ka’ili 801-673-3034
Anapesi@gmail.com
or
Richard Wolfgramm 801-231-0366
rwolfgramm@gmail.com

You can get more info on Pacific Eye Radio.

Attached is the most recent list of those whose lives were lost in this great tragedy.

Planet Tonga was fortunate enough to interview Mr. Bloomfield this past July following his graduation from Harvard University.

PT:  What brought you to Harvard University?

PB:  Globalization. We know the major problems we face as a region, including economic disparity, environmental degradation, and inaccessible governance. Harvard has no peer in that field of study. So I wanted to look at our problems from a global perspective, maybe consider a wider view than the Australian/NZ analysis. Fortunately many Pacific islanders are also studying in this area so hopefully our work can contribute to long-lasting solutions that really improve the human condition of our people, and not just talk about it.

PT:  Why did you choose to focus your graduate work in the field of Public Administration?

PB:  After working as a criminal prosecutor and Government attorney for a decade, I reached a point where I realized I was working at the end of the process - the point where someone makes the choice to engage in criminal activity. So I became interested in influencing public policy at the earlier stage of the process – the point where the would-be criminal might make better life choices because of policies that delivered improved access to better education, and more employment opportunities.

PT:  As far as academic preparation, what would you say you found most helpful during your time at Harvard?

PB:  Accepting that I know very little, which allowed me to ask many questions and be open as possible to learning. What was very helpful in preparing was to know vital statistics about Tonga and the region. I found that academics and US/Global policy makers involved in the discussion of global problems are not intimately familiar with the Pacific Islands, much less Tonga. You cannot engage in that global conversation, and push for productive focus by some of the best minds in the world on the problems of our region and country, if you don’t know your core socio-economic statistics. Also be prepared to provide some personal analysis of those statistics to start the conversation.

PT:  In relation to personal preparation, what would you say you found most helpful during your time at Harvard?

PB:  Faith in God, only that. I could not have finished this without God’s help.

PT:  I am sure being out there presents a variety of challenges, what were some of the challenges you faced while attending school at Harvard and what helped you to get through it?

PB:  Certainly funding. I had to do this without any Government support. Getting through that was made easier because one of the truly exceptional things about Harvard is that once they accept you, they will move mountains to help you.

PT:  What’s the next step for you?

PB:  Go back home, look for a job that focuses on solutions, convince my Dad that I can help with the yams.

PT:  What do you see as the biggest challenge we are facing in Tonga and how can it be addressed?

PB:  One of our biggest challenges certainly, is how to harness our greatest resource, the people. At our best, Tongans are simply unbeatable. We work very hard, are fiercely competitive, and talented in every field we get into. Imagine if we could focus that on making Tonga truly the Pacific exception?  At our worst, we have a tendency to cut each other down, sometimes unable to move beyond personality dynamics, and maybe we don’t recognize that individual successes in every field can add up and contribute to the betterment of all Tonga. Many Tongans have strong and compelling views on how to address the above challenges. I just think we need to take baby steps and consider the possibility that change needs to first come from within. We could stop being competitive with each other, and focus on supporting each other so that collectively we become competitive as a nation. The question I asked was how vulnerable small island states could survive and prosper in the 21st century. The advice I kept getting was to identify and develop our best resource, which I believe are our people. We then figure out what our people do best, and then focus our efforts on becoming exceptional in that area, whether it be in arts, sports, agriculture and so forth.

PT:  How do you plan to use the knowledge you have acquired at Harvard when moving back to Tonga?

PB:  We were taught that invariably, home-grown solutions based on local knowledge are usually best. The knowledge is already there, the real work is how to access it and turn it into a to-do list that can be easily implemented. I think more important is the network of ongoing development knowledge that I will be able to access. Through the Harvard network of contacts, there is so much help available, so much in terms of expertise and knowledge-sharing that could help us.

PT:  What advice do you have for young people who are just starting their own academic and personal careers?

PB:  Never lose your faith in God. His love for you doesn’t change, no matter how much you learn or how your circumstances change.
Aim high and know that nothing you want to achieve will ever be handed to you on a plate. You are going to have to go out there and work very hard to achieve it.

PT:  Who would you say has been the most influential person(s) in your life and why?

PB:  In terms of education, definitely H.M the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. So many of us who were educated in Tonga and had the opportunity to continue on to tertiary education, are products of an education system he established. Interestingly Harvard University’s school colors are exactly the same as Tonga High School. Walking around, I was never quite sure whether that was by his design or just coincidence. In terms of inspiration, it’s the people I’ve met in the outer islands of Ha’apai. Like many Tongans living outside our main urban centers, they had no public water, electricity, and telephone. Education and healthcare are not easily accessible. Yet with resilience and resourcefulness they are still able to put food on the table, educate their children, look after each other. Ultimately, that’s who we serve, who we work for.

GRASSROOTS:  Uplifing People from the Ground Up

Attention H.Y.P.E. peeps!!! SOLKRUSH is showin’ love for the all those who have been reppin’ the H.Y.P.E. wristbands by letting the FIRST 50 individuals reppin’ their H.Y.P.E. wristband into the SOLKRUSH GRASSROOTS concert for FREE!!!!! Mark August 01, 2009 on your calendars and don’t forget to rep your HYPE wristbands!!!  Keep Livin’ the H.Y.P.E.  For more information check out www.myspace.com/solkrush and www.myspace.com/thehypemovement

TIC/Skyline College
PI High School Education Conference Schedule
Saturday, May 16th

9:00AM- Doors Open – Registration ( Building 6- Cafeteria)

10:30AM- Introduction/Welcome (In Auditorium)
-    Malissa Netane, TIC/PCRC
-    Jarome Vaha’I, Skyline College Polynesian Club Pres.
-    Lori Adrian, Vice President of Student Services
10:50AM- Introduction to Jamyz Tuaileva & Performance
11:15AM- Introduction to Keynote Speaker
- Halaevalu Ofahengaue Vakalahi, Ph.D, MSW, M.Ed

11:45AM- Classes Begin (Building 6)

*The rest of the day’s program in the Main Auditorium

3:35PM-  Presention by: Monte Christo – Fashion Extraodinaire

3:55PM-  Guest Performances by Youth

4:30PM-  Rich and Tone Presentation

Contact Malissa at mnetane@pcrcweb.org or 650-513-0330 x310

Jake Kongaika known in the music realm as Cubworld is an amazing music artists whose life is fully representative of what it means to live the H.Y.P.E.

In 2006 Cubworld uploaded some demo tracks to a site called Sellaband.com. The goal of the site is get people to help the music artists raise 50,000 dollars. In 4 months 686 people had helped Cubworld raise the money needed, which means that 686 donated anywhere from 10 to 2000 dollars to help him reach his goal! Cubworld was the second band on the site to hit the 50K and the first American to do so. You can check out his music and read more about this amazing music artist at www.myspace.com/cubworld

One of the Pacific’s great figures of the 20th and 21st Centuries has died. Professor Epeli Hau’ofa passed away on Sunday, 11th January 2009. Epeli as he was known to most, was born in Papua New Guinea to missionary parents from Tonga….more at Pacific Starmap

Listen to the HYPE Movement Song by 676 (Neti Taumoepeau) and the HYPE Kids.

Download the song here.

Live the HYPE!

Make a choice!!! I hope today you choose to Live the H.Y.P.E.

LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

GET ON THE HYPE!!!

Thanks to Bolonga Fungi Film Crew.