Pacific Empowerment

In this episode, we go deeper than culture and tradition to uncover the true origins of kava. Where did it come from? What beliefs shaped it? And why does its history matter today?

We explore ancient Tongan stories like Kavaʻonau and ʻAhoʻeitu, revealing a world rooted in pagan beliefs, sacrifice, hierarchy, and spiritual systems very different from what many people follow today. From stories involving sacrifice and cannibalism to the role of kava in royal ceremonies connected to divine ancestry, this episode challenges the idea that kava is simply harmless tradition.

We also compare this history with the Bible, looking at how God commanded His people to completely remove idol worship and not mix it with their lives, raising an important question:
Why are some practices from the past rejected, while others are preserved and defended?

This is not just about kava, it’s about truth, discernment, and the courage to question what we’ve been taught.

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Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

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In this episode, I explore what happens when culture is placed above God, and why that becomes idolatry.

After sharing that kava is classified as a drug, someone responded, “We know it’s true… but it’s our culture.” That statement reveals a deeper issue: knowing the truth is not enough if we refuse to change.

Drawing from Scripture, I unpack how idolatry is not just about statues, but anything we prioritise, defend, or refuse to let go of, even when it goes against God.

This episode challenges us to reflect on what we are truly putting first.

Are we choosing God… or culture?

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Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

In this episode, we unpack what addiction really is, what leads to it, and why early exposure to substances matters more than people think. From brain development to environment and culture, we break down how habits are formed and how they can shape a person’s future.

We also confront a growing issue in our communities - young children being introduced to kava. Is kava really a “better alternative” to alcohol?

This episode challenges the normalisation of substance use among youth and asks the hard questions:

•  What are we teaching our children? 
•  Are we protecting them or failing them? 
•  And what happens when culture is used to justify harmful behaviour?

I also share real testimonials from wives of faikava men, revealing how kava has impacted their lives, families, and futures.

This is not just a conversation. This is a wake-up call.

Support the show

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

This episode is about my estranged relationship with Pacific media - featuring some interesting interactions, a few receipts, and screenshots that speak for themselves 👀

I also react to a recent faikava and tou’a video posted by ABC Pacific, breaking down what’s being highlighted…and more importantly, what’s being left out.

I share real testimonials from women who have experienced sexual assault after faikava, stories that deserve to be heard, not ignored. If we only tell the “good side,” we fail the very people who need protection the most.

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Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

Kava has long been a central part of Pacific culture, but its history goes deeper than many realise. In this episode, we explore how kava was traditionally used in spiritual systems, including rituals, divination, and communication with ancestors. We also look at how missionaries viewed these practices and why they attempted to eliminate kava in some regions, with varying success across the Pacific.

Drawing on historical research and modern perspectives, this episode examines both the cultural significance and the social impact of kava today, raising important questions about its place in contemporary Pacific life and Christian practice.

Support the show

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

As Queen Salote College celebrates its 100th anniversary this week, I take a trip down memory lane and reflect on my years at the college.

In this episode, I share the good, the bad, and the ugly of my high school years at Queen Salote College. From memorable moments and school events to addressing rumours and stories that have resurfaced, I’m giving my honest reflection on that chapter of my life.

High school experiences shape us in many ways, and this episode is my chance to tell my side of the story.

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Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

In this episode of the Pacific Empowerment Podcast, we explore the concept of patriarchy and ask an important question: who makes the rules, and who do those rules benefit?

Looking at history, from the women’s suffrage movement to global examples of women challenging restrictive systems, we unpack how patriarchal structures have shaped societies and influenced the roles women are expected to play. Throughout history, courageous women have questioned these systems and pushed for change, proving that progress often begins when people refuse to accept the status quo.

We then bring the conversation into the Tongan context, examining the culture of faikava and the role of the tou’a, and asking whether these practices reflect deeper patriarchal systems within our community. This episode challenges us to think honestly about culture, power, and whether our traditions are protecting women, or protecting the comfort of men.

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Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Letitia Shelton, who grew up in Fiji and now serves across Fiji and Australia to have a bold and honest conversation about sexual abuse, exploitation, and the silence that often surrounds it in Pacific communities. We unpack the realities of power, sex, and money, and how these forces can be misused within culture, community spaces, and even church settings.

We also discuss her work addressing the harms of pornography and its impact on families, young people, and relationships, while challenging church leaders to step up and truly protect the vulnerable instead of avoiding hard conversations. This episode calls the church back to its true role: to serve, shepherd, and stand firmly for truth and justice.

Drawing from her experience in Fiji and Australia, and my advocacy against the faikava and tou’a practice in the Tongan community, we connect culture, faith, and accountability. It’s a confronting but necessary conversation to break the silence and protect women, children, and families across our Pacific communities.

Letitia Shelton Website
https://disruptivevoicespacific.com/

Letitia Shelton Books & Resources
https://citywomen.myshopify.com/

Support the show

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

In this episode, I take an honest look at the tou’a practice, focusing on the difficult topic many avoid, the tou’a who willingly engages in relationships with married faikava men.

I share real testimonials from wives who were cheated on, betrayed, or even abandoned when their husbands ran away with tou’as, revealing the deep emotional trauma and lasting impact on women and children left to suffer in silence.

I also address the troubling silence from some Tongan churches, questioning where the accountability and moral leadership are when families are being destroyed.

This episode is part of the ongoing Ban Tou’a advocacy to expose harm, break the silence, and push for lasting change in our communities.

Support the show

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

In this episode, I unpack the disturbing patterns behind Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, including the children’s photos and artwork found throughout his home, and what they reveal about how predators normalize their obsession.

Then I turn the lens closer to home.

I read real testimonials from women who were sexually abused in certain faikava environments when they were young. The patterns are chillingly similar: grooming, silence, power, and protection.

This is not about attacking culture.
 This is about exposing predatory behaviour and protecting our children.

Listener discretion advised.

Support the show

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.

Sign the Petition to ban tou'a and protect women and children.            https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns

You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment