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What stories are hidden inside 100-year-old glass plate photos? In Part 2, we go deep into two extraordinary archival collections — the Solf Collection and the Tetens Collection — that are rewriting what we know about Samoa's colonial era. From German governors and Samoan chiefs to a scientist who fell in love with the islands, these 750+ digitized images bring our ancestors back to life.

We explore how Otto Tetens' photos survived WWII in a suitcase, a bush expedition to rediscover Mataafa Iosefo's lost house, the Samoan Parliament that vanished in 1905, and the forgotten tradition of liming hair. This is photographic history at its most powerful. 🎙️

🕐 TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Intro: The Solf Collection & Dr. Hilke Totoro
01:00 — Wilhelm Solf at Vailima & his Samoan household
03:00 — German Admiral Von Köper & his Samoan love story
05:00 — Afamasaga Moa: Samoa's key colonial-era administrator
06:00 — Setting the record straight on Mataafa Iosefo
08:00 — Kaiser's birthday gathering & Beach Road, Apia
10:00 — How glass plate photography worked
12:00 — Introducing the Tetens Collection: 750 rare images
14:00 — How Dorothea saved the photos during WWII
17:00 — Tetens, the Samoan Parliament & Mulinuu chiefs
20:00 — The lost tradition: why Samoans limed their hair
21:00 — The only photo of the German Samoan Parliament (1902)
23:00 — Lauaki & the orators of parliament
25:00 — The demolished Malua Jubilee Hall
26:00 — Mataafa Iosefo's house on Mauga Fulau
27:00 — Bush expedition: rediscovering the lost foundations
30:00 — What drew Tony into Samoan photographic history
32:00 — Photographic history vs. mainstream academia

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Your support helps us keep preserving and sharing Pacific history — thank you! 🙏

#PulseOfPolynesia #SamoanHistory #Polynesia #Samoa #PacificHistory #SolfCollection #TetensCollection #SamoanCulture #MataafaIosefo #Lauaki #ColonialHistory #GermanSamoa #Apia #PhotoHistory #GlassPlate #PolynesianPride #PacificIslands #IslandHistory #SamoanPride #Faasamoa #MulinuuPeninsula #HistoricalPhotos #LostHistory #AncestralPhotos #CulturalHeritage #OceaniaHistory #PacificCulture #PolynesianHistory #TrueHistory #HiddenHistory

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🌊 Welcome to Pulse of Polynesia — Part 1
Who Gets To Tell Our Story? | Reclaiming Samoan History

In this powerful episode, hosts Leaso Filoialii and Crystal sit down with writer, historian, and photographer Tony Brunt to explore the untold journey of preserving Samoa’s photographic history before it disappears forever.

From forgotten private albums… to crowdsourcing identities through Facebook… to uncovering rare images connected to the Solf family, Carl Hanson collection, and even Tulsi Gabbard’s ancestry — this conversation dives deep into the responsibility of reclaiming our own stories.

Tony shares how one single photograph changed the course of his life and led him on a decades-long mission to digitize and preserve Samoa’s hidden visual history.

This is more than photos.
This is identity.
This is memory.
This is history fighting to survive.

⏳ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Introduction & Crowdsourcing History
1:03 – Welcome & Tony's Background
1:58 – Samoan Roots & Family History
3:17 – Connection to Samoa After Father's Death
5:21 – Matai Title Bestowed
6:17 – Responsibility of Sharing History Respectfully
8:41 – Social Media & Crowdsourcing History
17:35 – The Founding Photo That Started It All
19:16 – Scanning Albums & Archiving Private Collections
23:04 – The Carl Hanson Album Discovery
28:03 – Tulsi Gabbard's Ancestry in the Photos
30:58 – The Solf Family Collection
33:59 – Preserving History Offshore

📸 Follow Tony Brunt
Facebook: Tony Brunt
Auckland, New Zealand

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If these stories matter to you… please LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to help preserve and amplify Pacific voices for future generations.

#PulseOfPolynesia #Samoa #TonyBrunt #SamoanHistory #Polynesia #PacificHistory #Pasifika #Faasamoa #HistoricalPhotos #MuseumOfSamoa #TulsiGabbard #PacificIslander #Documentary #PolynesianHistory #HistoryMatters

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History lives in these photos. 

These are not strangers.

These are our people. Our bloodlines. Our ancestors.

Every face carried a story… leadership, sacrifice, identity, survival, and culture passed down through generations. Some walked through colonization, war, division, and change — yet still carried themselves with dignity and mana.

As you watch, look closely.

You may recognize a family name… a face… or a piece of yourself.

Do you see any familiar ancestors?

Tony Brunt 

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🌊 Welcome back to Pulse of Polynesia — The History They Never Taught Us | Part 3

 In this powerful continuation, hosts Leaso Filoialii and Crystal sit down with Beauman Fuimaono (@thestoryofbeau) to unpack the hidden history of Samoa — the stories erased, reframed, or never taught in classrooms.

 We dive deep into the legacy of Mataʻafa Iosefo, the Samoan warrior chief who stood against German and American forces as colonial powers fought over Samoa. From guerrilla warfare in Leulumoega and Fagali’i… to the devastating 1889 Apia hurricane… to the Treaty of Berlin that divided our islands — this conversation explores the resilience, intelligence, and spirit of the Samoan people.

 This episode also tackles:

🔥 Colonial narratives & historical erasure

🔥 The “civil war” label placed on foreign invasions

🔥 Samoan military service & sacrifice

🔥 Cultural dependency & the Buffalo analogy

🔥 Why education and cultural identity matter now more than ever

 This isn’t just history.

This is OUR story. 🌺

 ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 — Intro: Mataʻafa — hero turned forgotten

0:57 — Samoan guerrilla warfare & German colonizers

1:59 — Americans bomb Fagali’i; Mataʻafa defends

3:05 — Spokane statue & “savage people of Samoa”

3:51 — Hurricane sinks warships in Apia harbor

4:12 — Treaty of Berlin & division of Samoa

5:00 — “Conquered by pen, not sword”

6:06 — Why young Samoans need this history

7:00 — Samoans & military enlistment

8:51 — Research vs. social media hearsay

10:10 — The Buffalo analogy explained

11:17 — Chasing money vs. preserving identity

13:18 — Prayer & blessings

13:59 — “We Are Pasifika” closing

🎙️ GUEST

Beauman Fuimaono — @thestoryofbeau

 🎙️ HOSTS

Leaso Filoialii & Crystal

 📍 ABOUT PULSE OF POLYNESIA

Pulse of Polynesia is a global platform built for the culture, by the culture — sharing Polynesian voices, journeys, truths, and untold stories from across the Pacific and beyond.

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CashApp: $pulseofpolynesia

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If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SHARE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE. Every share helps preserve and amplify our stories for future generations. 🌊

#PulseOfPolynesia #Samoa #MataafaIosefo #SamoanHistory #Polynesia #Pasifika #PacificHistory #SamoanWarriors #TheHistoryTheyNeverTaughtUs #PacificVoices #IndigenousHistory #SamoanPride #Decolonize #BeaumanFuimaono #TheStoryOfBeau #Polynesian #PacificIslander #TreatyOfBerlin #Mataafa #Culture

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“Sometimes healing doesn’t start… until you go back home.”

We don’t always realize how much we’re carrying until it finally catches up to us.

In this moment from Pulse of Polynesia, we talk about growth, reflection, and what it means to reconnect with where you come from.

This is more than a story.

It’s something many of us feel… but don’t always say out loud.

Watch. Reflect. Take what you need.

#fypシ #foryouシ #storytime #healingjourney #selfreflection #growthmindset #pasifika #polynesian #RealStories #mindsetshift

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He gave up everything… for his son.
And still had to live with the pain of losing his mom.

This is the side people don’t talk about.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Beauman Fuimaono, we go beyond the surface — into sacrifice, grief, identity, and the truth about Samoan culture today.

This isn’t just a story…
This is reality for many of us.

🔥 WHAT WE COVER
Choosing his son over everything
Losing his mom & living with regret
Mental health in silence
Going home after 9 years
Taupou, Pe’a & cultural roles
“You’re not the main character”
Gatekeeping vs identity
The truth about Samoa & its history
🎙️ ABOUT

Pulse of Polynesia is a 100% volunteer platform sharing real stories, culture, and voices across the Pacific.

Built for the culture. By the culture.

🎧 WATCH PART 1
https://youtu.be/I9Z7j13-z6E?si=n8sFEkRattKH_Ce_

👤 FEATURED GUEST – BEAUMAN FUIMAONO

🔥 WHAT WE COVER
Choosing his son over everything
Losing his mom & living with regret
Mental health in silence
Going home after 9 years
Taupou, Pe’a & cultural roles
“You’re not the main character”
Gatekeeping vs identity
The truth about Samoa & its history

📸 Instagram/Tiktok/Facebook/Youtube: @thestoryofbeau
🎥 Story Series: #TheStoryOfBeau

🌐 FOLLOW PULSE OF POLYNESIA

📺 YouTube/Facebook/Tiktok/Instagram: 
@pulseofpolynesia

💬 SUPPORT THE PLATFORM

If this episode moved you, inspired you, or taught you something…

☕ “Buy us a coffee” / Keep our lights on:
💰 CashApp: $pulseofpolynesia
💰 Venmo: @pulseofpolynesia

📌 KEY MOMENTS
00:00 – Introduction / Samoan proverb opening
01:25 – Choosing his son over everything (stranger gives him $1,800 & he misses his flight)
03:54 – Rich Dad Poor Dad & “don’t chase money”
04:53 – Going home — wanting his mom to meet his son
06:52 – The letter to his mom (writing it drunk, pouring his heart out)
11:13 – Loss, regret & mental health (dad, grandmother & mom)
11:41 – Going home after 9 years (closure at mom’s gravestone)
15:58 – Taupou & cultural roles (family history & identity)
19:06 – “You’re not the main character” (cultural truth)
29:07 – Pe’a, identity & evolution
30:57 – Gatekeeping & truth — “You are Samoan enough”
33:57 – Samoa, kingship & history (why monarchy ended)
40:20 – Colonization — why Samoa was targeted

⚠️ REAL TALK
Mental health is real.
Culture is deeper than what we see.
And some decisions… change everything.

🔥 HASHTAGS
#PulseOfPolynesia #TheStoryOfBeau #Samoan #Polynesian #Pasifika #Fatherhood #MentalHealth #PeaTattoo #Taupou #Podcast #ForTheCulture #RealTalk #FYP

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​ @thestoryofbeau  
Beauman Fuimaono

You can’t gatekeep the pe‘a.

This isn’t just a tattoo… it’s identity, discipline, and culture passed down through generations.

The tatau carries meaning, structure, and history — not trends.
Let’s learn it. Respect it. Understand it.

#tatau #polynesian #pasifika #culture #identity #heritage #Respect #communitysupport #fypシ

#YouCantGatekeep #Pea #Tatau #Samoan #Polynesian #Pasifika #IslandTok #CulturalPride #Heritage #Identity #RespectTheCulture #LearnYourRoots #Storytelling #FYP #Viral

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#PulseOfPolynesia #BeaumanFuimaono #TheStoryOfBeau #SamoanPodcast #Part1

He was criticizing someone on the radio…
Then it hit him — he wasn’t even in the game.

That moment changed everything.
And what happened next… took him from Samoa to Sweden.

This is PART 1 of our powerful conversation with Beauman Fuimaono — media personality, storyteller, and proud Samoan now based in Sweden.
In this episode, Beauman takes us on a journey across continents and identity:

• Growing up in Samoa and first exposure to media
• The radio moment that changed his life forever
• Walking away… then finding his purpose again
• Studying media & journalism at NUS
• Culture shock in China (you don’t want to miss this 😂)
• Becoming multilingual and raising a global-minded son
• The truth about confidence, culture, and knowing who you are
Sometimes… all it takes is one moment to realize:

“What are YOU doing?”

That moment changed everything.
📍 Live from Sweden
🎙️ Pulse of Polynesia — Voices. Stories. Truth.
________________________________________
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome & Introductions
0:41 – Introducing Beauman Fuimaono
2:52 – Early Life & First Exposure to Media
6:44 – What Kept Bringing Him Back to Media
9:22 – Getting Into Music & Recording in Samoa
10:09 – The Radio Moment That Changed Everything
12:35 – Enrolling in Media & Journalism
14:01 – Life as a Media Student
16:48 – Building Confidence
21:01 – Family Lineage & Legacy
21:26 – Scholarship to China
22:31 – Culture Shock (China Story 😂)
26:34 – Learning Languages
30:46 – Raising a Multilingual Son
33:23 – Breaking Stereotypes
36:34 – Samoan Community in Sweden
39:40 – Why Sweden?
40:39 – Life-Changing Decision
44:37 – Meaning Behind His Son’s Name
45:50 – When Everything Started Blowing Up
________________________________________
🌍 Connect with Pulse of Polynesia
📺 YouTube | 📘 Facebook | 🎵 TikTok | 📸 Instagram
@pulseofpolynesia
________________________________________
💙 Support the Podcast
(Help us keep the lights on 🙏)
💰 CashApp: $pulseofpolynesia
💸 Venmo: @pulseofpolynesia
________________________________________
🔔 Call to Action
👍 Like | 🔔 Subscribe | 📤 Share
💬 Comment below — Where are you watching from?
________________________________________
#Samoan #Polynesian #PacificIslander #Podcast #Fatherhood 
#MediaJourney #FaaSamoa #Diaspora #Storytelling #Motivation 
#Sweden #Samoa #FYP

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In Part 3 of our conversation with Mele Kanuch, we move beyond awareness… into healing, faith, and purpose.

This conversation goes deeper than mental health.
It’s about understanding who we are as Pacific Islanders—our trauma, our culture, our responsibilities… and how we begin to heal without losing ourselves.

This conversation is for you.

🎙️ Pulse of Polynesia — Voices. Stories. Truth.
🔗 CONNECT WITH MELE KANUCH
🌐 Website: https://www.unitedmindsco.com/
📱 YouTube: @unitedmindsco

🎥 YouTube: @pulseofpolynesia
📘 Facebook: Pulse of Polynesia
🎵 TikTok: @pulseofpolynesia
📸 Instagram: @pulseofpolynesia

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Intro / Opening
0:27 – What transformation looks like for those being helped
0:48 – The power of healing & gratitude
1:11 – The challenge of getting others to see the value
3:07 – Why long-term sustainability matters
4:45 – Cultural pillars and their role in healing
5:15 – Crystal’s journey: rising without a degree
8:04 – Knowledge is power—and accessible
9:14 – School vs. real-world experience
11:44 – Overcoming doubt and criticism
13:14 – Unhealed trauma, autism & neurodivergency
14:00 – The future of United Minds
17:04 – Is there an end to the data?
18:14 – Partner: NIMA (National API Mental Health Association)
21:47 – Petition for Pacific Islander Mental Health Day
22:17 – Partner: Project Paxton (autism advocacy)
26:38 – Life experiences that shaped the mission
29:31 – Growing up with misunderstood mental health
32:11 – Culture vs. college responsibilities
34:13 – Systems failing Pacific Islander students
36:27 – Family duty vs. personal growth
41:13 – The guilt of self-care
43:00 – Healing through therapy
44:51 – Trauma, anger, and forgiveness
47:52 – Encouragement and reflection
50:49 – Community, networking, and lifting others
53:33 – Message to every Polynesian household
56:50 – Closing

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“Are they being disrespectful… or do they just need support?”

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation on Pulse of Polynesia, Mele Kanuch breaks down a truth many of our communities have misunderstood for generations—the difference between mental illness and neurodivergence, and how lack of awareness continues to impact our people.

From cultural expectations and discipline… to generational trauma, suicide rates, and access to care—this episode goes deeper into the realities many families face but rarely speak about.

This isn’t about blame.
It’s about understanding.
It’s about healing—together.

🌍 This conversation is not just for Polynesians.
It’s for anyone who has ever felt misunderstood… or watched someone struggle in silence.

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro: Neurodivergency in Community & Cultural Context
0:52 - What Is Neurodivergency? (Mental Illness vs. Neurodivergence Explained)
1:23 - How the Average Brain Works (Neurotypical vs. Neurodivergent)
1:52 - Examples of Neurodivergent Diagnoses (Autism, ADHD, Bipolar, Tourette's)
2:13 - Mental Illness vs. Neurodivergence: Key Differences
2:41 - Physical Health Parallels to Mental Health
3:07 - Supporting Mental Health: Community, Hobbies & Healing
6:24 - The Pushback: Family, Culture & Going Public
7:29 - Finding Community: Connecting with Other Pacific Islanders
8:22 - A Global Pattern: New Zealand, Polynesia, Micronesia
8:38 - Digging into the Data: Why Are These Issues Underreported?
10:12 - Barriers: Financial, Representation & Limited Research
14:20 - Founding United Minds: Mele's Organization
14:51 - How the United Minds Hub Works (Providers & Subscriptions)
15:39 - Collecting Lived Experience Data
18:08 - The Scientific Method Behind United Minds
18:26 - The Hypothesis: Untreated Trauma, Neurodivergency & Suicide Rates
19:11 - Testing the Theory & Early Findings
20:04 - Cultural Roots: The Kramer Book & Samoan History
23:21 - Challenges of Building Something This New
23:57 - The Health Circle: 6 Dimensions of Wellness
25:26 - A Mission Ordained by God
26:35 - Responding to Pushback with Grace
28:07 - Generational Trauma: Breaking the Cycle
29:47 - Healing Our Generation & the Future

🔗 CONNECT WITH MELE KANUCH

🌐 Website: https://www.unitedmindsco.com/

📱 Youtube: @unitedmindsco


🎙 ABOUT PULSE OF POLYNESIA

Pulse of Polynesia is a platform built for the culture, by the culture—sharing real stories, real journeys, and real impact from Pasifika voices around the world.

🎥 YouTube: @pulseofpolynesia
📘 Facebook: Pulse of Polynesia
🎵 TikTok: @pulseofpolynesia
📸 Instagram: @pulseofpolynesia

🧠 TOPICS COVERED
Mental Health in Polynesian Communities
Neurodivergence vs Mental Illness
Generational Trauma
Cultural Expectations & Discipline
Suicide Awareness & Prevention
Access to Care & Representation
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