Kalafi Moala is a Tongan journalist, editor, and founder of the Times of Tonga newspaper, a publication dedicated to holding power to account and giving voice to the people.

His fearless reporting brought him into direct conflict with the Tongan government, leading to his imprisonment and eventual deportation from his own country. But Kalafi never gave up. He was later cleared of all charges, allowing him to return home.

But there's more to Kalafi than his fight for a free press — after studying in New Zealand, he became a Christian missionary, travelling to Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.

In this episode of Stories From the Pacific on ABC Radio Australia, he shares his journey, the challenges of journalism in the Pacific, and what it takes to stand up for democracy and the truth in the face of adversity.

Samuel Gaskin is a Melbourne-based musician, composer, and creative producer whose work is transforming the arts.  

With roots in Aotearoa and Nigeria, Samuel has moved beyond chasing stardom to create spaces where communities feel seen, safe, and celebrated. His award-winning works Reckoning and Aunty have redefined representation on stage, blending ancestral knowledge with pop culture flair. 

In this episode of Stories From the Pacific on ABC Radio Australia, join host Bobby Macumber as she explores Samuel’s commitment to joy, healing and unapologetic visibility, and discover how his art is reshaping conversations around identity and inclusion. 

To understand Yvonne Ueda's journey is to picture the weaving of a chedecholl mat — each strand a story, each imperfection a source of strength. 

Her life has been shaped by preparation, patience, and partnership: from a winding educational path marked by setbacks, to discovering identity through motherhood, faith, and community. 

Today, she leads conservation projects in Palau with The Nature Conservancy, inspires young people through her church, and tends to her own farm: a dream she hopes will one day become her full-time calling.

Listen to Yvonne's conversation with Stories From The Pacific, host Bobby Macumber on ABC Radio Australia.

Stories From The Pacific

Home can mean many things: the eucalyptus trees and beaches of Sydney, the chaos of New York City or the warmth of family barbecues with music and food. For Mi-Kaisha, home is both a physical place and a community that raised her. 

As a proud Aboriginal and Tongan artist, Mi-Kaisha's journey has taken her from family singalongs and NAIDOC celebrations to breaking barriers as the first Aboriginal student at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Her music - blending pop, R&B, and cultural storytelling - carries the voices of her family and community wherever she goes. 

Imagine failing high school on purpose — not because you couldn't succeed, but as an act of protest to defend comics as a true art form. This is exactly what Samoan artist and wrestler, Michel Mulipola did.

Born and raised in South Auckland, Michel turned childhood obsessions with comics and wrestling into a career that has spanned comics, wrestling collaborations, and nearly 20-years in the wrestling ring.

Michel's art and activism are steeped in Samoan heritage, his storytelling both playful and political. 

Whether behind the drawing table or under the bright lights of the ring, Michel reveals his unapologetic Pacific-creativity to ABC Radio Australia's Bobby Macumber, on Stories From The Pacific.

For Guam filmmaker, Brian Muna, storytelling began in a dark room — watching his mother develop photographs and later holding his first camera at juts five years old.

But his most personal story came decades later, with his film Chamoru: A lost language — a work exploring identity, loss and survival.

Just one day before the film's national premiere, Brian's mother passed away — forever binding the project to her memory.

His story is one of contracts: of growing up under a heavy military presence while searching for his Chamoru roots, of struggling with language while being steeped in family values, and of using film as a tool to reclaim what was once fading away.

Brian's journey is about turning personal grief into a cultural mission.

Imagine being a teenager stuck in a hospital bed, unable to walk for two years after major surgery, staring out at a rugby field where you once dreamed of playing. 

For Joji Malani, it was in this painful and isolating moment that music became a lifeline - and eventually a monument to who he is today.  

From his childhood in Fiji to global stages with Australian rock band Gang of Youths and now creating opportunities for Pacific voices through his label Broth Records, Joji's story is one of resilience, heritage, and building pathways for others. 

When Rhea Moss-Christian returned to the Marshall Islands in her twenties, she carried with her questions about language, belonging, and identity. Though the islands were her birthplace, she struggled to feel truly at home in a community that was part of her heritage but felt distant. 

Raised in California, Rhea often found herself caught between cultures - an outsider both abroad and in her homeland. Her journey of reconnection and self-discovery became the foundation for a remarkable career in global diplomacy. 

Today, Rhea stands as the first Pacific Islander woman to lead the world’s largest tuna fisheries organisation, making decisions that impact billions of meals and millions of lives across the globe. 

This episode explores how Rhea found strength in the in-between spaces of identity, and how that journey shaped her into a powerful voice for the Pacific on the world stage. 

From Fiji - with fierce pride and unapologetic style - comes Temesia Tuicaumia, a fashion designer, educator, and cultural influencer who's redefining what it means to wear your identity.

Temesia is best known for his bold refusal to wear pants, choosing instead the traditional Fijian sulu, a powerful symbol of resistance against fast fashion and a celebration of heritage.

But there's more to Temesia than meets the eye. Behind the striking style is a passionate educator, a community builder, and a man whose journey has been shaped by setbacks, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to his roots.

This episode isn't just about fashion. It's about turning identity into a brand, clothing into culture, and personal history into a movement.