When Tau'ili'ili Alpha Maiava plays the nose flute, he is transported back in time. He knows it is the same sound his ancestors heard 400 years ago. But this sound, along with many others, have almost been lost to history. Tau'ili'ili is travelling across the Pacific Islands to gather stories of extinct and endangered instruments like the nose flute. He hopes sharing this traditional knowledge will help people connect with who they were and who they are today.

When Visila Koliqaqaru Lagilagi started boxing, she didn't know where it would take her. She just knew it made her feel strong. It's a strength that she has had to draw on many times, particularly five years ago, when a chance accident paralysed her husband.

Matt Howard was excelling in his career as a paralegal in the military, but after falling in love with the storytelling tools of a camera, he risked it all to follow this new found passion.  Living on the beautiful island of Pohnpei, Matt was raised by matriarchs and says his childhood was rich, full of imagery, stories and memories that should be captured for all to see.  Later in his childhood, Matt's move to Hawai'i with his family revealed the uniqueness of his island home and he now uses the work in his co-founded production company, Soused Life to give people a window look into everything he loves about his home. Do you have a story idea for this program? You can email us on: [email protected]  This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 17th July 2024

Kumu Michelle Manu teaches her students to live a life of "intentional movement". These students are learning the ancient combat martial art of Lua which was once practiced by many Hawai'ian women warriors before it went into hiding in hula dancing. By reviving this practice Kumu Michelle hopes to break the stigma that femininity could only ever mean fragility. She hopes to encourage others to bring out the warrior spirit within them, the way our ancestors did.  This edition of Stories from the Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 19th June 2024

For millions of people around the world, Kim Sasabone needs no introduction.  As the lead singer of Vengaboys, she's helped sell more than 25 million records worldwide, and the Dutch pop phenomenon's songs have filled dancefloors, wedding receptions and party playlists for nearly three decades. From Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! to We're Going to Ibiza! and We Like To Party!, the Vengaboys became one of the biggest pop acts of the late 1990s, and the group has performed to audiences across almost every corner of the globe. But behind the platinum records and international fame is another story. Because while the world knows Kim Sasabone as a global pop star, her family knows her as a proud daughter of Maluku - the islands just west of Papua. This is a story about family, migration, identity and belonging. Listen to Kim speak with Michael Chow and Jacob McQuire on ABC Radio Australia.

A proud Gudang/Yadaykenu and Saibai man, Jay Wymarra is a hilarious comedian, fierce drag performer and self-confessed "black nerd". Born in Townsville, raised across Canberra, Fiji, and Wollongong, Jay's comedy blends sharp wit with deep love for community. From open mic's in Cairns to the stages of Edinburgh Fringe, he uses laughter as both survival and celebration. Whether he's serving up Reanna-Matrix, his drag alter ego, or taking aim at racism and homophobia, Jay is flipping the script — one punchline at a time. This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 14th May 2025

For Kathy Martin, maps aren’t something you find on your phone — they’re inherited, passed down in the way your aunty cuts fish or says your name like it belongs to the land. Raised in Piis-Paneu in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, Kathy grew up knowing place wasn’t something to chart, but something to feel. She travelled between islands as if the ocean were a highway, guided by language, memory, and community. Culture wasn’t taught — it was lived. In a community where every adult cared for every child, stories were shared like food, and language anchored identity, Kathy carried those values into her work — from teaching at her former high school to supporting Micronesian students and families across the Pacific, and sharing stories onstage. In this episode of Stories From The Pacific, Kathy explains to host Wendy Mocke that culture is not small — and neither is Micronesia. Listen on ABC Radio Australia. This edition of Stories from the Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 4th June 2025

Born of Fijian heritage, but raised in the heart of Western Sydney, Isaac Nasedra accidentally stumbled into environmental forensics, due to a university admissions error, only to discover a lifelong calling to protect the Pacific.   From running for state parliament in a sulu, to challenging the status quo of "polite" activism, Isaac is on a mission to prove that Pacific Islanders are not just performers for consumption, but thinkers, philosophers and political forces.    Isaac speaks candidly to Wendy Mocke in this episode of Stories From The Pacific on ABC Radio Australia.

In this episode of Stories From the Pacific, our guest traces her journey from a curious child in Fiji — gazing out across the ocean — to a leading neuroscientist exploring how the human brain works. But for Dr Suhailah Ali, understanding the mind was only part of the story. She came to realise that science alone isn’t enough if we don’t also fight for the world we inhabit.  Now a passionate climate justice advocate, Dr Ali has moved beyond the lab to the frontlines, working with organisations like Jubilee Australia to hold powerful corporations accountable.  Joining host Wendy Mocke, she shares why climate change is not only reshaping our environment but how it’s also taking a profound toll on our mental health. More importantly, she explains why protecting the Pacific means caring for one another’s wellbeing — our spirits as much as our shores.  Listen on ABC Radio Australia.

From the rugby fields of Cairns, far north QLD, to representing his country by captaining the Kumuls, Rod Griffin has carved out a career defined by resilience, leadership, and a deep commitment to giving back.   A proud Papua New Guinean who made his mark in the game, Rod has played for clubs like the Wests Tigers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and Ipswich Jets. But his legacy extends beyond the field, he's shaping the next generation of young athletes today. From professional footy to mentoring aspiring players, Rod’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and purpose.   This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 23rd April 2025