Participants reflect on the words and lessons that resounded with them from each of our sessions.
“With my mind, body and soul enriched, I have been inspired to reconnect with culture, let go of things I have been conditioned to control, and journey the path that my ancestors paved for me as a proud servant daughter of the Pacific.” BERNADETTE TOVIO shares her reflections after the final retreat for the Mana Moana Experience in January 2022.
“I feel a deep sense of humility and gratitude, I now walk with Mana, with pride in who I am, how I can continue to improve myself to best support my people, and now I have a why: a purpose, a reason,” says PARANIHIA PRESTON following Retreat Four: Va Hala, Ala, Ara of The Mana Moana Experience.
“Our paths, our journeys, our stories are important reminders of how we got here. Once we’ve faced our past, we can draw strength from it and take it with us on our next steps. Our Hala, Ala, Ara. Our next steps as Pacific Leaders,” shares KATHLEEN MCGHIE from Retreat Four of The Mana Moana Experience.
“The Mana Moana Experience for me is purposeful and liberating. It is deep diving to your core to bring out what has always been there, the treasure of self that has been hidden. A gift from the ancestors. Journeying with my brave Mana Moana family. Hearing and seeing the wisdom and truth from living legends. Rediscovering life and love in a Pacific Mana Moana way,” enthuses APOUA FUATAVAIL-MCBRIEN.
“I am encouraged to be ‘leaderful’ in the spaces that I occupy with others. Meeting some of the most incredible leaders (in the space of a few months) who lead with a clear vision in their spaces has given me the strength to seek, learn and speak up for our indigenous people,” enthuses SELINA ROIMATA PATIA after Retreat Two of The Mana Moana Experience.
“I was ready for change. I was ready for a new but old narrative. A narrative of power, of prowess, a narrative where our ‘Ancestral Intelligence’ was recognised as equal to if not better than the current dominate thinking and theories of today and boy did I find it in Va Tūpuna,” enthuses EDWARD (TED) POGAI following Retreat One of The Mana Moana Experience.
“At Retreat One (Va Tūpuna), you meet the other Pasifika leaders and learn of their journeys. I thought to myself: even Ashley Bloomfield would be impressed! Then your voyage begins,” shares JACK SCANLAN on boarding the vaka that is The Mana Moana Experience.
“Retreat One of The Mana Moana Experience has given me time and space (and a beautiful setting) in which to reflect on why I do the things that I do: I have sat on my fala / mat and meditated; I have shared kava and stories; I have thought about what I needed to receive and what I wanted to give to each speaker; I have laughed, cried, got angry, and laughed again,” shares RENEE DINGWALL.
“Every day I wake up with the intent of Makawalu: to stand boldly in my every facet and to harness the power of my vulnerability - not only to see but to deeply feel. Born of alofa into a place of va, I welcome you home again,” reflects FLEUR RABANAL on Retreat 3: Va Hala of The Mana Moana Experience.
“Full moon alignment of moon, earth and sun gave early high tides and made us wander across the west sand to find the cleansing chill of an afternoon dip, maintaining our circle all the while.” NATIA TUCKER reflects on Va Mokopuna, the final Mana Moana Experience retreat which was held on Waiheke Island in January 2022.