Pacific Empowerment

Akanesi Kaufusi
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Pacific Empowerment Podcast was founded by a Tongan woman entrepreneur, Akanesi Kaufusi, to uplift and inspire Pacific Island people to take bold action, chase their dreams, and dream as big as they dare. This podcast challenges the limitations of traditional thinking and cultural expectations that often hold our people back. It’s a space to break free from fear, take risks, and rewrite what’s possible - no matter your background or environment. Your situation doesn’t define you. Your vision does.

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 32 - Power, Sex & Money: Confronting Abuse in Pacific Communities

    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 Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    1h 4m

  2. FEB 19

    Episode 31 - Tou’a: Exploited vs Willing Participation

    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 Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    44 min

  3. FEB 12

    Episode 30 - Epstein vs. Faikavastein: The Pattern of Predators

    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 Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    42 min

  4. FEB 2

    Episode 29 - Ban Tou‘a Campaign Is Live - Sign the Petition Now!

    In this episode, Akanesi Kaufusi launches the Ban Tou‘a campaign, calling for the protection of women, children, and families in faikava spaces.She shares the challenges she has faced online, the Pacific-wide support behind the movement, survivor testimonies, and why legal reform in Tonga is urgently needed.Learn about Pasifika Empowerment’s mission and how you can help create lasting change. Let’s get the 50,000-signature target reached soon.The quicker you sign and the more you share, the faster change happens.This is your chance to have your voice heard. Sign the petition and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Support the show Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    27 min

  5. 12/19/2025

    Episode 28 - What 2025 Taught Me: Fearless, Courage & Unstoppable

    This episode marks my final podcast for 2025 as I take a short break over Christmas and New Year, before returning after the holidays. In this episode, I reflect on my journey throughout the year - the growth of the podcast, the ups and downs, and the challenging but necessary conversations around kava and tou'a issues. I share what this season has taught me about resilience, gratitude, and staying grounded in purpose. I also share more faikava testimonies sent to me, continuing to raise awareness and encourage honest conversations for change within our communities. As we close the year, I talk briefly about some of my plans and intentions for the year ahead, and what listeners can expect moving forward. I end this episode with gratitude for every listener who has walked with me this year, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your support! See you after the holidays. Support the show Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    1h 10m

  6. 12/10/2025

    Episode 27 - Hepatitis B in the Pacific: Hidden Liver Damage in Our Families

    ⚠️ Disclaimer This episode is for awareness and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified doctor before testing or taking any medication. In this week’s episode, Kori Tameifuna shares her Tongan husband’s journey with chronic Hepatitis B - a silent health issue affecting many Pacific families. We talk about how the virus is passed down, why those born in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s should get tested, and the serious impact it has on the liver. We also discuss how kava and alcohol can worsen liver health without people realising. Kori also gives honest marriage and family advice around boundaries, cultural pressures, kava, pickleball, late-night habits, and protecting your home. This is a powerful conversation every Pacific household needs to hear. Support the show Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    51 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Episde 26 - Cyberbullying in the Pacific: Our Talk on 16 Days of Activism

    This week, I sit down with Lizzie Wong to break down 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and what it means for Pacific Island people. We talk through this year’s theme on ending digital violence and why online abuse is now one of the biggest threats facing Pacific women and girls. I also share my own experience with cyberbullying, and together we unpack the different forms of online harassment that many Pacific women face today. We discuss real solutions, practical safety tips, and how our communities can create safer digital spaces for our sisters, daughters, and mothers. A powerful, necessary conversation for our Pacific people on activism, awareness, and protecting ourselves online. 💜🎙️ Support the show Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    1h 8m

  8. 11/27/2025

    Episode 25 - Letting Go of Old Traditions: From Catholic Doctrine to Pacific Practices

    In this powerful episode, Akanesi dives deep into how God has been speaking through Scripture - revealing that not all traditions passed down through generations come from Him. Using the recent Catholic shift away from the belief that Mary is “Co-Redeemer” as a starting point, she explores how even long-held religious traditions can change when they don’t align with biblical truth. Akanesi shares a personal testimony about how God has been speaking through the exact same Scriptures again and again, revealing a powerful message for the Pacific. This episode directly confronts harmful Pacific practices that continue to hurt families today - kava addiction, tou‘a exploitation, domestic violence, and silence around suffering. It’s a bold reminder that culture should never have more authority than Christ. God is raising a generation that will say,  “It ends with me.” Support the show Sign the Petition Now and learn more at: https://pasifikaempowerment.org/campaigns Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere. You can watch the video podcast on https://www.youtube.com/@pacificempowerment

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Pacific Empowerment Podcast was founded by a Tongan woman entrepreneur, Akanesi Kaufusi, to uplift and inspire Pacific Island people to take bold action, chase their dreams, and dream as big as they dare. This podcast challenges the limitations of traditional thinking and cultural expectations that often hold our people back. It’s a space to break free from fear, take risks, and rewrite what’s possible - no matter your background or environment. Your situation doesn’t define you. Your vision does.

Information

  • Creator
    Akanesi Kaufusi
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pacific Empowerment
  • Show Website
    Pacific Empowerment