Returning Home Changed Me

They Found 750 Lost Photos of Samoa Hidden in a Suitcase

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/fan_mail/new] 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 📲 FOLLOW US ▶ YouTube: @PulseofPolynesia 📘 Facebook: Pulse of Polynesia 🎵 TikTok: @pulseofpolynesia 📸 Instagram: @pulseofpolynesia ☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW 💚 Cash App: $pulseofpolynesia 💜 Venmo: @pulseofpolynesia 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 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/support]

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

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/fan_mail/new] 🌊 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 🌺 Follow Pulse of Polynesia YouTube: @PulseofPolynesia Facebook: Pulse of Polynesia TikTok: @pulseofpolynesia Instagram: @pulseofpolynesia ☕ Support Pulse of Polynesia Cash App: $pulseofpolynesia Venmo: @pulseofpolynesia 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 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/support]

Look closely. You might recognize your bloodline. 👀

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/fan_mail/new] 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  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/support]

They Called Our Hero a Savage. Here's What Really Happened. | History They Never Taught Us Pt. 3

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/fan_mail/new] 🌊 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.  📺 FOLLOW PULSE OF POLYNESIA YouTube: @pulseofpolynesia Facebook: Pulse of Polynesia TikTok: @pulseofpolynesia Instagram: @pulseofpolynesia   ☕ SUPPORT THE PLATFORM CashApp: $pulseofpolynesia Venmo: @pulseofpolynesia   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   Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/support]

Returning Home Changed Me

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/fan_mail/new] “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 [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/fyp%E3%82%B7/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #foryouシ [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/foryou%E3%82%B7/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #storytime [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/storytime/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #healingjourney [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/healingjourney/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #selfreflection [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/selfreflection/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #growthmindset [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/growthmindset/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #pasifika [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/pasifika/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #polynesian [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/polynesian/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #RealStories [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/realstories/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] #mindsetshift [https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/mindsetshift/?__cft__[0]=AZbcddBXNqQKAaAFTFqViMQOwfv7tnX19TuQCDdsdzBhHEgcxbMhSDRYY5Rnm244b69Ex1Yt2OsZBDctD2qYkvYuZpSHYQEd9yD8zfl-7rewjgI5iu6JZpgzTdLp-ZPTqtT-M_2GrXcckEWvvYtWICYGunchTA76rJyujV9X6EeknwDyn_DYa4KVYGsBXgudhvQ1JccyCplnUtCfHqjcShsU&__tn__=*NK-R] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431778/support]