In this special episode of Island Fever Podcast, host Donato Fatuesi is joined by Dezonikah Michaelz, Agaiotupu Viena, and Tru Koroi for a powerful conversation exploring a question many MVPFAFF+ people are asking right now:

What are the safest cities for Pasifika trans people in the United States?Together, they reflect on the places that shaped them, the communities that embraced them, and the realities of navigating life as Pasifika trans people across different cities and regions.

From family expectations and cultural responsibilities to dating, career opportunities, and finding chosen family, this conversation dives into what safety truly means beyond laws and policies. The group shares stories of growing up, moving away, building community, and creating lives where they can not only survive—but thrive.

Along the way, they unpack the role of visibility, leadership, and collective care in today’s political climate, while celebrating the resilience and brilliance of MVPFAFF+ communities. This conversation is honest, affirming, hilarious, and heartfelt.

🌈 Topics include:

What MVPFAFF+ means and why representation matters

The safest cities for Pasifika trans people in the U.S.

Family, culture, and community support.

Dating as a Pasifika trans person

Economic opportunity and quality of life

Building chosen family and trans sisterhood

Leadership, visibility, and advocacy

Thriving in today’s political climate

What home, safety, and belonging really mean

✨ About Our Guests: Dezonikah Michaelz is a former Miss Island Goddess 2025, trans advocate, and fisheries professional whose work bridges community leadership, cultural identity, and environmental stewardship.

Agaiotupu Viena is a communications and gender messaging strategist and co-founder of Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, dedicated to amplifying Pacific Islander voices and advancing social change through storytelling and advocacy.

Tru Koroi is a creative, journalist, and storyteller whose work explores culture, identity, community, and the evolving experiences of Pasifika people.

💖 Whether you’re looking for community, considering a move, or simply curious about how Pasifika trans people are creating lives filled with joy and possibility, this episode offers insight, wisdom, and a reminder that safety is about more than a place—it’s about people.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

In this episode of Island Fever Podcast, hosts Vae, Krit, and Donato sit down with Kumu Hina - Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, filmmaker, educator, and cultural icon - to explore how we can build stronger Pasifika leadership in our communities. Drawing from decades of advocacy, cultural stewardship, and community work, Kumu Hina shares lessons on leadership, service, and creating pathways for future generations of Pasifika people to thrive.

Kumu Hina opens up about the people, values, and cultural teachings that shaped her understanding of leadership, and reflects on how her approach has evolved throughout her life.

In this episode of Island Fever Podcast, hosts Vae, Krit Fanene-Manuwai, and Donato Fatuesi sit down with Maddy Sesepasara of the Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC) to explore one of the most difficult questions many families face: How do I help someone struggling with addiction?

Whether you're navigating substance use yourself or supporting a loved one on their journey, this conversation offers compassionate insight into addiction, recovery, harm reduction, and healing.

Maddy shares her path into community health work and how supporting MVPFAFF+ Pacific Islanders through addiction recovery, HIV prevention, sexual health, and harm reduction services has shaped her understanding of community care and healing. Together, the hosts reflect on their own experiences with substance use, the circumstances that led them there, and the realities of finding a way forward.

From harm reduction and sobriety to sexual health, HIV prevention, stigma, and community care, this conversation explores the many layers of recovery and what it truly means to support someone without judgment. The hosts openly discuss their recovery journeys, the consequences that pushed them toward change, and the tools that help them stay on the path today.

This conversation is vulnerable, honest, emotional, affirming, and deeply practical for anyone navigating addiction, recovery, mental health, or supporting someone they love. It also offers an important look at how MVPFAFF+ communities experience addiction, healing, and access to care, while highlighting resources available to those seeking support.

🌈 Topics Include:• Addiction and substance use recovery• Supporting a loved one struggling with addiction• Harm reduction vs. sobriety• HIV prevention, PrEP, and sexual health resources• MVPFAFF+ health, healing, and community care• Mental health and trauma in Pasifika communities• Recovery journeys and staying on the path• Accessing support services and resources

✨ About Our Guest

Maddy Sesepasara is a community health advocate with the Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC), an organization dedicated to reducing health disparities and increasing access to care throughout Hawai'i. Through outreach, education, and direct services, Maddy supports individuals navigating substance use, HIV prevention, sexual health, and recovery.

A significant part of Maddy's work includes serving MVPFAFF+ communities across Hawai'i, providing culturally responsive care and resources for Queer, Trans, and gender-diverse Pacific Islanders. Through this work, Maddy has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges, barriers, and strengths that shape addiction, recovery, and healing within our communities.

🔔 Subscribe to Island Fever Podcast for conversations centering Queer & Trans Pacific Islander voices, storytelling, culture, healing, relationships, and community.

For more resources:www.pasifikarootedtherapy.com/islandfever

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