Puka Nacua’s Offseason Trip To Samoa | The Journey Home

Puka Nacua’s Offseason Trip To Samoa | The Journey Home

[Music] [Music] My grandmother said, how clean and how green it was. I remember just taking a little video and setting it in our family group chat and being like, “This is what grandma called home. It’s island life.” That’s what’s beautiful about Samo is the simplicity of it. Brought me to peace being there for the first time. for [Music] more. [Music] [Music] We’re flying over the islands and you see what it’s like in all the water as you’re flying over above. But I don’t think I slept just being able to want to see what it’s like to fly into Samoa and being like these are the islands that um my grandma has come from and so many of the other Polynesian NFL players. These are the islands where um they the family their families had started and to feel that connection but then the excitement as well of being like ah we finally made it. Grandma the journey isn’t complete yet but uh we’re making progress slowly. [Music] I remember one just being nervous and just like the process of going out of the country and then landing in a different territory and just not being close to home. the planning of looking at the hotels, resorts, uh figuring out the schedules and what we’re going to do. And it had all come to this moment of us landing here at the airport and starting our trip out there. Troy, so where did we just land at? And then where are we headed right now? Uh you landed at local airport and uh we’re headed into a Okay. It’s about 45minut drive in. Sweet. [Music] We’re right here by the waterfall. I know. [Music] As we continue to go on, I’m seeing more and more people and more and the kids uh playing volleyball or playing rugby right outside their house. That feels like home. Nobody’s got shoes on. Everybody’s out there barefoot. They’re running in the grass. Yeah. So, is your mom still alive or she passed? My mother passed away September 2021. Ovarian of ovarian canc. Oh, she would have started screaming as soon as we came down. Yeah. She So, we all know that Bua is her favorite cuz she always made it known to all of her grandchildren. I just remember telling my mom, I’m always talking to her, being reminded that she’s my angel, always with me. So, I just remember feeling her with me. And after all these years that she had talked about home and how she grew up and her family life that it was in the motherland. [Music] My mother named Puka as a nickname for him because when he was already at probably 3, 6, 9 months old, he was a chubby little version of my husband. My legal government name is McKa Manu Nua. I was born one of the biggest babies in my family. I think my older brother Samson is the the only one that’s a little bit heavier than I was. But in Samoa, the name Puka means chubby. she would call him that. And so it grew on the rest of us who had to be around him in the household. Her and Puka just had a close relationship. Puka was just kind of like her baby. The grandmother grandson relationship was one that I started from a very young age. I know my mom has a lot of baby pictures of me not being held by a lot of people, but there was a very few. And the other person in a lot of those baby photos was my grandma. the connection that my grandma not only had with me and how important and special she made me feel with the time she was always willing to take care of me, but then also the time that she would take to interact with the people that she came across. And I think everybody who who knows her uh definitely felt that connection and that love and maybe sometimes a little aggressive sometimes, but in the best way. My life has changed a lot since landing in LA. It has been super exciting I guess when I from like the moment I walked in to landing in a new area and trying to figure out really I guess who you are knowing that the football player is only a part of it and then just being in a new land. There’s been so many fun experience and I guess it’s just really started. It was definitely a good switch up and a moment I guess of like a full exhale of kind of letting your guard down and being able to feel like it was me, my mom and the little kid that she was taking to the ice cream parlor after fatball practice many years ago. We’re coming to 1, two, three. Awesome. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thanks, guys. Thank you so much. See you later. Good, bro. This won’t be the last time you see us. [Music] You guys are glorious, right? [Music] I’m fine, thank you. Come up to Come up to the top right here. My mom were just making some sandwiches right inside. Oh. Oh my gosh. Oh, I’m in camera. You look beautiful as well. How are you? Good. She’s my other daughter, too. I brought you some treats. Oh, treat. Yeah, that’s the switcher. Is this the switch? This is from our reunion. Mhm. Being able to see my aunt Yasulu was very important to me. I’ve always been close to her since I was a child when my mother first came to America and she came later. I love her and I miss her when she’s not in America often, but she loves it in Samoa and likes to stay there and and serve and help people there in Samoa. Being able to see her is like having my second mom, especially now that my mom’s not here anymore. This is a great spot. Like I would never know this island or come to this side had you guys not pushed us to say let’s go this way. I want to go to the top of that mountain. Yeah. Looks way scary. Too many bushes. [Music] This is where original they they were grandma was raised. Used to be all sand. Ah, right here. Right here. All sand down there. All the way in the back. All the way in the back. [Music] to stand out and to be able to understand that moment that my grandma talked about of the the ocean being so clear and it it being right in her backyard and being like she wasn’t lying. It it was right in her backyard and it was something that you could wake up to every morning and you went to the waves crashing at night. And I think they bring this because Yeah, they try to stop. Stop. Yeah. But this is being able to go to Sala Al Mua where my mother was born and raised and where her family still resides was cool cuz I had been wanting to go there. I had been looking it up on the map all the time and just always like zooming in to see this small little town there. A little tsunami. Such a simple life that they lived. not having a whole lot. And in Samoa, they respect the land that they have because it’s shared by all of their family members. And it isn’t just one family. It can be several families that live on the land. Used to be really nice. A lot of people died from this village during a tsunami cuz I was here during a tsunami. Really? We we were in Fangaloa. So after uh 2 days, we came down to uh distributed some stuff to our family down here cuz they move up cuz they have more lands up there at Puka. Yeah. So that’s where they’re moving up to the other close to the mountain. Yeah. So that’s why they don’t have anything here. Yeah. Trying to envision what it it looked like with the sand and like all of being right here growing up with the ocean in your backyard. Um, I used to get excited that my grandma always said I’m like looking out at those islands like she always said it was the most beautiful place that she ever saw. So I could imagine when you wake up to this every morning and being able to go out to the water like you could form that opinion and yeah stand by it and it it was beautiful. [Music] Wild to see what it looks like after a tsunami. but also exciting to see that there’s still a place for us to come back to. [Music] I’m ready for bicycle. My mom used to make these for the kids. They were like a little morning Danish. So, these are famous. What are they What are they called again? Punake. They’re like um like funnel cake. Yep. What it tastes like. Yeah. Yeah. With without the powdered sugar. drop. [Music] How fulfilling it felt that this is where it all started. The sacrifice that my grandma made to to be in the the area that she was growing up in to where my life journey has taken me now to being in LA and all the sacrifices from not only her but all of my other family members that kind of lead up to it. being there really humbles him, you know, to keep himself grounded in everything that he has and to appreciate and he does. I’m grateful that we got the chance to see that, especially for Puka. How about those two? This is the life that my grandma got to live and uh this is the the first time I’m getting to experience this, but knowing that this is something that I I want to be able to come back to because it does feel like home. [Music] Oh, of course. For me, when I think of being someone, I just think of uh connection. Whether it’s family or it’s friends or somebody that you’re just meeting, that feeling of genuine connection. When you meet somebody and you you give them a hug and a kiss. [Music] [Music] I think the most important part for me in Puka was being able to go to where my grandmother was buried. My mother never had a chance to go back to Samoa. She was already living in America. And when she passed away, none of us returned back for her funeral. [Music] lazy puppet and [Music] at least my grandmother had a place to be buried and a place that where we could go to see and to remember her and and be respectful. That’s very humbling. you know that during that time that was the best that maybe my family could do to bury their loved ones. [Music] It felt sacred and it felt like just a quiet space. Thank you, Phil, for taking me to go see where Nice to meet you. Thank you so much. Thank you. You too. Thank you. Okay. [Music] Nice to meet you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good morning from Ice Spy Radio. A big good morning tal for loavvera and welcoming everybody to the show. The key word that is put out by the team healthy Samoa is diabetes. It’s not only a big issue here in the Pacifica but of course here in Samoa the numbers are high and it’s good that you guys are here putting out the good work and discussing and talking a little bit more about it getting everybody educated. Healthy Samoa was a group that I connected with at a hospital back in Utah. Our primary goal is to decrease the rate of diabetes in Samoa. Currently, right now, both islands are greater than 40% diabetes. It’s uh something that connects to me because my father had passed away from diabetes um at a young age and something that’s uh impacted me and my family’s life. We go to the schools to do educations with the kids. We also go into the communities or go to the district hospitals and we do diabetes screenings for the adults. Being able to find a group who’s going to do that one, not only for the people of my culture, but with the cause um that’s so close to my heart was an opportunity that um definitely kind of kickstarted the whole idea of traveling out there to Samoa. And it was just the the perfect storm for everything to be able to come together and meet them. We’ve got about two to three schools a day that we’ll be going and screening. So about 500 kids a day that we’ll screen and we’ll check them for, you know, height and weight. And then we will check their hearts and their eyes. But the big thing is we will be in the classrooms doing puppet show with them that teaches them about being healthy. And then every one of the kids gets a book that teaches about Puka and the great sea turtle and how he teaches them about how to live healthy and about diabetes and how they can, you know, not be controlled by diabetes. Some of our listeners if you don’t know Booker is NFL pro football player for the Los Angeles Rams here with us today. Tal for lover brother tell us Ba Vul your partnership and your working together with healthy sour how it’s been and how you evolved. It was something that deeply connected to my story and my background and it was something that I wanted to be a part of. Uh knowing that sports was something that kept me healthy by trying to be the best athlete out there. In the Polynesian culture food is our way to greet you and to show our love and our respect. So, it was trying to not necessarily reshape the mindset, but allow us to widen our perspective of it doesn’t have to be drastic changes where you’re you’re not eating anymore, you’re not doing these things, but the small steps to be able to build that foundation so you can set yourself up for a better life. Well, it’s good to have you back home, good to have you back in the 685. If you could leave one final message with our listeners today, what would it be? Come see us at the clinics today and on Wednesday. Come uh bring your family, tell your family, bring your kids. Here at Healthy Somo, we’re going to be happy to see you when you come over and we’re going to give you the tools and the information you need to get healthier. [Music] [Applause] I love that Troy and Sean and their healthy sama program got to meet him. I don’t think it was by chance. I definitely feel like it’s always God’s timing and and the people you meet and the opportunities that you get. And I think that’s what’s important that Puka took advantage of that opportunity when Troy shared with them about Samwa. The issues that my father had dealt with that caused him to to pass away early could be reality for me and uh my family. Come on, let me try on you. There was a real moment of kind of hesitation and then fear of not wanting to to know the answer. Could you hear it? Yeah, I know. I was uh the one who kind of encouraged my mom to to go get her test done. A smile that it brought to me knowing that my mom all the sacrifices she made for me and my siblings, she’s in a good spot. But this is also something that is also motivation to take care of the things that can help prevent um putting myself in a dangerous situation like that. I feel grateful to have my children. They’re a reminder of their father. I see him them every day. as they’ve grown and I feel grateful that they have pushed through a lot of hard life things when they needed their dad. My mom had to be the strength for us when my father had passed away. There was never a moment where we couldn’t rely on my mom being there for us. I’m grateful for the relationship I have with Puka. He’s had to learn and listen. Going through older siblings, he’s tried to learn the best he can. Trying to hear his dad cuz I always say things like, “Remember what your dad would say.” Kua breaks record. more catches and more yards than any firstear pro. I remember just laying on the field an emotional wave kind of overcame me. Then to share that ball with my mom bought you this car, mom. This is your brand new car. Wow. Oh my gosh. I haven’t had a new car since dad bought me a car. I know. Thank you, son. I love you. He’s such a good person and I’m grateful that he’s been able to share and help me and taking care of me. And I love that he never forgets me. Do you see this picture? How do you say turtle? Do you see this guy right here? He’s here today. Can we find him? Can we find him? Is he here? Look for this guy. Is it that guy? No. Is it this one? No. No. Do you see him? Does anybody see him in here? It’s that guy right there. Is that right? No. Is he right here? Hello. Our new friend. His name is Puka. Can we all say hi? Hi. Hello. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Puka is a kid at heart. That’s why he’s always happy, smiley, goofy. He used to always tell me he was going to be a teacher. He wanted to be either a PE teacher or math teacher. And I loved that he was participating, trying to sing cuz he doesn’t speak sin at all. So was he was trying to sing some of the songs. And one to me, two and two, four, three and three are six for me. Four and four, five and five. Little fingers on my hand. I can I can I can run down your fingers really. I can dance for 1 to 10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 going out to the school and being able to hear those kids sing. It just it took me back to that moment of just being at the family gatherings on Sundays and it was before the meal or towards the end of the meal when everybody’s going home of the joy and the excitement to uh sing with everybody and that’s just the love and that emotion that it will bring out there is oh big time [Music] that’s too slow too slow too slow you He just loves to see kids laughing and growing. He just wants to see them happy, having a good time. And it was cool seeing him like that. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Serving has always been an important part of our family life from the time my kids were young. Thank you. Wait, how tall? 163 cm and a half. because of our faith and because of our culture, I’ve always felt it was an important attribute for my children to have to always serve others. We’re currently in one of the high schools. Uh there’s about 500 kids here that we’re screening as well as up in the classrooms doing puppet shows and songs and handing out books. That book is going to be framed. I’ve saved it. I’ve wrapped it. Each of my grandkids got a book. [Music] I felt like a grown adult moment to be like, “Right, I’m in that children’s book.” And uh I remember the first time of them reading it, just thinking of like all these kids are just going to be like, “Why are we talking about this fat kid?” Like, “Why is this why is this fat person so important to the book?” Okay, ready. My standpoint is the as one of the authors, I think he’s known about the importance of the story all along, but being able to actually see the impact, it’s uh I think it’s huge for him. And I just love seeing [Music] [Applause] No, that’s why I’m like, do I do I want to grab the ball? You’re supposed to be the fast one. I got to see. I got to see. Oh, he’s about to kick it. He’s about to kick it. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. One way that I know for myself to continue the connection to my roots and our culture is the ability to help promote an active healthy lifestyle, which is um something that has been a little bit easier for me in America. One, because of the resources we have, but also just growing up in sports. If I win 20 push-ups, boy, your coach never made you do push-ups before. Are we on the ground? Are we on the ground with it? Okay. Oh, I’m out of there. I’m out of there. I’m out of there. To just see him interact. He knows how to interact with kids. He knows how to talk to kids. He knows how to bring the best out of kids. Hence why those young high school boys dared to try to compete against him and ask him if they wanted to race. I just wanted to continue that connection the people that are around me. When somebody asks them about myself being their teammate or somebody else that they know of the Polynesian culture, there is something that they won’t hesitate to say is that we felt that love and connection. [Music] I think it was important going to Samoa for Puka and helping him be grounded and just remembering how simple life is. [Music] It’s not always about the accolades and the accomplishments. You know that there’s more to life than just football. It was important for me to experience going to Samoa with my mom because obviously going to visit our roots, but then the time I got to spend with my mom, the different life experiences I’ve had since becoming a professional athlete, I definitely became more grateful for the opportunity that I had to to grow up in the United States. the sacrifice that my family had made, specifically my grandma to endure the hardships that she did at that time of the world being in a different place of putting herself in a new territory, the motivation it brought me to continue to push in the journey that I’m on. My life has been so blessed with the people that I’ve interacted with and growing up as the younger sibling, it made me always watch what my older siblings were doing and uh to see them to be in service to other people and to allow me to learn from their life lessons as well has helped me to want to be able to be that for many other people. You’ll be fine. It’s just a little boat. I promise. Yep. That’s what they always say. That wasn’t bad. See, you’re the one who wasn’t poked. Everybody always probably says that when they’re the one not being poked. Oh, it doesn’t hurt. It’s so quick. So, rugby, what? You always have to pass it back. When you kick it, you kick it to the other team. Oh, yeah. He’s bodied him. All right, that’s it, mama. [Music] Thanks for watching. Make sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss out on our videos.

Watch Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua embark on his journey to Samoa where he reconnected with his family, embraced Samoan tradition, and supported the local community.

0:00 Arriving to Samoa
6:52 Visiting Salea’aumua, Samoa
12:24 Visiting his grandma’s grave
15:04 Community outreach with Healthy Samoa
19:05 Growing up with his mom
20:55 Volunteering at a local school
27:02 Recapping his trip

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