Between Samoa and Uncertainty of the Unknown
It’s early to mid-September in Samoa and I am in the middle of extending my visitors visa for Samoa because of the vast unknown of my movement. One motion is a potential clearance to go to Tokelau after nearly two years, and the other is to just continue around Samoa. With Tokelau being far out of my control, Samoa seemed to be my only option.
And guess what, I had been okay with spending the remaining months of my 2025 in Samoa.
I mean, I could have gone to Fiji, but I was far from prepared for storytelling just yet. So I extended my visa for Samoa.
But get this sh**, only a few days later there was rapid movement for Tokelau. In just a matter of days after two years, I went from a follow-up on Tokelau with my potential hosts, to final Taupulega and Immigration approval, and suddenly had the choice of going to Tokelau two days later on the Lady Samoa.
Crazy to think that I turned that boat trip down due to a commitment to a taupou video shoot in Savai‘i for Miss Samoa 2025. Making that choice could have meant I missed the voyage window entirely. And let me tell you, I struggled sitting with the reality that the next boat in three weeks just may not happen.
When I Decided to Take A Reset While in Samoa
Three weeks later I decided to revisit Manono-tai, one of my favorite, if not my favorite, places to be in Samoa just to take some well-needed rest from the stress of Tokelau, the stress of the Samoa visa extension process that was eventually approved, and my own wall-hitting efforts in storytelling in Samoa. I just needed a break while being in my element with my host family in Manono.
And the worst part was, my potential sailing for Tokelau the following week was cancelled. At this point, I was ready to accept that my choice to skip the mid-September sailing was a fatal gut punch to a missed opportunity entirely.
A Slim Window of Opportunity on The Kalopaga
That gut punch turned into the most abrupt spark of joy just one day later, when I missed a phone call and email from the transport officer in Apia that there was ONE spot on the MV Kalopaga. Only to realize when I called and spoke to Pio, the transport officer, that I had mixed up the dates. It was in two days and I needed to confirm my cargo TOMORROW!!!!
I was so far from ready, but I just needed to be ready times ten.
My hosts in Manono were fully aware of how much this meant to me and though sad, they understood. So on a Friday, I caught the boat back to Upolu, took the bus to Apia, caught a cab to a rental place, stopped by my host’s place to communicate my sudden change in movement, and confirmed my cargo for the next day sailing. Then I headed back to Manono with my rental at the wharf to kick it one more night over ava, and the next day, the doorway to my dream of all Pacific dreams was set in motion.
Filming the Voyage Journal in Real Time
As for this voyage journal entry, the first clips from waking up to the very last selfie shot of me on the boat were raw filming from the beginning of the travel day to Tokelau to the very moment I laid eyes on all of the Tokelau atolls.
It was an idea and concept I had for months in the event that my voyage was green lit to get on the boat. And with how things ended up playing out, it was perfect.
All that stress and patience allowed this voyage journal to feel that much more authentic. To anyone discovering or watching this clip anew, they may only see beautiful cinematic visuals. But I hope that this journal behind the voyage journal provides some form of depth to how wild this journey was both physically, emotionally, and mentally.
The Story Behind the Crossing
There are intentions to dig deeper into the whole two year journal, from the dream, to the application entry, issues, and finally this approval into one video. I am still conjuring up how to piece all of that together. For now, thank you voyagers, and I’m so glad to have you along for the ride 🙂
Be sure to read the full MV Kalopaga voyage experience here!
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