Culture in Motion: How Dance, Cacao, and Indigenous Wisdom Shape Living Koko

Culture in Motion: How Dance, Cacao, and Indigenous Wisdom Shape Living Koko

When I dance, I am not performing. I am remembering.

Each step, each hand movement, each sway of the hips carries with it generations of knowledge. Polynesian dance is not entertainment—it is archive. It is ceremony. It is how we record, embody, and pass on what matters: the stories of land, people, our values.

And just as my body remembers through dance, my hands remember through cacao. The smell of the roasted beans, the feel of the granite grinder, the slow tempering of chocolate—these are not tasks. They are rituals. And every ritual is a reminder: I am the bridge between my ancestors and the world we are shaping today.

Dance as Cultural Intelligence

In Western systems, intelligence is often measured by what you can extract, produce, or control. But in our systems, intelligence is shown by how you carry—how you carry stories, responsibilities, and relationships.

Polynesian dance teaches this from the first lesson. It is not just about movement—it is about presence. You learn timing, restraint, generosity, coordination with others. You learn to listen with more than your ears.

In the workplace, these same skills show up. In leading teams, reading the room, creating experiences with rhythm and grace. In holding space for complexity without rushing to conquer it.

Dance taught me to lead with my whole self—not just my brain, but my breath, my gut, my lineage.

Cacao as Ceremony, Not Commodity

We come from a lineage that has worked with cacao for over 200 years (documented). My family grew up around plantations in Samoa, where cacao was part of the landscape and the language.

Today, at Living Koko, we don’t just make chocolate. We practice relationship. Every bean we source is part of a bigger story—of land regeneration, women’s economic empowerment, intergenerational healing.

When I make cacao, I’m not manufacturing a product—I’m remembering the sacredness of what it means to nourish. To create with integrity. To offer something that carries MANA.

This is how I know that Indigenous systems belong here. Because when we root our processes in care, rhythm, and accountability, we don’t just make better products—we make a better world.

Bringing Cultural Systems into Business

Many businesses talk about innovation. But too often, they miss the wisdom that has already been innovated over millennia by Indigenous communities.

At Living Koko, we embed our values in every layer:

  • We honour slow growth, not rushed expansion.

  • We work with zero waste and circular systems.

  • We centre community wealth, not just profit margins.

  • We honour rituals, meetings with intention, and product launches as ceremony.

We don’t separate culture from business. Culture is the business model.

When we treat the market as a place for cultural exchange—not just economic transaction—we change everything. We trade in trust. We build legacy. We remember that we are not owners of the land but part of it.

Lolopō Fipe Preuss x

Honouring the Slow: Moving with the Seasons and Your Own Energy

Honouring the Slow: Moving with the Seasons and Your Own Energy

There’s something almost imperceptible in the air right now. A shift. Not quite winter, not quite summer. Just… something different. The earth turns, the weather changes, and somewhere in our bones, we feel it too.

As the wind cools or thickens with humidity, as the sun lingers or leaves earlier, our energy levels rise and fall like tides. It’s not laziness. It’s not distraction. It’s nature moving through us.

But in a world that celebrates speed, productivity, and constant motion, it can feel strange—uncomfortable even—to slow down. To nap instead of hustle. To drink tea instead of coffee. To listen instead of speak.

Yet this is the call of the season:
To listen. To honour. To soften.

At Living Koko, our work is deeply rooted in tradition and rhythm. The cacao we grow and use in our products doesn’t rush. It ripens in its own time, under Samoan skies, following the old wisdom of the land. We are learning to do the same.

So here’s your gentle permission slip—no, your invitation—to join the slow movement. To realign with nature’s pace. To honour your energy, wherever it may be today.

You might:

  • Take a long walk without your phone
  • Light a candle while you write or stretch
  • Brew a warm mug of cacao and simply sit with your thoughts
  • Say no to a plan that drains you
  • Say yes to a bath, a book, or an afternoon nap

Let your body be your guide, not your calendar.

As always, we’re here to offer not just chocolate, but ritual—grounding, nourishing, and made with care for these exact moments.

Slow is sacred.
Let’s honour it together.

 

NERVOUS SYSTEM SUPPORT

🌿 Support Your Seasonal Self

As the seasons shift, so do our needs. Now is the time to replenish, restore, and nourish from within.

Our Living Koko Subscription Packs are crafted to support you during every cycle—especially the slow ones. Whether you need magnesium to soothe tired muscles, iron to balance your energy, or cacao to calm your mind, we’ve curated blends that move with you, not against you.

Honour your energy. Build a ritual. Feel whole.

nourishing food cacao ceremony
ritual cacao ceremony Samoa

The Paschal Moon: A Time of Renewal

The Paschal Moon: A Time of Renewal

The Paschal Full Moon, also known as the Egg Moon, is the first full moon after the spring equinox. For centuries, it has signified renewal, guiding the timing of Easter and marking a transition from winter’s stillness to nature’s rebirth. This celestial event has long been associated with fertility, abundance, and the cycles of life—echoing ancient traditions that honored the power of creation and transformation.

Ishtar: Goddess of Love, Fertility, and Rebirth

Long before modern Easter, the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess Ishtar was celebrated as a deity of love, fertility, and war. Revered as a powerful force of renewal, she embodied the duality of creation and destruction, life and death. Her sacred symbols—the egg and the hare—represented fertility and the endless cycle of existence, themes that later wove their way into the traditions we recognize today.

From Ancient Rituals to Modern Traditions

Ishtar’s springtime festival honored the awakening of the earth, much like the renewal we now associate with Easter. Ancient celebrations included offerings of eggs as a tribute to her power over life’s continuous regeneration. Over time, these customs evolved, blending with various cultural beliefs to shape the way we celebrate the season today, from painted eggs to feasts symbolizing abundance.

Honoring Ancient Wisdom Through Chocolate

At Living Koko, we embrace these deep-rooted traditions of renewal and abundance. Our chocolate is crafted with intention, using ethically sourced cacao to honor the land, the community, and the cycle of life. Just as the Paschal Moon and Ishtar’s festival symbolised new beginnings, each bite of our chocolate is a connection to history, sustainability, and the joy of meaningful indulgence.

Buy our Easter Moon Creations Here

Curious about Culture – Melton City Council

Curious about Culture – Melton City Council

Last week we had the honor of speaking at the City of Melton’s Curious About Culture event, focusing on Oceanic Communities. This inspiring initiative was thoughtfully curated by Henry Tamasese from the Community Development team at Melton.
Sharing the panel with Bou Hauraki from CMY, Marie Pewhairangi and Priscilla Maiava from Melton Warriors Rugby
Melton City Council has actively promoted and celebrated our community’s cultural diversity for many years and is continually striving to improve awareness and understanding of the economic, educational, social and cultural benefits of diversity and to mitigate the effects of discrimination and cultural isolation.
The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with local service providers and our vibrant Oceanic community, all working to uplift and empower our youth. We heard real, heartfelt stories about the challenges and triumphs faced by our people—spanning housing and financial struggles to the increasing incarceration rates among our youth.

It was encouraging to see the dedication of organisations like @charis_youthandcommunity, @centre.for.multicultural.youth, @nmp.kapahaka, @maori_warden, and many others. These groups are incorporating Oceanic perspectives and cultural frameworks into their systems, creating tailored solutions for our people.

At Living Koko, our mission has always been rooted in supporting the independence and financial empowerment of the Pacific. We are proud to stand alongside Indigenous and global Indigenous communities, who are working tirelessly to navigate and challenge post-colonial systems that, when examined closely, often disadvantage the very people they claim to serve. Our values are centered on collaboration, respect for cultural wisdom, and sustainability—not just of the environment but of our communities and traditions.

We stay true to these values by sourcing ethically, fostering transparent partnerships, and ensuring that our practices uplift the communities we engage with. Whether it’s through our fair-trade initiatives, community workshops, or advocacy efforts, we strive to honor the voices of our ancestors while paving the way for a more equitable future. At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to shared knowledge, cultural resilience, and empowering our people to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Together, we work to create pathways to equity, healing, and strength for all.

A Season of Connection

A Season of Connection

 

The end of the year often brings excitement, but it can also feel heavy and exhausting. For some of us who have lost loved ones this year, the holiday season is the first of many without them. Also the pressures of expectation, preparation, and connection can build up, leaving us drained and burnt out.

At Living Koko, we believe in nurturing not just the body but the spirit too. Sometimes we may not be physcially busy but our brain is just exhausted, feeling fogged up and in need of more support. I wanted to explore four common signs of stress and some really simple strategies I have been using for a to navigate this time and connect back with my body.

Trouble Sleeping This is a really common one and something we can easily dismiss talking through with our loved ones.  With some of my close friends we always acknowledged the % of our own batteries when we meet up. This reminds us that we have lives that can need our attention and even though catching up fills our cups we hardly walk in at 100%.  This also reminds us to give eachother grace and space.   When showing signs of restlessness, overthinking, or waking up tired can signal that your mind needs peace.  

Try this: Dedicate 10 minutes to unwind before bed—journal, stretch, or sip a calming tea. I create a calming tea, sometimes our Cacao tea and Ginger…and other times a simple lemongrass tea, I stretch from head to toes and thank every part of my body as I stretch it before curling up in bed.

Emotional Swings Going from zero to 100 is easily done with the pressures of the silly season. Sometimes family get togethers are the most dreaded day of the year. Let’s acknowledge that these times are the greatest teachers. Feeling irritable, teary, or unusually sensitive? These can be signs of emotional fatigue. Again give yourself some grace. There are a lot of things at play in the world/cosmo that can affect you and those around you.

Try this: Take a moment to pause, when you feel your emotions rise…pause. Take a big breath in and name what is coming up for you. Sadness, Grief, Irritation, step outside and take 10 big breaths of fresh air. You don’t need to brush it away, just accept it, name it and let it play out, be mindful not to project it. . Breathe deeply. Even stepping outside for fresh air can help.

 

Rest Living Koko Dark Chocolate

Physical Tension My upper neck and back holds my tension, physical tension can be neck pain, headaches, or an upset stomach? Stress often shows up in the body. Have you noticed this within yourself, maybe even when a situation or persons name is metntioned

Try this: A warm bath, gentle movement, or grounding rituals like enjoying a warm cup of cacao can soothe tension.

Feeling Disconnected When the weight of everything makes me withdraw, it’s a sign to reconnect—with yourself and others. What withdraw looks like for me… doom scrolling, avoiding what I need to do and then watching my mental health deteriorate as I kick myself for not doing anything. (or my husband). Hearing some really negative narrative’s come through as my burn out and exhausted brain takes over and I am no longer listening to my body and honouring myself.

Try this: Reach out to someone you trust or engage in an activity that lights you up. I started our Pasifika Movement and Cacao monthly events to ensure I spent time dancing under the moonlight, barefoot with my sisters. You may not want to go that far but a barefoot walk with someone you trust can help bring you back to centre and reconnect with yourself but also nature.

2024 Finalist Business Excellence Award – Sustainability

2024 Finalist Business Excellence Award – Sustainability