Meet Joe “Savage” Fa’avae: Founder, Island Block Network

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe “Savage” Fa’avae and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I learned that taking calculated risks is a must in business and in life because it’s a necessity to grow and evolve. I was raised around risk-takers that bet it all and lost it all at times. My mother and father took a risk to migrate to California from Samoa and raise a family of 10 back in the 1960’s. My father owned his own business as a painting contractor for over 40 years, which inspired me to become an entrepreneur later on in life. My older brother Lomz was the first in my family to get a Division 1 football scholarship and graduate from college, which set the tone for the rest of my family. Another brother of mine, Fa’avae was able to graduate from CAL and go onto medical school and now runs a successful street apparel brand. My younger sister Ma’a became a registered nurse and received her bachelor’s all while being a single mother. My second eldest brother Tom after gang banging in his younger years and returning home from prison learned a trade and joined a union and is now a high-level organizer. My younger siblings Ronnie and Brown and nephew George all ended up playing Division 1 college football and graduated which ultimately helped set them up for their present-day career paths. Currently, George is a professional heavyweight-boxing contender. I mention all these familial accolades to say that I have been around many that have taken the risk to bet on themselves and that’s not to say that we haven’t taken losses along the way but those losses never stopped us from attaining the overall goal because in the end the L’s became our inspiration and motivation.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Island Block Network was started out of the necessity to create an ethnic media platform for Pacific Islander Americans that did not exist prior to 2012 within the continental U.S. Island Block Network is a multimedia entertainment brand serving Pacific Islander Americans, the Oceanian community, and consumers of Pacific culture globally by informing, empowering and entertaining.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Monday – Eat a plate of chili cheese fries @ Tom’s Burgers (Carson) and catch a concert at the Dignity Health Sports Park

Tuesday – Eat a combo plate  @ Teriyaki Factory (Wilmington) and visit the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum and then chill up on 2nd Street Long Beach

Wednesday – Eat the Guava Chile Pepper Fried Chicken @ Aipono’s Cafe (Costa Mesa) and then visit Pacific Kitchen at Bolsa Chica Beach in the OC

Thursday – Eat the Lahaina fried chicken @ Back Home At Lahaina (Carson) visit Redondo Beach Pier and then make our way over to the Pier strip at Hermosa Beach.

Friday – Eat garlic chicken @ Da Hawaiian Kitchen (Huntington Beach) visit Downtown Disney and then chill up at Main Street Huntington Beach

Saturday – Eat the Big Uce Burrito @ Fiyahnesian Food Truck (Carson) and then go shopping at Santee Alley

Sunday – Eat the Mexican Pizza and Fries @ Beleaf Burgers (Stanton) and then chill up at Rodeo 39

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Everything that I am and ever will be is dedicated to my hero and older brother, George “TUT” Fa’avae and my grandmother Fuatele Fuailefau.

Website: https://www.islandblocknetwork.com

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