Meet Schane Massey | Cultural Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Schane Massey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Schane, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The birth of Island Mogul came from a need I felt deeply. As a Polynesian, I noticed a lack of platforms sharing my people’s stories, and when they were told, it often felt distant and disconnected. I wanted to create something that not only resonated with my culture but also served as a bridge to connect with the wider world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Here’s another reworded version:

I see myself as a storyteller, always drawn to the idea of sharing others’ stories. My approach stands out because of my genuine curiosity. What might seem ordinary to others often sparks my interest. I enjoy exploring and finding creative, meaningful ways to highlight the stories of people in my community.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve dealt with while building the Island Mogul platform is the lack of resources and funding. Pacific Islander media doesn’t get the shine it deserves in the global market, so securing financial support or sponsorships is tough. There’s not much funding out there for projects that put a spotlight on Pacific Islander culture and stories. The mainstream media is all about what sells to bigger, more commercial audiences, and that means we often get overlooked.

As a Pacific Islander creative, I see firsthand how crucial our voices are in the mix. We bring a unique perspective that’s often overlooked, and our stories deserve a spotlight. When people think of culture and creativity, they usually miss us, but we’ve got so much to share—rich traditions, vibrant histories, and fresh takes on life that can resonate with so many. We’re not just here to fill a quota; we’re here to shake things up and redefine what art and storytelling can be. It’s time the world recognizes our talent and passion because we’ve got the power to inspire and connect in ways that really matter. We deserve that recognition, not just as an afterthought but as vital contributors to the creative landscape.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m taking whoever comes into town to experience some of the best cuisine and art/entertainment that the Polynesian culture can offer. We’ll start in So-Cal and make our way through Nor-Cal, two of the hubs for Polynesian communities.

We’ll spend the first few days experiencing some amazing food and dance.

Monday:

Grab some grub at Esther’s Taste Of Polynesia — one of my favorite Polynesian cuisine spots, that offers a host of authentic Polynesian foods from Chicken Chop Suey, Oka and her world famous Pani popo (Samoan Coconut Buns)

After that we’ll slide over to the city of Buena Park and visit my good friend Tiana Nonosina, who runs a historic dance studio that has so much meaning to our community. We’ll learn about the history behind some of the most iconic dances in Polynesian culture and even learn a few new moves.

To end the night off we’ll make a visit to the Crypto.com Arena and catch up with my good friend Sea, who is the Game Operations and Entertainment Coordinator for the Los Angeles Sparks, get a tour of the arena and even catch some good game action.

Tuesday

Grab some food from one of my favorite Island Grill spots in the area, Faka’s Island Grill. They have the best porkbelly plates! Afterwards we’ll stop by my bro Alipate Fetuli who runs a tattoo studio in Long Beach, he’ll show us some of the amazing work he’s done and maybe even bless us with little piece of our own. We’ll finish the day by visiting my good friend Fa’ave Fa’ave the owner of Island Ave apparel, he runs an apparel shop in Carson, where he manufactures his and his clients clothing. Fa’ave is filled with knowledge and information, he can teach you so much!

The rest of the week we’ll spend up in the Bay Area. We’ll visit some iconic spots like

1. LE MAOTA (Samoan Solutions) a creative space for Pacific Islander entrepreneurs and creators to host events and other business ventures.

2. Grab some La Michoacán (Ice Cream) from one of our good friend Drew Deezy’s locations.

3. Grab dinner from Tokemoana’s. A fabulous place to experience Polynesian cuisine, a staple in the Bay Area.

4. Stop by the 49ers facility and catch up with our friend Talanoa Hufanga (Safety for the 49ers) and get a tour of the practice facility and learn about his plans for the upcoming season.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a huge shoutout to my team– Daunte, Kose, Rosey, Aaron, Keila, Sauni and Aaron. I’m an ambitious person with some pretty big ideas, and my team has been essential in turning many of those ideas into reality. I also want to recognize all the Pacific Islander creatives out there representing our culture and putting in the work to get us noticed.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/island.mogul/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv0oRp0qjNvCGb5fA_mYskg