Jojo Savea shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jojo, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing the representation I wish I saw growing up. Deaf Pasifika Islanders are being seen fully, not as a “feel good” moment, but as leaders, creators, and decision makers. I’m also chasing opportunities. More jobs, more stages, more funding, more doors opened. If I stopped, things would keep moving, just without us centered. And I’m not letting that happen.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m JoJo Savea. I’m a Deaf Samoan content creator and I run Logonoa, an organic social media agency. I create content around travel, Deaf life, and Pasifika lifestyle, and I help brands grow through organic social that feels real and get you results. More about me and my work is on jojosavea.com.
Right now, I’m building SignWave Pasifika, a traveling, Deaf led festival that brings Deaf and hard-of-hearing Pasifika together to honor our languages, art, and stories with a team. We’re making access nonnegotiable with interpreters, captioning, and Deaf run programming, while welcoming hearing families and allies into a fully accessible space. The goal is to build community across states, elevate Pasifika Deaf creators and businesses, support hearing parents of Deaf kids with resources and mentorship, and rotate host cities every few years so we can meet our people where they are.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world is my mom. She taught me resilience and how to advocate for myself early. She always told me, “You’re going to be the first Deaf person a lot of people ever meet,” and because of that, I would have to educate them, not just for me, but for the next Deaf person they meet. I still remember being a nervous wreck as a kid going into an eye exam. I asked my mom to interpret, and she told me no. I was like, “Why? You know ASL. You could make this so much easier for me.” She said no because the rest of my life was going to be like this, and I needed to learn how to handle it now. Now I get why she did that. She was preparing me for real life. It gave me confidence to walk into spaces nervous and still figure it out, even when nobody else knows what to do yet.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
It happened when I noticed a pattern. Every time I felt frustrated, it was because I cared so much. Once I realized that, I stopped trying to hide it and started using it as a signal to do something about it.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I really admire Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Momoa for their character. They have used their platforms to open doors for Islanders and bring more visibility to Polynesian culture in a way that feels proud and authentic. They stay grounded, they work hard, they show love for their people, and they make space for others to come up behind them.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
I’ll regret playing it safe. Not taking the risk, not trying, and not putting my ideas into the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jojosavea.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jojosavea/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jojosavea/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JojoSaveaVibes/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jojosaveavibes
Image Credits
it all photos i took.
