Tongan comedy ‘Ride ‘Otai’ serves up fāmili feuds, food, and feels

Get ready to laugh, cry, and maybe even crave some delicious kai as the latest bilingual Lea Faka-Tonga comedy series hits YouTube next week.

Ride ‘Otai is a heartwarming and humourous Tongan workplace comedy that follows Ana and her fāmili as they navigate the challenges of a struggling catering business.

‘Isoa Kavakimotu, the series’ co-writer and co-director, says in an interview with PMN Tonga that Ride ‘Otai is about more than just keeping a business afloat.

“It’s a story about relationships,” Kavakimotu says. “I’m still kind of nervous about releasing it. But to see in recent years our own stories being told, not just Tongan stories, but also all these Pacific stories being told, that’s incredible.”

With 50 per cent of the show in Lea Faka-Tonga and an all-Tongan cast, the series adds to the growing list of on-screen Tongan stories such as Red, White and Brass, For My Father’s Kingdom, The Legend of Baron To’a, and Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue.

Ride ‘Otai was born during the Covid-19 lockdowns and marks the screenwriting debut for both Kavakimotu and co-writer/co-director Tama Farani. A premiere was held at the Māngere Arts Centre last Saturday.

Watch 'Isoa Kavakimotu's full interview below.

“These characters have been living in mine and my co-writer’s mind since lockdown,” Kavakimotu says. “Having these characters just live in our heads…we were able to bring it to life about this chaotic family struggling here in Auckland. We all know how expensive Auckland is.”

Kavakimotu thanks the Moana Reo Fund for the seed funding, supported by PMN and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, as well as the donations from their Boosted x Moana crowdfunding campaign, which is making Ride ‘Otai a reality.

“To our families and friends, my church Brass band, our village. Ride 'Otai is ours. Mālō ho'omou 'ofa,” Kavakimotu says in a social media post.

Meet the fāmili behind the chaos

Liline Tatafu makes her screen debut as Ana, the matriarch, who anchors the family with warmth, humour, and a touch of eccentricity.

“She's kind of the balance, tries to bring the family back after everything kind of goes crazy,” Kavakimotu says.

Her strong-willed daughter Sela is portrayed by stage actress Mele Ailini Alatini, while Diamond Langi stars as Mele, the prodigal granddaughter trying to mend old wounds. The family also includes newcomer Tesi Naufahu as Mele’s brother, Tevita, who acts as the glue trying to hold everything together, and Aaron ‘The Western Guide’ Pulemagafa as Manu, Mele’s new husband, who is just trying to find his place amid the chaos of their love-filled kitchen.

In the first half of the season, the family faces challenges that push them out of their comfort zone, building up to their biggest test yet - cooking for the Tongan Royal Family.

Along the way, there’s laughter, tears, vegan fish and chips, and even a cheeky rendition of the classic song, Lome, Lome.

Teamwork to make the dream work

Bringing the web series to life has been a team effort. Kavakimotu credits much of the project’s momentum to producer, co-writer, and editor, Danny Aumua.

“Once we told him, ‘Hey bro, we want to do the web series,’ he’s like, ‘I’m going to find the funding. I don’t know how, but I’ll find it’,” Kavakimotu says.

“He’s been more than a producer. He’s been more like a guide throughout this whole process.

“It’s just having the right people in play to help problem solve and get you over the line. When we were on set, it was like this wonderful symphony of creativity.”

Ride ‘Otai will be available to watch on YouTube on the Plus64 page, with new episodes released daily from Monday 10 November.

Kavakimotu hopes audiences will connect with the themes of family, hardship, humour, hope, and heart. “It's funny because I go back and I watch it and I just see my family and friends in the background. Oh man, it’s hilarious.”

Full cast and crew

Diamond Langi - Mele

Liline Tatafu - Ana

Mele Ailini Alatini - Sela

Tesi Naufahu - Tēvita

Aaron 'TheWesternGuide' Pulemagafa - Manu

Isoa Kavakimotu and Tama Farani - Co-writers and Co-directors

Danny Aumua - Producer, Co-writer & Editor

Alex Jenkins - Director of Photography and Editor

Tarita Baquie - First Assistant Director (1st AD)

Siobhan Cade - Art Department

Faith Cruz - Sound Operator

Frankie Lolohea - Wardrobe

Isa Liai - Make-Up