30 Dec 2025: The Year the Fokai Familia Kept the Culture Moving Forward
Massive Si Yu’us Ma’åse’ — from all of us to all of you.
If you had to sum up 2025 in one sentence, it would be this:
Fokai wasn’t just something you wore this year — it was something you lived.
In a world that moves fast and forgets even faster, 2025 reminded us why Fokai exists in the first place: to stay rooted, to keep showing up, and to build something real with our people — on the beach, in the ocean, on the mats, in the shop, and out in the community.
This year wasn’t only about drops and moments on social media. It was about a deeper rhythm — culture + community + the force — and it showed up again and again across Fokai.tv and The Effect.
So before we even start the recap…
Massive Si Yu’us Ma’åse’ to everyone who supported, shared, pulled up, competed, volunteered, trained, and helped carry this thing forward. Because Fokai is nothing without the Familia.
Team Islas Marianas Took Our Culture to Spain — and Brought Home World-Level Respect
One of the proudest cultural moments of 2025 didn’t happen in a gym or a shop — it happened overseas, with our people carrying an ancient Mariana Islands tradition onto a global stage.
Team Islas Marianas traveled to Spain for international slinging competition—and they didn’t just show up… they showed out. The team representing the Marianas included Ben “Guelo” Rosario, Roque Dueñas Camacho, Christiana Akie Dueñas, and Oliver Josh Taitano Iguel.
Podium results: the Marianas stood tall
By the end of the competition, Team Islas Marianas placed 3rd overall at the Slinging World Cup, proving that our islands don’t just preserve culture — we compete with it, proudly and at a high level.
And the youth carried the flag with fire: Roque Dueñas Camacho earned major international recognition, including 2nd place overall at the Youth Slinging World Cup (as listed among the team’s international awards).
The “Guelo” award: honoring the work behind the wins
Wins are loud — but the work behind them is what builds a legacy.
This year, Vicente “Guelo” Rosario received a special award recognizing the time and effort he’s put into cultivating slinging through workshops across the Marianas, Japan, Ireland, and Ibiza — a powerful reminder that culture doesn’t survive by accident… it survives because people choose to teach it.
Why this matters for the islands
This isn’t “just a sport.” This is identity in motion.
Seeing Team Islas Marianas earn podium finishes overseas — and seeing Guelo recognized for building the foundation — is exactly what cultural preservation looks like in real life:
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elders and mentors teaching
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youth stepping up
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and the Marianas being respected globally for something that’s ours
That’s the kind of story that makes the whole community stand taller.
Si Yu’us Ma’åse’ to Team Islas Marianas — and to everyone keeping tradition alive by living it.
Culture that lives, not just history that’s remembered
One of the strongest threads of 2025 was Fokai continuing to document culture in motion — not as a museum piece, but as something practiced, taught, protected, and passed down.
Famagu’on Yiyupåktu 2025: youth, slingstones, and identity
One of the most powerful stories on Fokai.tv this year was “Famagu’on Yiyupåktu: Slinging the Spirit of the Mariana Islands Forward.”
It’s written like a call to action — because it is one.
The post frames the movement as more than an event: a revival — a way to put culture back in the hands of the next generation.
It outlines Famagu’on Yiyupåktu as an immersive youth camp (held July 12–30, 2025) with training, cultural education, field trips, service, and the deeper message: the slingstone isn’t just a tool — it’s transformation.
That’s the heartbeat of Fokai when it’s at its best: honoring the ancestors while building the future.
Sling Stones and Stories: keeping tradition visible
Across 2025, @13north144east and the broader Effect lane continued to shine light on Sling Stones and Stories—capturing the feeling of cultural pride and preservation through visual storytelling.
Community is a verb: showing up when it matters
If there’s one thing Guam and the Marianas will always do, it’s this: show up for each other. And 2025 had moments that proved it.
Tumon Ponding Basin Cleanup: service with no spotlight
Fokai.tv’s recap of the Fujita Rd Tumon Ponding Basin Cleanup captured something we don’t talk about enough: taking care of Guam doesn’t always look glamorous — but it’s necessary.
The article breaks down why that basin matters (storm runoff, flooding, keeping trash from flowing into the ocean) and why it matters specifically because it sits right before Fujita Beach, one of Guam’s most visited areas by locals, tourists, and military families.
It also credits Fusion Tavern Guam for leading through action — not for attention.
That’s community. That’s stewardship. That’s island responsibility.
The ocean showed up — and the watermen answered
Surf the Basin 2025: December 6, the call was perfect
One of the standout water stories of the year: Surf the Basin 2025, held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at the Agana Boat Basin in Hagåtña.
Fokai.tv captured what makes this event special: it runs on a competition window, meaning it waits for the right ocean conditions — and this year, Dec 6 was the call.
The article also explains why the Basin is different: it’s a man-made harbor that becomes a powerful wave when swell, tide, and wind line up — fast, hollow sections that reward commitment and real ocean knowledge.
And it wasn’t just vibes — the recap includes event details (entry fees, comp shirts, divisions) and highlights top finishers in Open Surfing.
That’s Fokai: not just telling stories — documenting the islands doing what the islands do.
GBI took Guåhan to Japan — and brought back next-level energy
2025 wasn’t only heavy in the Basin — it was heavy overseas too.
Guahan Bodyboarding Inc. (GBI) made waves with a Japan tour that tested the crew, leveled them up, and strengthened the bridge between island riders and the Japan boogie community. Their recap clips captured the tone perfectly: “Waves tested us… Japan welcomed us… results aside, this trip was all wins. Guahan × Japan.”
And it wasn’t just a “fun trip.” One of the GBI recaps called it their first national team trip — and they podiumed, showing that Guam’s boogie scene can travel, compete, and represent at a high level.
That’s the 2025 theme in a nutshell: the islands aren’t staying in one lane anymore — we’re connecting, learning, and carrying our ocean culture across borders.
Tres Biahe + the GBI Championship Series kept the local scene active
Back home, the competition pipeline stayed strong too.
GBI ran Tres Biahe — Boat Basin Bodyboarding Championship on April 18, 2025, a completed event listed under Guahan Bodyboarding Inc.’s official event schedule.
And it’s part of the wider rhythm of the GBI Bodyboarding Championship Series—consistent events that keep riders sharp, build the next generation, and give Guam’s ocean athletes real structure to grow in.
Local comps + international travel = the recipe. That’s how you build a scene that lasts: you create opportunities at home, and then you take that confidence overseas.
A heartfelt farewell to three local bodyboarding greats
As eventful and powerful as 2025 was for Guam bodyboarding, it was also a year where we had to say goodbye to some real ones — riders who helped shape the lineup, the culture, and the brotherhood that makes this scene what it is.
We send our love and deepest respect as we remember Roland “Rols” Napoleon, Catherine “Unc Cat” Bejado, and Troy “Sabbath” Narcis — three names that carry weight in our ocean community.
There were moments this year that said everything without needing many words:
- A paddle-out ceremony for Roland — the ocean family showing up the way only the ocean family can.
- A wave of remembrance for “Unc Cat,” honoring a life deeply tied to the water and the people in it.
- And the community gathering to celebrate Troy “Sabbath” at the spot he loved most — boards together, waves together, family together.
In a year full of travel, competition, and growth, this was the reminder that matters most: the ocean community is family — and when we lose family, we carry their name forward every time we paddle out.
The mats stayed heavy in 2025
Jiu-jitsu continued to be a major lane in the Fokai universe — not only on Guam, but abroad too.
If 2025 proved anything, it’s this: jiu-jitsu in Guam and the Marianas isn’t “growing”… it’s thriving. And a huge part of that momentum came from The Marianas Open, the region’s longest-running major tournament platform—built to give athletes, coaches, and families a professional, well-organized competitive experience year after year.
From grassroots to global: the Marianas Pro Series
In 2025, the Marianas Open didn’t just hold a big Guam championship—they pushed an international pipeline with the Marianas Pro events, including stops like:
- Marianas Pro Nagoya — March 8, 2025 (Aichi Budokan)
- Marianas Pro Manila — April 5 & 6, 2025 (Festival Mall Alabang)
- Marianas Pro Taiwan — 2025
These weren’t just tournaments. They were part of a bigger mission: build competition experience, raise the level, and connect the Marianas grappling community to the world.
“Road to Gold”: flying champions to Guam
One of the wildest moves in 2025 was the Road to Gold concept—where Open Weight champions could earn round-trip airfare to Guam and a guaranteed slot at the Marianas Open International Championship.
That’s a major statement. It turns Guam into a destination stage—where athletes don’t just compete on the island, they compete for the island’s biggest platform.
The main event: Marianas Open International Championship — October 18, 2025
The flagship event hit Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the UOG Calvo Field House (Mangilao) with Gi & No-Gi divisions.
And this wasn’t business as usual—Marianas Open promoted 2025 as Guam’s first-ever 5-star ranked BJJ tournament (sanctioned through the broader regional tournament ecosystem).
They also actively built hype with live brackets/schedule drops and meaningful prize incentives—like increasing payouts for key divisions (including Adult Male No-Gi Open).
The results: local excellence on a big stage
One of the most talked-about post-event headlines came from KUAM, which reported that Atos Jiu-Jitsu Guam swept all major awards at Marianas Open 2025, including Professor of the Year (Professor Mike Carbullido) and top team placements across Kids, Adults, and Masters Gi & No-Gi divisions.
That kind of sweep doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects what the islands are building right now: structure, coaching, consistency, and a youth pipeline that keeps producing.
Building the future: kids development and competition readiness
Marianas Open didn’t just focus on the top end. They pushed youth development too—promoting a Jiu-Jitsu Training & Competition Readiness Camp (June 23–27, 2025) that included free training for the first 100 kids (ages 5–13) and even free entry to the 2025 Marianas Open International Championship for the first 100 participants.
That’s how you build a scene that lasts: invest in the kids, give them opportunity, and surround them with a culture that teaches discipline, respect, and confidence.
Ireland: community building through grappling
Fokai.tv’s “Building Strong Futures on the Mats: Grappling Series Ireland 2025” framed what BJJ really is at the community level: a safe place for kids and families to grow.
It emphasizes packed energy, strong youth divisions, and the deeper values that come with the sport — confidence without ego, problem-solving, discipline, resilience.
And it highlights something that always hits home for island people: different academies, different backgrounds — one shared mat.
Sharing culture with Ireland through Slinging and Jiujitsu
A toast to 100 years of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
This year also included a milestone moment in martial arts history: “100 Years of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu — and the Islands Still Rolling Strong,” posted on Fokai.tv and tied to the October 25, 2025 “Gracie 100” gathering in Rio de Janeiro.
The post connects the global legacy to what we see at home: kids programs, tournaments, diaspora training, and community identity built through the art.
Collaborations + drops: culture you can wear
2025 also had its share of collabs that felt like more than product — they felt like community statements.
Mosa’s × Fokai
In April, @thefokaieffect promoted the Mosa’s × Fokai shirt with the exact tone people expect from the brand: rooted, proud, and built for the culture.
Fokai × Crowns Guam
And the Crowns Guam × Fokai collab carried a message that could basically be the slogan for the whole year:
“Our roots run deep. Since ever since.”
That’s the thing: collabs hit different when they’re not random — when they’re built on legacy and people who actually share community.
Marianas Slinging’s biggest year yet (and the world tours that proved it)
The stones stayed flying in 2025 — and sling culture didn’t just “show up”… it moved. Across Guam, CNMI, and the diaspora, slinging had one of its most visible years in recent memory: workshops, youth development, cross-island exchanges, and international stages that put the Marianas right in the middle of the global slinging conversation.
Solid:: Slingstone Fundamentals World Tour (Ireland → PNW → Vegas → San Diego)
One of the clearest signs of that momentum was the Solid:: Slingstone Fundamentals run—documented as a workshop series spanning Guam/CNMI, Ireland, the Pacific Northwest, Las Vegas, and San Diego.
San Diego, especially, showed what this looks like when the diaspora catches fire: community links, cultural gatherings, and public workshops where slinging isn’t treated like a “throwback”… it’s taught like a living skill.
Why it matters: fundamentals builds futures. When a practice gets systematized and passed down the right way, you don’t just create “good throwers”—you create young leaders, cultural carriers, and the next wave of island pride.
Islas Baleares x Marianas: the exchange keeps getting stronger
2025 also kept reinforcing the Marianas’ long-running relationship with the Islas Baleares—a slinging culture with deep roots and a modern competitive scene. Fokai’s own archive has been documenting this connection for years, including the Marianas showing up in Mallorca/Spain and building real ties with the slinging community there.
And in 2025, that exchange energy kept rolling—framed publicly as bringing together two iconic slinging cultures: the Mariana Islands and the Islas Baleares, with the work extending outward through the diaspora (including Ireland).
The Hornbostel Collection return + the diaspora rise
This year also carried a deeper layer: heritage coming home.
The return of artifacts from the Hornbostel Collection has been publicly reported as beginning in phases, with initial batches brought back to the Marianas in 2025—an important signal in the long process of restoration and reconnection.
And at the same time, the diaspora kept amplifying the movement—events like the Marianas Festival (PNW) are built around hands-on culture and workshops, which is exactly the kind of environment where slinging doesn’t just survive—it spreads.
Put it together and you get the 2025 story:
- More workshops in more places
- More youth participation and skill-building
- Stronger global ties (especially with the Islas Baleares)
- More diaspora visibility
- And a growing “return to roots” momentum that goes beyond sport
Ending the year the right way
When you zoom out, 2025 wasn’t about one moment. It was the accumulation of hundreds of moments:
- kids learning confidence
- volunteers cleaning up Guam
- watermen reading waves and committing
- youth slingers reconnecting with identity
- island stories traveling overseas and coming back home
- collabs that felt like family, not marketing
And through it all, the same thread stayed consistent: Fokai is a force for culture and community.
So one more time, because it’s deserved:
Massive Si Yu’us Ma’åse’
To everyone who supported the shop, shared posts, pulled up to events, represented the islands abroad, and kept the values alive — thank you.
We’re grateful for you. We’re grateful for the islands. And we’re grateful that the Fokai Familia continues to prove — year after year — that this is bigger than a brand.
We are floored and lifted from the overwhelming and generational support for i shop and online. Entering our 28th year of business and endlessly trying to figure things out–thanks for bearing with us through thick and thin. We hope the best for you all and may the light shine on you and yours this year.
Aaand–
Don’t forget to Vote.
Saina Maase &Thanks
BIBA!!!