8RO8’s “Counting On You” Brings Hawaiian Soul to R&B & Reggae Fusion
8RO8, a rising music artist from Mākaha, Oʻahu, delivers another island anthem with his soulful single “Counting On You”. This smooth reggae-R&B blend features fellow Hawaiian artists Franskiiz and Lelz, and showcases the power of love, loyalty, and emotional connection through rich harmonies and heartfelt lyrics.
8RO8 (pronounced “eight-row-eight”) is an emerging Hawaiian artist blending reggae, R&B, hip-hop, and pop with deep cultural roots. His name pays homage to the 808 area code of Hawai‘i. With each release, 8RO8 aims to bring island sounds to the global stage — and “Counting On You” is a beautiful example of that mission.
🌺 Why the Song Stands Out
Genre Fusion: Combines smooth R&B and reggae rhythms with melodic storytelling.
Hawaiian Collaboration: Featuring Franskiiz and Lelz, showcasing local island talent.
Cultural Connection: Deep ties to Pacific Islander values of trust, love, and ohana (family).
As covered by Earmilk, this single is a defining moment in 8RO8’s journey, earning recognition from fans and media beyond the islands.
🏝 Final Thoughts
Whether you're on the beach, in the car, or just vibing out, “Counting On You” is the perfect soundtrack for love and good energy. With its smooth delivery and island heart, this track proves why 8RO8 is one of the most exciting new voices in Hawaiian music.
Keywords: 8RO8 Counting On You, Hawaiian reggae artist, Hawaiian R&B, new music from Hawai‘i, Pacific Islander musicians, Oʻahu hip-hop
Gospel music in American Samoa is more than worship — it’s identity, tradition, and healing through song. Based on recent streaming trends, SoundCloud buzz, and Apple Music rankings, here are the top Samoan and Pacific gospel songs of 2025 that are blessing the islands and beyond.
The conversation is starting to build momentum over the past month, but here are 10 strong reasons explaining why Filipinos are generally classified as Asian, not Pacific Islanders—though some nuance exists:
Why Filipinos Are Asian (Primarily)
Geographic Location. The Philippines lies in Southeast Asia—not within Melanesia, Micronesia, or Polynesia, which define “Pacific Islander” (reddit.com).
Historical & Cultural Ties. Politically and culturally, the Philippines has been deeply interwoven with Southeast Asia (think: ASEAN, trade, regional ceremonies) .
Linguistic Roots. Filipino languages are part of the Austronesian family shared across Southeast Asia—not uniquely aligned with Pacific Islander tongues (reddit.com).
Genetic Ancestry. DNA shows Filipinos are ~53% Southeast Asia/Oceania + 36% East Asian, reinforcing mainland Asian heritage (en.wikipedia.org).
Immigration & Official Definition. Under U.S. law (e.g. 1965 Immigration Act), Filipinos have been explicitly categorized as Asian, not Pacific Islander (shirleyfrivera.com, 8asians.com).
U.S. Census Bureau Classification. The Census currently groups Filipinos under the Asian racial category, not “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander” (en.wikipedia.org).
Why They Aren’t Pacific Islanders
Geological Context. Philippine islands lie on Asia’s continental shelf—not the oceanic islands of the Pacific—making them “continental,” not “Pacific,” islands (en.wikipedia.org).
Distinct Pacific Islander Identity. “Pacific Islander” refers to indigenous groups from Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia—not Filipinos (onedown.media).
Cultural Evolution Differences. Pacific Islander cultures evolved in isolation (like Hawaii or Samoa), unlike the Philippines, which has long ties to mainland Asia (penbrothers.com).
Dedicated Filipino Identity. Many Filipinos (and Filipinos in the diaspora) advocate identifying simply as “Filipino”—neither Asian or Pacific Islander boxes fully encapsulate their identity (reddit.com).
But There's Some Overlap…
Shared Austronesian roots connect Filipinos to Pacific Islanders historically—but this springboard split into distinct cultural paths centuries ago (medium.com). Some Filipino-Americans opt to check “Pacific Islander” on forms—as a form of identity resistance or solidarity with underrepresented groups—but this isn’t the standard classification (onedown.media).
Top 3 Trending Posts on This Topic
Reddit Discussion: “Filipinos are Asian or Pacific Islander?” A popular thread where users emphasize geography, culture, and identity nuances, concluding most identify as Asian (reddit.com, shirleyfrivera.com).
Medium Article: “Why Filipinos Are Southeast Asians — Exclusively…” (2 months ago). Clear argument rooted in historical, cultural, and political ties, rejecting a dual identity (medium.com).
Penbrothers Blog: “Are Filipinos Asian? Explore Their Unique Identity” (last week). Highlights shared cultural traits with Southeast Asia alongside distinct Philippine layers (penbrothers.com, thediplomat.com).
Summary
In brief: Filipinos are Southeast Asian—geographically, historically, linguistically, genetically, and legally. The Pacific Islander label doesn’t apply unless in niche contexts (activism, form-checking) and risks erasing unique Southeast Asian identity.
ta fia fa'alogologo i sou leo Ua a’ave
tala o le malo ua leai se manu e toe olo
Falefitu e Falealili ma
Aleipata fa'apea ma le atu Safata a e fia fa'atau moa lafo ane sau
‘afa ae soia lava le fetu’i ala E aoga foi fa’aga tama e masani
ai le tupulaga
Fa’amane’ene’e,
aua le minoi tele Ae
teu le ta’alo ma le loto maualalo Olioli malie, aua le pisa o Fa'ato’a
vivini o le toa ina ua malo
Satalo e o le uso na toto
Teuteu ia le itumalo Falealili
e, ia maopo’opo O le mea sili lea e malie ai lo'u loto
Oi lata
penina o le auro lea lata pulu lipano e po’o fea Oe la’u manamea e
le fa’agalo i aso fai pea O lo'u fiafia e ua le gata mai lea
Aloalo
malie lau va’a Samoa i ou sami lanu moana Ua e ofi atu i le ava ma
e pesepese i le taulaga Ua tuana'i o le atu vasa ua fetaia'i i le ava
fatafata Samoa e,amuia oe
ua taunu'u ma le manuia lau
fa'amoemoe
Fa’amane’ene’e,
aua le minoi tele Ae teu
le ta’alo ma le loto maualalo Olioli malie, aua le pisa o
Common Kings, Dinah Jane &DSTRK perform Queen Majesty at the 2020 Island Music Awards. The video was released to YouTube on August 31, 2020. Check out #RapIslandMTV on YouTube!