Pacific rhythms, global impact: Lifetime honour for music pioneer Opetaia Foa’i

With musical influences that reach from island villages to Walt Disney studios, Opetaia Foa’i has an enduring legacy of language, activism, and pride.

The 2025 Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Foa’i at the Pacific Music Awards (PMA) in August, describing him as “one of the South Pacific’s most influential cultural and musical ambassadors”.

Recognising three decades of cultural service as the frontman and founder of the renowned Polynesian band Te Vaka and a key songwriter for Disney’s Moana and Moana 2, Foa’i has brought the heartbeat of the Pacific to global audiences.

A Grammy-nominee, Foa’i expresses deep gratitude in receiving the award and reflects on what he says has been a meaningful journey.

“I’m grateful to be honoured with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award,” Foa’i says.

“It has been a long but fulfilling journey so far taking our Pacific music to the world.”

The songwriting brilliance of Foa’i caught the attention of Walt Disney Animation Studios and led to his collaboration with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina on the Moana soundtrack.

His contributions, most notably co-writing the iconic anthem We Know The Way, marked a historic milestone and brought Pacific languages onto the Billboard charts.

Born in the Tokelau settlement of Alamagoto, Sāmoa, to Tokelauan and Tuvaluan parents, Foa’i was raised amid traditional songs, rhythms, and dance - elements that would shape his musical legacy.

After 11 studio albums and nearly 30 years of touring to 40 countries, with hit songs like Pate Pate and Tamahana, and numerous awards, Te Vaka has solidified its position at the top of the Pacific Music scene. Photo/AudioCulture

In 1995, Foa’i formed Te Vaka and the band quickly gained international popularity performing at major festivals like WOMAD throughout Europe and events including the Beijing and London Olympics, Rugby World Cup in Paris, APEC, America’s Cup, and the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

For over 30 years he has stayed true to his roots writing songs in Gagana Tokelau, Gagana Sāmoa, and Gana Tuvalu spotlighting Pacific issues of climate change, human rights, and cultural preservation.

The band’s authentic sound and messaging has resonated greatly with Pacific audiences having received PMA’s Best Pacific Band award in 2008, Best Pacific Group in 2010, and according to BBC, “Te Vaka is the world's most successful band playing original contemporary Pacific music”.

Never without a guitar in hand. Photo/Spotify

Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua, spokesperson for the PMA Trust, acknowledges Foa’i’s local, national, and international tautua (service) to Pacific music and culture calling him a “Tuvalu-Tokelau-Sāmoan global Pasifika Music pioneer”.

“From local to global, navigating Pacific languages, cultural identity development and Pasifika-Oceania Climate Change issues,” Strickson-Pua says.

Throughout his career, Foa’i has received numerous accolades including multiple PMAs, New Zealand Music Awards, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards.

Opetaia Foa'i and daughter Olivia with Te Vaka perform at the world premiere of Disney's 'Moana' at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood (14 November, 2016). Photo/IMBd/Disney/Alberto E. Rodriguez

“In my work I have found great strength in using our Pacific languages and it’s great to see the Pacific Music Awards continuing to uplift and encourage artists to use our languages in their music,” Foa’i says.

Now based in Sydney, Australia with his wife and four children, Foa’i continues to create, inspire and advocate.

A new Te Vaka album is also in the works.

“I hope the younger generations continue to proudly carry the torch for our rich culture,” Foa’i says.

The Pacific Music Awards night is on Thursday, 21 August 2025, at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.

The Official PMA 2025 Finalist Playlist can be found here.

Tickets available through Eventfinda.