"Te Vaka" is the first Te Vaka album written by Opetaia Foa'i. Opetaia is have Tokelauan and Half Tuvaluan. He was born in Samoa and grew up in a Tokelauan Community until the age of nine when the whole family moved to New Zealand. He was immersed in music from a very early age learning to play instruments from his uncles. The whole Tokelau community was deeply and spiritually involved with music (every gathering being an opportunity for people to sing together): this sparked his passion for music and is a major influence in is songwriting.