Former Cook Islands rugby player turned creative Wallace Aroita is one of 30 Young Pacific Leaders attending the YPL Navigating the digital landscape workshop in March.
Cook Islands creative Wallace Aroita believes every person carries a sacred narrative and his role is to create a space where those stories can be told, with dignity.
Born in Rarotonga of Kuki ‘Āirani heritage, Wallace is a man of faith, father of three daughters, entrepreneur and former Cook Islands rugby representative and current vice president and board member for the sport.
In his limited downtime, Wallace says he embraces his creative side by making engaging video content, producing music, and playing instruments, particularly the traditional kamaka ukulele and the powerful Cook Islands drums.
Selected as one of 30 Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) from 20 Pacific nations, Wallace will join his counterparts from March 10-13, 2026, for the United States Department of State and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) hosted YPL Navigating the digital landscape workshop, with a focus on truth, transparency, and technology in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
When it comes to storytelling, Wallace says he is a servant leader guided by faith and a deep-seated responsibility to his culture and people.
“My identity is rooted in the belief that leadership is not about personal gain, but the collective wellbeing of our community,” he says.
“Being God-centered provides me with the humility to listen and the passion to act, ensuring my work always honours those who came before me and those who will follow.”
His way of storytelling is relational and somewhat ancestral but in a modern sense, he adds.
“Whether through spoken word, community engagement or advocacy, my storytelling is fuelled by an authentic love for our islands.
“I don’t just tell stories for the sake of a narrative; I tell them in a way by highlighting our resilience to drive meaningful impact and to ensure the heartbeat of our community is heard in every space I enter.”
Like many of his Pacific peers, Wallace’s work is amplified by digital technology.
“I suppose living on a small island, it definitely helps amplify my stories and extends my reach to the community beyond our physical borders,” he says.
“It also is a space that brings communities together and what I like most is that it creates a digital footprint that ultimately will never lose its history and remains for generations to come.
“It takes me back to moments where I think of what my ancestors did back in their time, what it looked like back in those days.
“I haven’t been able to find much, therefore I am creating that now and ensuring our narrative is told by us not for us and ensuring it reflects my values of faith and integrity.”
While internet connection can be “terrible” at times, Wallace says there are many benefits the digital landscape provides, however, it is something which requires constant discernment and a heart of stewardship.
“I think of preserving documentaries and passing on the records of wisdom, tradition, history and stories to future generations who are increasingly being born into a digital first era.
“We can’t forget the digital space does lack the depth of face-to-face value and I have seen a lot of digital divides and behaviours when we are not careful with storytelling.”
Wallace says he is heading into the March workshop with an open mind and heart, ready to make new connections and learn as much as he can.
“I am purely leaving this in God’s hands to show me what he wants me to see…and meeting the people of the Pacific and Aotearoa.”
A little KFC will not go amiss too, he quips.
Storytelling can take many forms, and the high calibre of successful applicants selected from over 200 candidates for the workshop, have a variety of backgrounds, from media and communications specialists to educators, researchers, health practitioners, digital entrepreneurs and visual artists.
Cohort to attend the March workshop:
- Wallace Aroita (Cook Islands)
- Julie Cooper (Niue)
- Aritika Burennara (Kiribati)
- Asia Camacho Hilario (CNMI)
- Camo Diaz Egurrola (Guåhan)
- Absalom Edwards (Marshall Islands)
- Clarriann Futai (Solomon Islands)
- Gina Ishmael (Vanuatu)
- Kreetika Kumar (Fiji)
- Gabby Langkilde (American Samoa)
- Jasmine Leota (Aotearoa New Zealand)
- Tony Leota (Samoa)
- Pita Loloma (Fiji)
- Magic Lus (Australia)
- Don Maifala (American Samoa)
- Lincy Marino (Palau)
- Michaela Montoya Gatdula (CNMI)
- Ondine Moyatea-Ferdnandez (New Caledonia)
- Dr Lavau Nalu (PNG)
- Jay Nasilasila (Fiji)
- Chelsea Pedro (Palau)
- Rain Sancher (FSM)
- Antonnia Singut (PNG)
- Penina Sua-loa (Samoa)
- Maria Tanner (Cook Islands)
- Tahnee Tchen (French Polynesia
- Esther Tetava (Cook Islands
- Pohaikealoha Worley (Hawai’i)
- Gitty Yee (Tuvalu)
- Kanoelani Toshida (Hawai’i)
Visit the Young Pacific Leaders website for more information about the US Department of State program.
