Afoa Vaai

Olo Fiti Afoa Vaai (formerly known as Levaopolo Talatonu Vaai) is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister who served as the minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure from 2021 to 2025.

Personal life Vaai was educated at Avele College and Samoa College before studying for a bachelor's degree in Telecommunications Engineering at Auckland University of Technology. He subsequently worked for the Samoa Airports Authority as a technical manager and then assistant chief executive. The decision was overturned by the Supreme Court of Samoa in July 2009, and Vaai retained his seat. He was re-elected as a TSP candidate in the 2011 election.

In 2015 Vaai decided to switch electorates and contest the seat of Salega East in the 2016 election following a decision by his village to reject a tourism project he had proposed. As a result, he was disqualified from Parliament as he was no longer eligible to represent his old seat. He subsequently announced plans to form a new political party and contested the election as an independent, but after winning re-election he re-joined the TSP. When he switched electorates, he adopted a new title, becoming Olo Fiti Vaai. In the 2016 term he was a vocal critic of the government, being called a "One man Opposition Party" by the media.

In October 2020 Vaai registered to run as a candidate for the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party in the 2021 election. As a result, his seat was declared vacant under anti-party-hopping provisions. On 14 December 2020 the decision was declared unlawful and invalid by the Supreme Court of Samoa.

On 24 May 2021 he was appointed Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure in the elected cabinet of Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. The appointment was disputed by the caretaker government. On 23 July 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled that the swearing-in ceremony was constitutional and binding, and that FAST had been the government since 24 May.

In June 2022, Olo announced that he would be suing opposition leader Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi for defamation. Tuila'epa had previously alleged that Olo registered a government automobile as his private property, which the opposition leader claimed was the equivalent of theft. Olo said that comment dishonoured his family and constituency. In addition, Olo also filed a lawsuit against Maota o Vi'iga, a Samoan radio station based in Australia, for echoing Tuila'epa's claims.

On 15 January 2025 Vaai, Prime Minister Mataafa, and four other cabinet ministers were expelled from FAST, following a power struggle between Mataafa and party chairman Laʻauli Leuatea Polataivao. Vaai and the other expelled members rejected their expulsion, denounced it as unconstitutional, and claimed they were still members of FAST. Prime Minister Mata‘afa called a snap election following the government's budget defeat in parliament on 27 May 2025. Following the dissolution of parliament, Vaai, Mata‘afa and the rest of cabinet confirmed their resignations from FAST and established the Samoa Uniting Party. During the snap election, Vaai lost the Salega 2 seat to Leilua Sagato Karene of FAST. His tenure as the works minister concluded on 16 September, and he was succeeded by Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo.