Waqa Waikarawa (right) with FNU’s Culinary Arts Instructor, Jone Ledua Koroi following the awards ceremony during the Crest Chicken National Salon Culinaire 2026 and WorldChefs Global Chefs Challenge Pacific Rim Semi-Finals held at FNU’s Bonunaqwele Nadi Campus.

Ever since he was in primary school, Waqa Waikarawa was fascinated with the way his mother would cook family meals at home.

He would often find himself in the family kitchen, drawn by the aroma of onions and garlic sizzling in the pan, watching his mother prepare meals with what he described as “magic”.

Years later, as he prepared to enter tertiary education, his mother entrusted him with the responsibility of cooking for the family, a moment that confirmed her belief that he was destined to shine in the kitchen.

‘Pursue your dream because I know you love cooking,’ was the advice his mother gave him.

The now 24-year-old held onto his mother’s message and carried it wholeheartedly since pursuing a Diploma in Culinary Arts two years ago, at the Fiji National University’s (FNU) Nasese Campus in Suva.

Since beginning his studies at FNU in 2024, Waqa has transformed his childhood passion into a growing culinary career, encouraged by his instructor, Culinary Arts Instructor Jone Koroi Ledua, who saw his potential and encouraged him to participate in the National Salon Culinaire competition.

The competition, organised through a collaboration between FNU and the Fiji Chefs Association, has provided Waqa with a platform to showcase his skills, creativity and love for Fijian cuisine.

In his first year of participation in 2024, Waqa competed in the Dessert with Modern Twist – Live category, earning a bronze medal.

In 2025, he returned stronger, securing a gold medal in the Main Course and Dessert – Live competition. Alongside his former colleague Josefa Musuki Cama, the pair also made history as winners of the inaugural Fijian Cuisine Challenge Culture and Heritage competition.

This year, Waqa achieved another milestone, claiming second place in the CJ Patel Fiji Culture and Heritage Chef of the Year 2026 competition during the Crest Chicken National Salon Culinaire 2026 and Worldchefs Global Chefs Challenge Pacific Rim Semi-Finals held at FNU’s Bonunaqwele Nadi Campus.

Despite his continued success, Waqa admitted that he initially considered stepping aside from the competition to allow new students the opportunity to showcase their abilities.

“I requested my instructor not to let me participate this year because I wanted to give an opportunity to the new students to go out too and showcase their talent and skills because I have been participating for three years now.

However, when the opportunity came to me, I did not hesitate,” he said.

For Waqa, each competition has been more than just about winning medals. It has been an opportunity to learn, improve and build confidence as a young chef.

“My next plan from here is to secure a job in a hotel or a resort, get the experience that I need and then grow from there. My long-term goal is to become successful in this field and maybe open my own business someday,” Waqa added.

He highlighted that cooking should be a passion and that cooking any type of meal must be prepared from the heart.

With his sights set on representing Fiji on the international culinary stage one day, Waqa continues to carry the lessons from his mother’s kitchen, his instructors and his experiences at FNU as he works towards building a future in the culinary industry.