WHEN Joel Jione was named Head Boy of Yat Sen Secondary School this year, it felt like a natural extension of the leadership he has already been showing on the water.
As Kai Wai Outrigger Canoe Club’s Junior U19 Captain, the 17-year-old is now steering two demanding worlds — and both are pushing him toward his biggest test yet: the Wai Tui International, returning to Wailoaloa Beach, Nadi, from 3–6 April, where he hopes to prove himself against the region’s rising paddlers.
Wai Tui as the next big step
For Joel, Wai Tui is the stage he has been working toward with his crew, now in their second season together. The event’s return has ignited something in the juniors — a chance to measure their self-driven training against international competition and to show that their independence has built real resilience.
“We train ourselves most days,” Joel says. “We show up, we give each other feedback, and we push each other to improve. We’re excited about competing at Wai Tui International – not just amongst our local clubs and top paddlers, but paddlers from the region and beyond.”
Leadership Forged in the canoe
Joel’s leadership style — steady, collaborative, grounded — comes directly from the boat. Running their own sessions has taught the juniors discipline and accountability, and Joel credits the seniors who step in whenever they can.
“We know they’re busy, but the advice they give us really helps. Any help from the seniors is appreciated by the Junior Boys.”
He also speaks with genuine gratitude for the club’s support, especially the president, who he says “always goes out of her way for the junior boys and keeps a close watch on our progress.”
A dream that reaches beyond the beach
Wai Tui is the immediate goal, but Joel’s horizon stretches further. His biggest aspiration is to represent Fiji at the Pacific Games someday, a dream built on early mornings, long sessions, and the unwavering support of his parents.
“They’re my biggest supporters,” he says with a laugh. “From waking me up for morning training to giving me lectures when I come home late.”
A young leader on two fronts
“Whether in the classroom or the canoe, Joel leads by example,” Kai Wai Outrigger Canoe Club President, Katarina Atalifo said. “His achievements aren’t the product of talent alone, but of a mindset shaped by teamwork, humility, and hard work.
As Wai Tui International approaches, he stands ready, not just as a paddler, but as a young leader proving that discipline in one arena strengthens every other.” Ms Atalifo added: “A shout-out to other members of our U19 crew, Ratu Naulu Faivakibau, newly appointed Department Head Boy at Marist Brothers High School, and Moses Mario, also serving as a Senior Prefect.
Their achievements remind us that this U19 crew is growing athletes who carry real responsibility on and off the water.
As a club, we’re proud to back young champions who are shaping their futures and contributing to Fiji’s addling scene.”
Kaiwai Outrigger Canoe Club, one of Fiji’s founding paddling clubs, returns to Wai Tui this year with a renewed sense of purpose, anchored by a rising U19 crew.
Led by young paddlers like Joel, the squad reflects the discipline, character, and ambition that have defined
