Flexing his skills in the barbershop and the gym is 23-year-old Vakaawi Reaiti.
The young barber is redefining the barbering experience through his garage-barbershop Kawza Cutz, a unique space where artistry and community intertwine.
Located in the driveway of his Mt Roskill home, Kawza Cutz brings a fresh and welcoming vibe to the neighbourhood, where clients receive sharp haircuts and engage in meaningful conversations while building connections.
“The barbershop isn’t just for like, fades, this is a place for others to just let things out, it’s like an outlet in a way,” Vakaawi says.
“You know we don’t just cut hair, we’re here to help physically and mentally as well.”
The 23-year-old has been running Kawza Cutz since his teen years as a hobby, but earlier this year, he decided to take the next step and make it official.
“I just wanted to do things the right way and thought it was about time,” he says.
“This is something that I want to do in the long run, I know it’ll be beneficial overall.”
In his earlier days, he hosted free haircut sessions on the deck of his house for his friends and what started off from a simple search for the perfect style for his afro hair in high school has become a career choice for Vakaawi.
Vakaawi attended Mr Barber School to further refine his skills and spent a year at a local barbershop before returning to his roots. He felt his work was “underappreciated” and prefers an environment where he can take his time with his clients.
One of the main goals for Kawza Cutz is to upskill and continue to foster relationships, believing this is the key to his clients’ loyal custom.
“I was scared coming back [to the garage],” Vakaawi says.
“I didn’t think anyone will follow me back, but yeah I got a really supportive clientele.”
Beyond the barbershop, Vakaawi is pursuing a new passion – bodybuilding. His journey started earlier this year from a conversation with a friend about bucket list goals.
With no goals on his list, he found himself inspired to push beyond his usual gym routine and dive headfirst into bodybuilding.
This meant not just lifting weights but also focusing on nutrition, discipline, and crafting a physique that reflected his hard work and dedication.
But this swift change in lifestyles meant Vakaawi had to be comfortable with making sacrifices.
His usual gym routine will often finish with a visit to McDonalds, but since taking on bodybuilding, he’s restricted himself to only vegetables and chicken.
“I’ve avoided stuff like eating dinner with the family, like, on the table ‘cause I just wanna eat my own meals in peace,” he says.
“I’ve restricted myself from a lot of things and it’s actually made me [feel] more grateful for everything else in life.”
His journey so far has been a “rollercoaster” of experiences.
To maintain a balanced routine, Vakaawi had to reduce his barbering shifts to just 5 hours to dedicate time for his training. His daily routine involves cardio training every morning and evening gym sessions from Tuesday to Saturday.
With his restrictive dietary requirements, he’s also learned a valuable skill – cooking.
“I didn’t even know how to turn on the BBQ, I was pretty useless,” Vakaawi says.
“I’m not a chef, but I feel like I can cook properly now.”
Despite the challenges he faces, Vakaawi remains committed to his goals, finding strength in both his physical training and sharpening up his barbering skills.
“Bodybuilding has actually taught me so much that I didn’t think I will learn,” he says.
“I went in for one thing, just to jump on the stage but it has taught me so many other things along the way. It’s been hard, but we just keep pushing through.”
Vakaawi competes in his first bodybuilding competition at the Waikato Natural and Regional Championships this Saturday, October 19.
