The 29-year-old said she was 13 when she met her stepmother Keri Divett for the first time.
"She was very adventurous. She and Dad did a lot of jet-boating and a lot of travel overseas, and they were involved in the car clubs here in Dunedin too.
"She treated me like her own daughter. We had a really good relationship.
"She was very kind, very hands-on, very supportive for everything — I’ve got a lot of good memories of her."
In a bid to repay and share some of that kindness, Mrs Vaha’akolo is hosting a sold-out Pink Ribbon lunch tomorrow to help highlight the "incredible" support her stepmother received from the Dunedin community during her battle with cancer.
"This event is not only a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Foundation, it is also a deeply personal way for me to honour her memory and contribute to the fight against this disease.
"I'm only 29, and I've seen a lot on social media about younger women also being diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I just think it impacts so many people and I've never been to a Pink Ribbon event before.
"So I'm doing it in her honour — to raise awareness, bring people together and hopefully inspire them to get checked more regularly — especially those in younger generations."
She said the response she got to the event was "massive", so last week, she changed the venue so everyone could fit in.
It will be held at Errick's, and will be attended by guest speakers medical oncologist Dr Tessa Morris, Southern Charity Hospital founder Melissa Vining, and sports reporter Michelle Prendiville, and the master of ceremonies will be former TV newsreader Peter Williams.
Mrs Vaha’akolo said the event included raffles, a charity auction featuring a Queenstown escape, and a three-course meal by Lemonpie Caravan.
"We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of local and Central Otago businesses, who’ve contributed amazing prizes and support to help raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ."
