ɐfˈoʊə wʌzɐ stˈuːdənt æɾ ˈɔːkləndz pˌæpɐkjˈʊɹɹə hˈaɪ skˈuːl, ðˈɛn sənt. kˈɛntaɪɡɚn kˈɑːlɪdʒ, wˌɛɹ hiː plˈeɪd fˈɜːst ɹˌoʊmən fˈɪftiːn ɹˈʌɡbi ɐlˈɔŋsaɪd fˈɛloʊ ˈɔːl blˈæks dʒˈoʊ ɹˌɑːkəkˈoʊkoʊ ænd dʒˈɛɹoʊm kˈaɪnoʊ.
Afoa was a student at Auckland's Papakura High School, then St. Kentigern College, where he played first XV rugby alongside fellow All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino.