[1] Lutu's family moved back to American Samoa when he was less than a year old and settled in the village of Amanave, where his parents worked as Christian ministers.

However, his parents moved again to the towns of Fagatogo and Utulei by the time he was six years old to live with extended family.

Following his graduation, Lutu was one of four American Samoa students chosen for a cultural exchange program in the United States.

Lutu moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa, to attend an extra year of high school as part of the cultural exchange.

Lutu met his future wife while at Northeast Missouri, Etenauga Alvina Lam Yuen.

[1] He graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in prelaw.

[1] Lutu enrolled in the Valparaiso University School of Law with another American Samoa Government scholarship.

[1] The couple relocated to Valparaiso, Indiana, where Lutu completed his Juris Doctor degree from Valporaiso University School of Law.

The couple had several more children, including Alvina Lore, Faauuga Hannacho, Elinor Matuaifaleese, Justin Fouvale, Kimberly Malaeimi, Florence-Emma Leʻala, Joshua Simanualiʻi, Berkley LeAloalii and Bedell-Macready Tamaalemalo.

[1] The family returned to American Samoa in 1975 where Lutu worked as an attorney-at-law, until he retired from private practice in 2012.

He represented American Samoa and the Lutali administration at the early South Pacific Tuna Treaty negotiations.

[8][9] In 1990 Lutu ran for the American Samoa Delegates in the United States House of Representatives, but was defeated by Eni Faleomavaega.

[2] In 2004 Lutu ran for Governor of American Samoa in 2004 with Taeaoafua Dr. Meki Solomona as his running mate.

[12] Lutu's running mate for Lieutenant Governor was Velega Savali, a former American Samoan Treasurer.

An "Unforgettable Walk" was held in participation of the National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and hosted by the non-profit Lutu co-founded, the Agency for Better Living Endeavors (A.B.L.E.).

has partnered with other agencies, government and non-government, to promote awareness of the brain disease and impacts to Samoan families and communities.