[1][2] Tofau first took office in January 2004 after serving as a member of the American Samoa House of Representatives.

After graduating from high school, Tofau attended University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on a full scholarship sponsored by the Government of American Samoa.

[4] Tofau served as a career member of the United States Army, retiring after 22 years as a Command Sergeant Major.

In February 2020, Tofau announced his candidacy for governor in the 2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election.

[7] One of Tofau's grandsons, Palaie Gaoteote IV, is an NCAA Division I college football player for the USC Trojans.