He held senior positions in the (precolonial) Samoan Kingdom where he served as Minister of the Interior in the government of King Malietoa Laupepa.
[2][3] Le Mamea signed the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between the United States and the Samoan Islands[4] on 17 January 1878 which was ratified in 1878.
[5] Le Mamea also commenced work on compiling the Tusi o Faalupega[6] which included all the Ceremonial Samoan addresses.
Le Mamea was the son of Vaaelua Petaia (1822–1881), one of the first Samoan Christian converts to the London Missionary Society and the first pastor of Faleasiu.
Two of his younger brothers Te'o Tuvale and Faletoese Lipano were also prominently involved in Samoan affairs in the subsequent colonial governments of Germany and New Zealand.