[1] He was adopted by a family from Nonouti and was educated at the London Missionary Society's Hiram Bingham High School in Rongorongo on Beru.

[1] He began working as a radio operator in the Phoenix Islands in 1940, before joining the naval reserve in Fiji in 1941.

[1] Following World War II he worked for the New Zealand Meteorological Service in Fiji, before returning to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1950.

[3] After being re-elected to the reconstituted Legislative Council in 1971, Uatioa was elected the first Leader of Government Business.

[4] Uatioa continued in local politics, serving as president of Teinainano Urban Council until 1977.