[1] Maka and his family grew up with little financial resource, but was inspired from a young age to become a professional artist by his teacher, Professor Viliami Toluta'u and Ve'etūtū Pahulu (Composer, Tongan Poet and choreographer).
[8] After completing his studies at Liahona High School in Tonga, Maka and his family migrated to Auckland, New Zealand, then later settled in Christchurch where his studio is based.
He continued his tertiary studies from 2002 – 2004, where he graduated with BA in Visual Art, at Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland, with both qualifications majoring in painting.
[12] This further propelled his success in the following year, where he was selected as the Pacific artist in Residence at the University of Canterbury, where he received studio space, financial stipends and resources.
Alumni of this award include Tusiata Avia, David Fane, John Pule and Michel Tuffery.
[13][14] Maka's art practice is heavily influenced and inspired from his Tongan heritage, where he incorporates a multitude of styles, including traditional Tongan art forms, from creating Ngatu (Tapa) made from the bark of the Mulberry tree, combining contemporary and experimental methods and techniques, which in turn assist with his general process of creating most of his works.
[4][15] Maka's specific style was showcased with his work Toga mo Bolata'ane, where he was selected alongside other Māori and Pasifika artists, including Lisa Reihana, FAFSWAG, Elisapeta Heta,[16] and John Miller[17] to exhibit this work at the 22nd Biennale in Sydney.
His work from this exhibition Ngatu ta'uli (blackened tapa cloth) (2010) is now in the permanent collection of Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand.
[26] 2007, Papata pe ka na'e Lalanga (It may be course in texture, but it was woven), Vitu Pacific Festival, Christchurch.
[36] 2007, Our City O-Tautahi, Vitu Pacific Festival, Christchurch featuring Filipe Tohi[27] 2007, O'kaioceanikart Gallery, Auckland.