Finau Maka

Finau Maka, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and patriarch, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2025, at the age of 86. He was surrounded by his children—who stood beside him as he took his final breath and felt his last heartbeat.

Born on March 25, 1939, in the Kingdom of Tonga to Amelia Sivi Lakusa Maka and Paula Maka, Finau was a force of nature—proud, relentless, and deeply rooted in his culture. A natural leader, he became captain of the Tongan National Rugby Team.

At the age of 30, Finau left the islands behind to pursue a better life in America. He became a U.S. citizen, fulfilling a promise he made to his mother: to help his siblings build a brighter future.

He was an incredible man who accomplished so much in his lifetime. Most significant of all: the hundreds of lives that he affected because of a promise he made to his mother and a tireless work ethic that never wavered.

By his side until the very end was his faithful dog, Ryan—loyal, protective, and inseparable. Ryan was more than a pet; he was a companion and guardian, sharing in the quiet strength that defined Finau’s life.

Finau is survived by his wife, Kathleen Maka; his children Kaylani, Paul, Danny, and Amelia; his grandchildren Masina, Steven, Alana, Samara, JJ, and Danny; his great-grandchildren; and by a vast and growing family of nieces, nephews, and their children—all of which carry his story and strength.

He now joins his siblings who have gone

Finau Maka

Na’e hiki hake ‘a Finau Maka, hou’eiki ‘ofa’anga, tamai, kui, fa’ētangata mo e taula ‘o e fāmili, ‘i he pongipongi ‘o Sune 4, 2025, ‘i he ta’u ‘e 86. Na’e ‘i he’ene fānau ‘i he taimi fakamuimui—na‘a nau tu’u fakataha mo ia ‘i he’ene hanuatu ‘o e mānava mo ‘ene fatu fakamuimui.

Na’e fā‘ele‘i ‘a Finau ‘i Ma’asi 25, 1939, ‘i he Pule’anga Tonga, ki he ongo matu’a ko Amelia Sivi Lakusa Maka mo Paula Maka. Na’e tangata mālohi ia—loto lahi, loto to’a, pea tu’u ki hono ‘ulungaanga faka-Tonga. Ko ha taki fakahoa, na’e hoko ia ko e kapiteni ‘o e timi Lākapi ‘a Tonga.

‘I he ta’u ‘e 30, na’e toki fola atu ‘a Finau mei Tonga ke fakatokanga’i ha mo’ui lelei ange ‘i ‘Amelika. Na’e ne hoko ko ha sitiseni ‘Amelika, ke fakakakato ha palōmesi ki hono fa’ē—ke tokoni ki hono ngaahi tuonga’ane ke nau langa ha kaha’u ‘o e mālamalama.

Na’e tangata fakaofo ia, pea na’e lahi ‘aupito ‘ene ngaahi me’a na’a ne lava ‘i hono mo’ui. Ka ko e koloa lahi taha na’a ne langa ko e kakai ‘e fa‘ahinga he’ene ngaahi ta’u—na’e fakaake ai ha mo’ui fo’ou ‘i he palōmesi ‘a e fāmili mo e ngāue mālohi ta’emateuteu.

Na’e ‘i ai ‘a hono kuli falala’anga ko Ryan—ta’etava, malu’i, mo ‘ikai ke vevela. Na’e lahi ange ‘ia Ryan ‘a e lotōto—na’e hoko ia ko ha kaungāme‘a mo ha tauhi loto, pea na’a ne vahevahe mo Finau hono mālohi fakasiokita.

Na’e toe mo’ui ‘a hono ‘ofefine ko Kathleen Maka; ‘ene fānau ko Kaylani, Paul, Danny mo Amelia; mo ‘ene kui ko Masina, Steven, Alana, Samara, JJ mo Danny; mo ‘ene ngaahi great-grandchildren; mo e ngaahi tuonga‘ane, fānautama, mo e fāmili lahi ‘oku nau kei hoko atu—‘a kinautolu kotoa ‘oku nau tauhi hono hingoa mo hono mālohi.

Ko eni, kuo ne toki fakataha mo hono ngaahi tuonga‘ane na’e ‘alu mu’a, mo hono neefi

‘ofa’anga ko Tonga, pea mo hono mo’ui kui ko Andrew. ‘E fai ‘a e ngāue fakamanatu mo e sio ‘i he Falaite, Sune 13 mei he 1:00 ki he 3:00 pm. ‘E tanu ia he loto ‘o e Memorial Redwood Cemetery ‘i he 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah, ‘i he feitu‘u ‘oku tanu ai hono tamai mo hono neefi ko Tonga. ‘E ‘i ai foki ha sio fāmili he Tu’apulelulu, Sune 12 mei he 6:00 ki he 8:00 pm.

‘Ofa lahi atu, Tamai.