Maiava was born in Tula in American Samoa on May 1, 1924.[1] When he was two years old, his family relocated to Laie, Hawaii, in the United States.[6][8]
Maiava became a highly popular wrestler due to his "combination of athletic ability, comedy and exotic flair".[3] Playing on his Samoan origin, Maiava developed a "colorful and charismatic" character. He became known for antics such as performing fire knife dances, playing a ukulele, walking on a bed of nails,[6] breaking wooden boards over his head, and wearing a necklace made from boar's teeth.[14] During his matches, Maiava would use his wild hair to entrap and "cut" opponents' hands. His finishing move, the "Coconut Head-butt", gave rise to the professional wrestling trope that Samoan wrestlers have "hard heads". He was managed by Coconut Willie, who supposedly issued orders to Maiava by beating a drum.[3][15] On one occasion, he wrestled a bear. To preserve the mystique of his character, Maiava did not speak English in public while travelling outside of Hawaii.[3]
Maiava retired from professional wrestling in 1974.[6] He went on to run a tree-trimming company and purchased a portfolio of rental properties on Oahu.[3]
Maiava died in his sleep on April 21, 2018, in Honolulu at the age of 93.[1][3] At the time of his death he was reckoned by journalist Dave Meltzer to be the world's second oldest living professional wrestler.[6] He was inurned with military honors at the Diamond Head Mortuary.[7]
^ ab"Chris Tolos grapples South Sea Islander". Syracuse Herald-Journal (via NewspaperArchive.com). March 8, 1955. p. 22. Chris Tolos, Canadian heavyweight, will attempt to ruin the Syracuse wrestling debut of Prince Ulu Maiava of Samoa when they meet tonight in the feature of the grappling show on the War Memorial mat.
^Warren Nishimoto (July 31, 1992). "Oral history interview #451-1 with John Meatoga"(PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved November 15, 2018. JM: [...] Neff [Maiava] came here when he was two years old. I believe he's three years older than I am. So anyway... WN: Neff was born in Samoa? JM: He was born in Samoa.
^Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.