Tofā Mamao reinterprets Samoan funerary customs from an external perspective, particularly focusing on the New Zealand-Samoan diaspora and how traditional practices are adapted within a foreign context. Inspiration was drawn from the transformation of domestic spaces into funerary spaces by New Zealand Samoans. For instance, garages are converted into Fale (Samoan houses), and living rooms into Fale Lauasi (mourning rooms), where the Aiga (family) and extended Aiga gather to mourn and celebrate the life of the departed.
The funeral complex is situated on a ridge, elevating the Utulaelae people above sea-level rise and tsunamis, with views of their ancestral homeland. It lies near the Mulivaifagatola River Inlet, providing access to the sea, and is connected to the community of Salani by a bridge.
Samoan customs and vernacular architecture are central to the design of this funerary complex. The layout follows traditional concepts of formality rings, with structures radiating outward from the central Fale, each diminishing in formality and encouraging circular movement. Most of the buildings are reinterpretations of vernacular architecture, fostering comfort and familiarity for the locals, while being culturally and climatically sensitive.
Funeral attendees arrive at the site, reintroduce themselves to the immediate and extended Aiga at the central Fale, then proceed to the seaward Malae or Fale Lauasi to pay their respects to the deceased. From there, they travel to the inlet for the final departure to the resting place. Onsite facilities include kitchens, sleeping quarters, and bathing areas.
The Loa (Ghost Canoe grave typology) transports deceased chiefs to the Tia (stepped pyramid grave typology) graves on the reef. This sacred space represents rebirth for the departed, with the pyramid form attenuating waves, regenerating the reef, providing habitats for schools of Atule, and serving as a marker for sea-level rise. It also creates a destination on the reef for descendants and the people of Utulaelae, who are now safeguarded by their ancestors.
Non-chiefs are interred beneath the sleeping houses, with their graves marked by large columns that support the roof of the house. This design, along with the reef pyramids, reflects the concept of Tofā Mamao, offering protection, longevity, and ensuring the well-being of the people of Utulaelae.
To enhance the experience of Tofā Mamao and create a more majestic funerary experience for deceased chiefs, the inlet below the main site has been widened by relocating the extensive mangroves to the flora-depleted foreshore of Utulaelae. This modification serves to further attenuate waves, offer increased protection from severe weather, and stimulate habitat regeneration.