Tulafono was appointed as a district court judge in 1978 and then to the American Samoa Senate in 1980. After serving one term in the upper house for Sa'Ole County, he reentered law practice, but then ran again successfully for a Senate seat in 1989. However, he was later elected to the American Samoa Senate for Sua County for eight years. He also chaired the board of directors for the American Samoa Power Authority and was the first chairman of the Board of Higher Education.