Personal
- Served a mission in Suva, Fiji
- Tanoai is the half brother of former BYU defensive lineman T.J. Sitake (1998-00, 2004-05) and BYU head coach Kalani Sitake (1994, 1997-00)
Before BYU
- Graduted in 2013 from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he was a three-star recruit by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals and the No. 38 offensive guard in the nation.
- Prior to his mission he was also recruited by Utah, UCLA, Hawaii, Washington and Nebraska
- At Notre Dame High School, Tanoai was named All-Serra League Second Team and selected to the All-Area Football First Team Offense as a senior
- Played his freshman season at Pleasant Grove High School in Utah before moving to California midway through the year.
- As a senior at Notre Dame, Tanoai helped his team to an 8-4 record and to the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section playoffs
- Playing on the offensive line, his team amassed 2,264 passing yards and 2,111 rushing yards while scoring 34.4 points per game en route to a No. 15 team ranking in California
- As a junior he helped his team to a 35-13 win over defending State Champion and Mission League Champion Serra High School.