Nena was born in Lelu, Kosrae. He graduated with a BA from the College of Guam and later graduated with an MA degree from University of Hawaii at Manoa.[1] He served as deputy district administrator of Kosrae from 1970 to 1977. He became the first elected Governor of Kosrae from 1979 to 1983.[1]
Nena served as Vice President under Bailey Olter from 1991;[1] after Olter suffered a stroke in July 1996, Nena took over as acting president on 8 November of that year and was sworn in as president on 8 May 1997, serving out the remaining two years of Olter's term.[2]
Nena died in Sacramento, California on 6 July 2022 at the age of 80.[3][4]