Uili Lousi: A Voice for the Ocean, A Life of Purpose

Some people live in a way that leaves gentle but deep marks on the world. Uili Lousi (1968–2025) was one of them — an artist, a leader, and a guardian of the Pacific Ocean.

🌊 Carrying the Ocean’s Voice

Uili stood for Tonga, but more than that, he stood for the Pacific. At world gatherings — from Paris to Dubai — he spoke of climate change, of the rising seas, of whales that travel ancient paths across the ocean.

He dreamed of a sanctuary called the “Corridor of the Whales” — a safe passage stretching from Antarctica to Tonga, protecting whales and, through them, the life of the sea.

Through his organisation, OHAI Tonga, he worked with young people, teaching them about leadership, climate, and care for the land. He planted trees, grew food, supported beekeeping, and showed that real change begins close to home.

🎨 An Artist of Culture and Colour

Uili was also a painter. His art was bold, alive with Polynesian patterns and sacred symbols. For him, painting was more than beauty. It was memory, story, and hope made visible. His colours carried the voice of his ancestors and the vision of a better future.

🧵 Woven Connections

In his travels, Uili often carried one of our Penan handwoven bags. To him, it was not just something to hold his belongings. It was a sign of connection — rainforests of Borneo and islands of the Pacific woven together.

The women who weave our bags and the leader who spoke for the ocean both shared the same truth: culture is alive when it is cared for, when it is passed on, when it is honoured.

🌱 A Legacy That Stays

Uili’s voice is now silent, but his work continues. The young leaders he inspired, the projects he began, and the art he left behind — all of these keep telling his story.

For us, remembering Uili is also remembering what he stood for: that every action, every choice, and every handmade thing carries meaning.

When you carry a woven bag, you also carry a story — just as Uili carried stories of the sea. And like him, you help keep tradition, dignity, and hope alive.