18/08/2025
One of our Penan handwoven bags has travelled alongside a quiet force of nature—Uili Lousi, President of OHAI Tonga, international artist, and ambassador for the oceans.
🌍 A Voice for Tonga and the Pacific
Uili represented Tonga at global platforms from COP21 to COP28, carrying the stories of Polynesia with clarity and strength. His mission was rooted in the land and sea, leading the Corridor of the Whales—a proposed sanctuary from Antarctica to Tonga to protect migratory routes and marine life.
Through OHAI Tonga, he pioneered projects in climate education, beekeeping for food resilience, forest restoration, youth media training, and zero-waste strategies—grassroots actions creating real change across the Pacific.
🎨 An Artist Who Spoke in Climate Action
Uili was also a celebrated artist. His work reimagined Tongan royal motifs in vibrant, abstract forms inspired by Pacific heritage. His art carried hope, memory, and resistance far beyond the gallery.
🧵 Why This Matters to Us
We were honoured to see our Borneo Bag accompany Uili at climate events from New York to Nice. For him, it was more than an accessory—it symbolised solidarity, connection, and Indigenous storytelling.
🌱 A Legacy That Lives On
Uili’s vision lives through the next generation of Pacific leaders he inspired. His courage, creativity, and love for his people remind us that when we carry handmade craft, we carry connection. And through voices like his, that connection becomes purpose.
