He Said, "Tonga Needs You" And We Needed Him - Tribute to Uili Lousi

A Tribute to a Pacific Giant

It is with immense sadness and a heavy heart that I share the passing of my dear friend, brother, and colleague, Uili Lousi a powerful voice for the Pacific, a passionate climate warrior, and a light in every room he entered.

🌊 A Calling That Changed Everything

Uili and I first connected over six years ago through The Climate Reality Project in Brisbane, where we were both serving as mentors introduced by none other than Al Gore himself. I’ll never forget the moment I walked up to introduce myself. Uili looked at me with wide eyes, clearly surprised.

“I wanted to meet you — and here you are,” he said. “The universe has spoken!”

Later that same day, he came up to me again this time with a different kind of energy. Steady. Direct.

“Tonga needs you,” he said.

It was more than a statement. It felt like a calling. From that moment, our partnership was born grounded in mutual respect, shared purpose, and a deep love for the Pacific. That chance meeting became the spark for a collaboration that would span years, countries, and causes.

🌍 Relentless in His Mission

Since then, I’ve worked to support the Kingdom of Tonga, standing beside Uili at global platforms including COP28 in Dubai, where I was honoured to be part of the Tongan delegation as Special Advisor. We camped side by side quite literally, with Uili sleeping on the floor of my hotel room and everyone knew him for the fierce commitment and big heart he brought into every space.

“A week I will never forget shadowing Uili at COP28 was like walking alongside a force of nature. Dressed proudly in his traditional attire, he was a beacon wherever we went. Everyone knew him. Everyone wanted to engage. From dawn to dusk, he moved through dozens of bilateral meetings with unstoppable energy, pushing the Pacific agenda with heart, humour, and conviction. An honour to witness it firsthand.”

I had so much admiration for him arriving straight off a 28-hour journey in the cheapest seats, and instead of resting, he threw himself into the work, hustling non-stop for another 12 hours, pushing the Pacific agenda with unmatched passion.

You were a force — relentless in your desire and drive to create a better Tonga, a better Pacific, and a better world.

Myself and Tongan Member of Parliament Johnny Taione were in total awe of him his stamina, his diplomacy, and his ability to open doors with grace and strength. Watching Uili in action was like witnessing a masterclass in cultural leadership and climate diplomacy.

Uili (far right) with Tongan MP Johnny Taione (second from left) alongside Indigenous Amazon Warriors. United in the fight for climate justice. Uili had a remarkable gift: he could resonate with anyone, anywhere. From the Pacific to the Amazon, his presence transcended borders and his message always landed with heart.

🐋 Legacy in Motion

Together, we developed Tonga’s Zero Waste Strategy and, more recently, helped bring to life one of Uili’s most profound ambitions formally announced at the Pacific Leaders Forum in Tonga last year. That moment was pure Uili: bold, cultural, and deeply unifying a call to action for the future of our oceans.

At the heart of this vision was the creation of a Whale Corridor Sanctuary stretching from Tonga to Antarctica a bold, Indigenous-led initiative to protect critical migratory routes, restore marine ecosystems, and elevate the Pacific as a global leader in ocean guardianship. But this was never just about whales. For Uili, it was about planetary healing, ancestral duty, and justice for future generations.

His legacy lives on in the plans for the corridor, the development of a Marine Ecosystem Protection Centre in Tonga, and the youth programs he was building to empower the next generation of Pacific ocean stewards.

Just a few weeks ago, we shared dinner in Sydney and spent the day with the bright students of the University of Wollongong. As always, I learnt so much. I laughed. I left inspired.

I will treasure forever the last message he sent me:

“You and me has been calling to do this for the future of our Oceania children.”

🕊 A Soul That Lifted Others

Uili had a rare gift, the ability to bring people together from all walks of life: royalty, global leaders, scientists, and grassroots advocates. Whether you were a prime minster, king, princess or a policy wonk, he made you feel seen, heard, and valued.

As an artist and storyteller, he could captivate any audience, weaving wisdom, humour, and heart into every conversation. Through his words, he could draw out laughter and tears telling the human stories of the climate crisis in the Pacific in a way that made it personal, real, and impossible to ignore.

We were due to speak today to debrief and plan the next phase of our work. Instead, I find myself grieving the loss of not only a brilliant collaborator, but a treasured friend.

His sudden passing in Auckland, on his way home from the Oceans Conference in France, is a devastating loss for Tonga, for the Pacific, and for the world.

Uili was the ultimate communicator fearless, charismatic, and always ready to speak truth to power. Here on the SkyTrain to COP28, he seized the moment to passionately present Tonga’s story and the Pacific’s urgent climate reality to the Japanese delegation. No stage was too small, no opportunity ever missed. That was Uili purpose in motion."

🌿 A Totara Has Fallen

Sadly, another tōtara tree has fallen in the forest of Tāne, and the birds are crying.

You always had a knack for keeping me grounded. When project funding didn’t go our way, or when climate advocacy felt heavy with setbacks, your quiet, steady wisdom cut through the noise.

“The universe has spoken,” you would say.

Coming from a corporate background, I wasn’t used to such simplicity. But you taught me to trust in timing, in spirit, and in something larger than ourselves.

Now, with your sudden passing, I find myself holding those words again. The universe has spoken. And it feels unbearably harsh.

But I will do my best to carry your torch forward. To honour you the best way I know how with purpose, with love, and with the unwavering belief that we are doing this for the future of our Oceania children.

🕯 Fakafeta’i, Uili.

I will do my best to carry your light forward with humility and relentless hope.

Malo ‘aupito. Rest well, my brother of the sea.