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Celina Tupou-Fulivai edit
Celina Tupou-Fulivai is an American political activist, designer, and social entrepreneur.[1] She is the founder and designer of Heliaki, a socially conscious streetwear brand aimed at increasing Pacific Islander representation by evoking cultural introspection and social transformation.
Central to Tupou-Fulivai's community organizing, political engagement, and advocacy is the innovative use of Heliaki, a traditional Tongan artistic expression that employs metaphor, subtle allusions, and layered meanings to communicate complex messages, similar to the Hawaiian tradition of Kaona.
Early Life edit
Celina Tupou-Fulivai was born in Long Beach, California. A long time community organizer,[2] Tupou-Fulivai began her social entrepreneurship journey as means to support her mother and give back to those from her mothers homeland. She began by importing and selling handicrafts she commissioned from rural artisans in the Pacific Islands. The COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the supply chain led her to pivot into designing streetwear with political themes.[3]
Motivated by the disproportionate disparities Pacific Islanders face, Tupou-Fulivai cultivated the brand into a pop culture medium for social commentary and change, developing a global cult following amongst the Pasifika diaspora.[1]
Activism edit
In 2022, in response to the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and subsequent tsunami, Tupou-Fulivai capitalized off her global connections by establishing the Pasifika Mutual Aid Collective, an international disaster relief fund to provide first response support to the affected populations in Tonga.[4] The campaign successfully raised and distributed $50,000 TOP to hundreds of families[5] throughout the Kingdom of Tonga. Tupou-Fulivai's collaboration with New Zealand DJ Lady Shaka emphasized the campaign's reach and effectiveness of organizing the global community for disaster relief efforts.[6]
Tupou-Fulivai has since been recognized by New American Leaders as a celebrated community organizer and founder as well as for her tireless advocacy for Pacific Islanders.[7] She was also recognized by New Zealand's Pacific Cooperation Foundation as a voice for climate change, highlighting her efforts to use fashion as a means to address environmental issues within the Pacific community.[8]
In May 2023, Celina Tupou-Fulivai publically critiqued television personality Jeannie Mai Jenkins for insensitive comments that erased Pacific Islander identities during the White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.[9]Tupou-Fulivai's response catalyzed discussions on the need for greater inclusivity and accurate representation of Pacific Islanders, highlighting broader challenges of visibility and recognition faced by this community.[10]
In response to the Lahaina Fire, Tupou-Fulivai partnered with the Seattle based Wing Luke Museum to raise funds for those affected by the disaster.
In March 2024, Celina Tupou-Fulivai announced her candidacy for Washington State Delegate at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC).[2] Tupou-Fulivai's candidacy has garnered attention from various quarters, sparking discussions about the diversity of voices within the party and the importance of inclusive representation in political decision-making processes.[11]
Personal Life edit
Celina Tupou-Fulivai is a multi-racial, with a Tongan and Samoan Mother, and Indigenous-Hispano Father. Celina is a member of Tongan aristocracy through her mother[12], the daughter of a former Tongan noble, Lord Ignatius Tupou-Fulivai. Tupou-Fulivai is the younger cousin of former Tongan NFL player Vai Sikahema, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles.[13] Other notable relatives of Tupou-Fulivai are the late Lord Fusituʻa known formally as Mataʻiʻulua 'i Fonuamotu, who was a Tongan politician and noble, recognized for his efforts in anti-corruption, global security in Oceania, and advocating for Bitcoin to support underbanked populations,[14] and Lord Fulivai, David (Tevita) Fulivai, current titleholder of Lord Fulivai of Vava'u.[15]
References edit
- ^ a b Menchavez, Andre Lawes (2023-07-21). "Heliaki Uses Fashion as a Movement". JoySauce. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ a b "Delegate Candidate Directory". Washington State Democrats. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
- ^ "sbs LIA MO LINE PASIFIKA". Small Business Resource Center. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ Peterson, Josephine (21 January 2022). "Tacoma woman leads relief effort after Tonga disaster". Tacoma News Tribune. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Community leaders are working to raise money for Tonga. Here's how you can donate". king5.com. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ John-Paul Foliaki speaks about 'Project Ofa'. Retrieved 2024-03-30 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Celina Tupou-Fulivai: '23 Asian American & Pacific Islander Month Spotlight - New American Leaders". newamericanleaders.org. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ "Lia Mo Line Pasifika". Pacific Cooperation Foundation. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ Sloss, Morgan (2023-05-04). "Pacific Islanders Are Calling Jeannie Mai Jenkins "Gross" And "Shameful" For "Casually Erasing" Them". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ General, Ryan (2023-05-10). "Jeannie Mai Jenkins apologizes for 'inadvertently excluding Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders'". NextShark. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ Ho, Vivian (2022-07-25). "How AANHPI Women Rise in Politics". JoySauce. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ "Tongans in Seattle area set up fundraisers to help island nation after volcano eruption, tsunami". The Seattle Times. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "How Divinely Inspired Confidence Lifts Elder Vai Sikahema". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Tonga's Lord Fusitu'a laid to rest". RNZ. 2024-02-23. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ School, Harvalene K. Sekona Principal of Liahona Middle; Tonga. "Tonga A Land Dedicated to God". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2024-03-31.