Vai Salt
Get to know Juanita Tippins...
Poet. Singer. Artist. Storyteller.
Based in Sydney, Australia, Juanita Tippins is the creative force behind Vai Salt — a deeply personal and cultural brand inspired by ancestry, identity and storytelling.
Proudly of Tongan heritage, Juanita’s work spans poetry, music, handcrafted Tapa Journals and visual art, each piece carrying connection to family, culture and the Pacific. What began during a period of isolation and reflection evolved into a creative journey rooted in purpose, healing and preservation of story.
Many within our PBN community may already recognise Juanita’s beautiful handmade Tapa Journals featured in the gift bags at our Power of Her International Women’s Day event earlier this year — pieces that left a lasting impression on so many of our guests.
Through Vai Salt, Juanita continues to create meaningful work that encourages people to reconnect with who they are, where they come from and the stories carried within them — preserving culture through creativity, storytelling and connection.
We sat down with Juanita to learn more about the woman behind Vai Salt, her creative journey, the importance of ancestry and culture, and the stories that continue to inspire her work.
Juanita shares her journey as we learn more about the woman behind Vai Salt — her connection to ancestry, storytelling, creativity and culture, whilst balancing life as an artist, musician, writer, entrepreneur and mother. Through poetry, music, handcrafted Tapa Journals and visual art, her work continues to preserve and celebrate Pacific identity in deeply meaningful ways.
For those meeting you for the first time, how would you describe who you are behind Vai Salt — as an artist, creative, poet, and woman of Tongan heritage based in Sydney?
I am a Poet. Singer. Songwriter. Writer. Artist. Creator. Storyteller.
I was raised in Aotearoa and now live on Gadigal Land.
I am a proud Pacific Island woman who acknowledges that all these gifts have been inherited from my ancestors. From my mothers — my mother, grandmother, aunties, and great-grandmother — I was given the gifts of language, family lineage, cooking, weaving, and traditions. From my uncles, I was given the gifts of music, traditional song, dance, and poetry.
My mother is Taiana. My maternal grandmother, Amelia Manatu loto Tevi, comes from the Malupo clan of Lapaha and the Tevi clan of Kolomotu’a, with ties to Utui, Vava’u, and Solomon Islands bloodlines. My maternal grandfather, Edwin Latu, comes from the Latu clan of Fasi moe Afi, with Solomon Islands bloodlines and the Edwards clan from Pitcairn Islands, carrying Welsh and Tahitian ancestry. My father, David Tippins, was Welsh, Black Irish, and Spanish.
I know the family lineage is a lot of information, but interestingly, it is exactly how our people used to introduce themselves.
The name Vai Salt feels deeply personal and powerful. What is the meaning behind it, and how does it reflect your identity, culture, and creative journey?
I am deeply inspired by Epeli Hauʻofa, who wrote: “We should not be defined by the smallness of our islands, but the greatness of our oceans. We are the sea, we are the ocean. Oceania is us.”
When the COVID epidemic hit in 2020, it was distressing not being able to see my mother and siblings in Aotearoa. That time in isolation gave me the opportunity to cook, plant vegetables, draw, paint, write, read, listen, dream, and remember more of who I am. It created a deeper curiosity and connection to my bloodlines and culture.
I started writing poems again and sharing them with my family. One of the first poems I wrote was called Salt Water, which became a family favourite. Many of the poems felt inspired “through me,” not just by me, so I wanted a pen name that represented myself, my family, and my ancestors.
Vai (meaning water) Salt was the only name that came to mind. It represents the two worlds I exist in — part first language, part English. Vai Salt. Salt Water. I am Salt Water and my Salt Water runs deep.
Your Tapa Journals created such a beautiful impact at our International Women’s Day event — everyone absolutely loved them. What inspired you to create them, and what story were you hoping each person would carry with them?
Vai Salt began with the intention of publishing a collection of poetry inspired by my Pacific Island culture and my own human experience. Due to COVID, I didn’t have the means to do this. At the time, I was rebuilding as a working musician while navigating separation and supporting myself and my two children.
Vai Salt became a symbol of a new beginning for me — a rebirth of sorts. My little Mama actually gave me the idea. I was asking her about the Ngatu (Tongan Tapa) I was storing for her, and she suggested I sell it or make something from it.
So I learnt a new skill and decided to make tapa journals because I love books, I love journalling, and I love my Tongan culture. Vai Salt journals are made from Ngatu that I have restored and repurposed. For me, there is a catharsis to the process, similar to the art of Kintsuji — creating something new while still preserving beauty and culture.
You wear many creative hats — artist, poet, creator, and also performing as a backing vocalist alongside Jimmy Barnes. How do these different forms of expression connect for you?
I was born into a creative family of musicians, dancers, artists, and poets, and I feel fortunate to have inherited multiple gifts and built a life through creativity. For most of my life, these different modalities existed separately, but Vai Salt has enabled me to combine them altogether.
Alongside my Vai Salt projects, I work as a singer. I have a band called Diva Made, work as a session singer, and perform backing vocals for many artists. Backing vocals is a whole skill set on its own, and as Pacific Islanders, we can thank our traditions of communal singing for our natural aptitude for it.
I have been blessed to work with artists such as Jimmy Barnes, who has been a huge support and influence for me, along with incredible artists like Marcia Hines, Ian Moss, Don Walker, Cold Chisel, and Renée Geyer.
Music and poetry both come from emotion and storytelling. How has your journey as a backing singer shaped the way you write and create your poetry?
Blessed to work with artists who are incredible storytellers!
As a Pacific woman building something of your own, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced in creating Vai Salt, and what kept you pushing forward?
The challenges are what you would expect — money and time.
Technology moves quickly with AI tools and social media, while the cost of living continues to rise. It can be difficult to keep up, especially as a single woman supporting others.
However, with Vai Salt, I have never felt the need to follow trends or timelines. What matters most to me is being clear on my intention. Everything I add to the Vai Salt story has meaning and purpose, and I have learnt to trust in divine timing.
Every setback has brought a reward, whether a lesson or a reason to pivot. The most beautiful part of this journey has been giving myself the grace and time to learn along the way.
Your work feels deeply intentional and soulful. How important is culture and ancestry in your creative process, and how do you honour your Tongan roots through your art?
My Tongan heritage is at the centre of everything Vai Salt.
It is my connection to ancestors from Tonga, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Pitcairn Island, and those who migrated to Aotearoa. It is also my connection to the wider Pacific and our people as a whole.
I am grateful for the gift of my mother tongue. Tongan being my first language enables me to navigate other Pacific Island languages, which deeply influences my poetry and storytelling style.
I was also raised by my great-grandmother, who shared stories of family, cosmology, and mythology that continue to influence my artwork today.
As I became older and had children of my own, I realised the importance of culture, tradition, language, and knowing. I also became aware of the disconnect slowly creeping into our people living in the diaspora.
Vai Salt is me, is you, is us. Every generation must continue our stories and add to the tapestry of our legacy. Vai Salt is an invitation to reconnect with ancestry, culture, and the stories already living in our bones.
Your work is admired by so many, but people often only see the finished product. What does the behind-the-scenes of your creative world look like, and what does discipline mean to you as a creative entrepreneur?
I travel a lot for work, so managing time is important, especially because handmade products and artworks take time to create. Production planning is essential when working towards deadlines for online orders, markets, or art shows.
I started creating Vai Salt products on my dining table before eventually converting my garage into a workshop to give myself room to grow.
It is also important for me to remain a student. When I spend time with my Mama, I make time to learn new lalanga (weaving) skills from her. When I began painting journals and artworks, I dedicated time to studying Tongan Kupesi motifs because I wanted to understand their meanings, not just draw them.
An important part of Vai Salt is the information shared alongside each creation — whether about Tapa, Kupesi, or storytelling references — and that requires dedicated time to study and talanoa with Elders.
Representation matters, especially for our Pasifika communities. What does it mean to you to be creating spaces and products that allow Pacific people — especially women — to feel seen, represented, and proud of who they are?
To answer this question, I would like to tell you a story.
A beautiful Samoan friend of mine works as a case worker supporting a Tongan family — a mother and her children who were survivors of domestic violence. Journalling was part of their healing program, so my friend acquired some Vai Salt tapa journals, hoping it might encourage them to write.
Months later, she called to tell me the journals inspired the family to engage in the program. The mother began writing poetry and eventually stood before a room full of people to recite one of her poems about her experience, reading directly from a Vai Salt tapa journal. Not one dry eye in the room.
The healing power of that woman’s testimony and courage was incredible. While my contribution was small compared to these two amazing women, I am deeply proud that a Vai Salt journal inspired something so significant.
Another great Business Story from an inspiring Pacific Woman. We know with each of our ‘Spotlight’ features you will have some great ‘golden nuggets’ to take away & help you in your own business journey. These Amazing Stories shared with you would not be possible without the generous contribution, love and time given from our Business Owners
who want to help others in their Business Journey. Ko raba Cassandra.
We leave off with Juanita’s Top 3 Apps
that help her work more effectively every day
Most of my sales come through Instagram, so that would definitely be one.
I also use ChatGPT to search for books and information about Pacific Islands, Kupesi, mythology, cosmology, and history.
Honestly though, most of the apps I use are music-related!
