What do renowned explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, Fijian-born New Zealand rugby player Waisake Naholo and hotel general manager Steven Andrews all have in common? They’re all Bulanaires!
You’re probably wondering what a Bulanaire is – in short, it’s someone who’s rich in happiness, a Fijian twist on the annual billionaire rich lists published each year. A term coined by Tourism Fiji to celebrate International Happiness Day on 20 March, Bulanaire stems from the traditional Fijian greeting, bula! But bula is much more than just a simple hello. It’s a wish for happiness and good health to other people, it’s a spiritual memo to live by and most importantly, it’s a Fijian state of mind. The vision is that Bulanaires like Waisake and Jean-Michel will share their happiness with the world at a time when, arguably, the world needs it the most.
The best thing about it is that anyone can be a Bulanaire. How? It’s all about being genuine and welcoming, appreciating the little things in life, having a sense of fun and spreading the love to others. Of course, the ideal way to understand how to be a Bulanaire is to be surrounded by them and the best way to do that is to visit the birthplace of bula – Fiji!
Once you step off the plane, it’s not hard to see why locals are so happy. Fiji is a collection of 333 beautiful tropical islands blessed with year-round sunshine, turquoise waters and sugar-white sands – scenery that will make you feel like a million dollars. Its remote location in the South Pacific means you can completely switch off, whether that’s turning your phone off to soak up your picture-perfect surrounds or spoiling yourself with a traditional spa treatment. Fiji’s islands are full of adventure, too, from snorkelling among vivid coral reefs to quad-biking through the islands’ lush highlands. But wherever you go, you’ll hear cheerful cries of ‘bula!’ from super-friendly locals and it’s this infectious spirit that makes Fiji so special. Fiji’s a place you can go to get rich – in happiness – quick and we think that’s the healthiest type of wealth you can have.
We’re thrilled to say we’ve just released our brand new Fiji brochure, so we’re brimming with Bulanaire inspiration. Now, we’d love to help you become one, too!
