Bula Hookah Lounge Celebrates First Anniversary

Bula Hookah Lounge is an ideal crossover of cultures of Fiji and Canada.

Owned by Nathan Chand, a 26-year-old living in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada, Buka Hookah Lounge represents his Fijian heritage.

He said he previously worked as a photographer for another hookah lounge and witnessed all the places that needed improvements.

“I realised I could open my own and be much more successful, so that’s exactly what I did,” he said.

Mr Chand is very proud and passionate Fijian.

“When I was younger, I would get mad when people would constantly mistake me as Punjabi or Indian. Consequently, I secretly got a tattoo at the age of 16."

“Till this day, I have palm trees tattooed on my back with a beach setting with the word ‘FIJIAN’ hovering over the water.”

Mr Chand said he named his lounge ‘Bula Hookah Lounge’ to represent the pride of his 16-year-old self.

“My goal is to educate people about Fiji and its culture. As you know, one of the most heard words in Fiji is ‘bula’.

“The name itself helps attract the many Fijian people living in Canada.”

Mr Chand described the décor of his lounge as tropical with vibrant colours.

A few palm trees, signed rugby jersey by Waisale Serevi, and a map of Fiji.

“We have even had companies contact us asking if we are willing to display their items to represent Fiji.”

He said guests were greeted with either a ‘Bula’ or a ‘Hello’ in the lounge.

“When glasses/plates break in restaurants, the Greek yell ‘Opa!’.

“Here at Bula Hookah Lounge, we yell Bula!.”

Recently celebrating the one year anniversary of the Bula Hookah Lounge, he said the hookahs at the launch were customised to the lounge and have not been seen at any other lounge in North America.

“People from all around Canada are coming to try our hookahs. Lounges in USA are even messaging to ask us to buy these hookahs from us.”

Aside from the hookah, Bula Hookah Lounge also legally serves Kava.

“Currently, we source our kava from Fiji but we will be switching to a local company in California due to COVID-19. Some customers try kava at our lounge for the first time in their lives!”

He added the lounge has an educational pamphlet that gives out important information regarding the lounge.

Mr Chand works as a full as a community liaison officer for Transit Security in Canada along with being the sole owner of the lounge and has also recently opened a barber shop and salon for men and ladies.

With the Bula Hookah Lounge, you began with alcohol beverages, but now it’s only kava. Tell us why you have switched to kava and where is it sourced from?

Yes, when we first opened, we served alcohol on Fridays and Saturdays.

We gauged the crowd and the vibe, and it was turning into more of a nightclub which is not what we wanted.

We wanted the environment to be a place with a relaxed atmosphere where you can come enjoy with your friends.

If people want to party and go wild, that’s what the nightclub is for.

We are known as a hookah lounge for a reason, a place to lounge with your friends and smoke hookah.

We were serving alcohol and kava at the same time but after a few weeks decided to remove the alcohol and promote kava and the health benefits that come with it.

Kava at the Bula Hookah Lounge.

Who were your influences?

To be honest, I haven’t really ever listened to anyone (aside from my parents).

My parents were not my influence, they were my reason, just like how my future family/kids are my reason.

I want to be able to provide for my family and eliminate the financial struggle for generations to come.

Do you plan to visit/return to Fiji?

When the time comes, I will definitely make my way to Fiji to open Bula Lounge Fiji.

Hopefully, franchising the business to Fiji will help educate people about Fiji and bring more tourists and visitors to Fiji.

When the time comes my goal is to make Bula Lounge in Fiji one of the top in the world.

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj