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Bula [ Boo-lah ] is a way of wishing someone good health and a long life in the Fijian language. You’ll hear “Bula” or “Bula-Bula” offered warmly — to family, friends and strangers — as a greeting throughout the day in Fiji.
“Bula” or “good health” is at the heart of what we do at Bula Batiki — a different kind of surf brand run by a remote island community. As the traditional custodians of the land and sea, we care deeply about the health of our ocean, our islands and our people.
What makes us different? We’re a small Fijian co-op making sustainable world-class surf products for wave lovers around the world.
Our surfboard wax, which we call Board Butter, takes its shape from coral found on our reefs. And our scented after-sun oils are made from coconuts right here on our island.
We first came together in 2015 to make organic virgin coconut oil for export to the UK. Starting 2023, we’re moving into value added products.
Our bamboo eyewear is inspired by Batiki and made by hand in Bali. Each piece features the traditional “Vakadivilivili” motif found on our woven mats.
Good question. Batiki is a small 12 square kilometre island in the pristine Koro Sea at the heart of the Fiji group of islands.
We’re about thirty miles or a three hour boat ride away from the eastern coast of Fiji’s largest island Viti Levu.
Our surrounding waters are home to turtles, dolphins and whales as well as sacred reefs that have never been fished.
In all, there are 332 other islands in Fiji and a number of world-famous surf breaks including Cloudbreak.
Good question. Batiki is a small 12 square kilometre island in the pristine Koro Sea at the heart of the Fiji group of islands.
We’re about thirty miles or a three hour boat ride away from the eastern coast of Fiji’s largest island Viti Levu.
Our surrounding waters are home to turtles, dolphins and whales as well as sacred reefs that have never been fished.
In all, there are 332 other islands in Fiji and a number of world-famous surf breaks including Cloudbreak.
Batiki is a small island on the forefront of climate change; surrounded by a warming ocean, and rising sea levels. And we’re experiencing more frequent and more severe tropical cyclones and storm surges. It’s a problem we didn’t create — but we’re doing something by taking action.
Income from Bula Batiki helps support the 300 women, men and children of Batiki retain our way of life, which is living simply from the land and sea, and only taking what we need. This alternative source of income reduces fishing pressure from our reefs and allows fish stocks to regenerate.
There are four villages on the island: Yavu, Naigani, Mua, Manuku and everyone pitches in. We created Bula Batiki because we love our island and our community — and we invite you to experience our island home through our products.
We are Bula Batiki.
Josefa is our Operations Manager. A champion of teamwork, time-management and governance, which he knows are the main core values when running a strong and successful business. He loves his three children and even farms to generate additional income to support their education.
It’s safe to say Suraki is a people person — which is great for us, as his job sees him chatting to people all over Fiji! He speaks to everyone from government ministries, to NGOs, Provincial Council representatives, donors, markets and various other stakeholders off the island. No one is immune to his charm!
Originally from Gau, Seavu is married to Nemani of Yavu Village and has four children. She joined the company when it was first founded and now works with the Quality Control Team. She has a real talent for mat weaving and is a keen baker and overall positive ray of sunshine in the community.
Welcome to Yavu Village, a slice of paradise on Batiki’s western coast.
Here, amidst coconut-laden sands and deep turquoise waters of the Koro Sea, just south of the foot of Vatumatai Hill, Yavu is Batiki’s most-populous village.
Yavu also plays home to Bula Batiki HQ — built with the help of CAUKIN Studio back in 2019.
Not your typical head office, ours is a self-sustaining solar-powered processing facility that stands as a testament to our dedication to the environment and the preservation of Batiki’s pristine beauty.
Originally from the neighbouring island of Moturiki, Akanisi works with the Quality Control Team and is the Food Safety team’s assistant leader. A stickler for detail and high standards, Akanisi is responsible for ensuring everyone adheres to the right safety procedures. She’s a very strong and hardworking lady and a champion of good time management!
Apisai, a respected leader on Batiki Island, holds the position of Chairman of the Batiki Island Council.
A devoted family man with four children, Apisai is committed to serving his community. His strong leadership skills and deep connection to the island make him an invaluable member of the Bula Batiki team.
Tusikeli is a married father of four and a skilled fish diver here on Batiki. He is a member of our Coconut Scraping Team and is known for his humble character and constant smile — except when it comes to taking pictures!
He holds a lifelong passion for fishing and has been diving since he was a young boy.
Nestled along the picturesque western coast of Batiki lies the village of Mua.
Mua is Batiki’s chiefly village who holds the traditional leadership role for everyone here on the island.
Within the village, you’ll also find the Batiki Nursing Station and District School, two vital pillars of support for our community.
Facing west, we are blessed with a remarkable gift bestowed upon us by nature itself – breathtaking sunsets that paint the sky with a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues.
Every evening the beaches of Mua become a front-row seat to witness this spectacle as the sun gracefully descends beyond the horizon.
To say Laijia likes to keep busy would be an understatement. He’s a farmer, a fisherman, and Naigani village’s Church Steward. He’s also the leader of Bula Batiki’s Coconut Scraping Team where he holds the record for the fastest coconut scraping time.
Oh, he’s the Chairperson of the Bula Batiki Board and he is possibly the best boat captain in the Lomaiviti Group of islands!
Originally from Yavu, Tarusila is on the Coconut Pressing and Quality Control Team. She has nine children, loves fishing and snorkelling and collecting seashells for her art.
She is also something of an entrepreneur herself, and has an up-and-coming mat-weaving business. Talk about talent!
Akapusi is married with nine children. He’s the team leader for the Clean-up Crew at our processing plant, responsible for maintaining the overall cleanliness of the working areas.
He’s also been the Treasurer for the island district school for the past five years. He does enjoy sharing a joke or two with everyone during break times.
Resting upon the beaches of Vatukaca Reef, Naigani Village is Batiki’s northernmost settlement and the village most affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston, which made landfall on Batiki back in February of 2016.
making the Vakadivilivili
Mat weaving is a tradition that’s been passed down on from generation to generation in all four villages here on Batiki.
Our most famous mats feature our very own criss-crossing “Vakadivilivili” [Va-kan-da-villy-villy] pattern — which you may already be familiar with, as it’s featured on our packaging and website. This is a pattern specific to Batiki.
It’s made by taking the leaves of the Pandanus tree and drying them out in the sunlight.
After the leaves have been sunned, we take half of these “Voivoi” leaves to be dyed; submerged in the “Toni toni ni somo” — an inland pond shared by all the villages.
After a few days we remove the leaves and sun them some more, which produces the black “somo” leaves that we use to make our beloved mats.
Vasenai, hailing from Naigani village and married to Epi Tavodi of Manuku, is a mother of four and a diligent worker in the Coconut Pressing Team at our processing plant.
She is a fast learner, a great team player and has a talent for weaving mats and other home craft skills.
Ana, a married mother of nine from Manuku, is one of the champions of traditional craft weaving here on Batiki Island.
As the Women’s Group Leader for the Batiki Island Council, she is also a member of the Food Safety Team and joins the Bottling Team of the company.
A diligent and skilled worker, Samu is the leader of the Coconut Pressing team.
He is the man in charge of ensuring that all of the work is done to the highest standards, and is the person playfully tapping his watch when things are a little too behind schedule…
Tucked gracefully between Ucuinivatu Point and the shores of Cakolau Beach, lies Manuku Village, Batiki’s easternmost gem.
Manuku is a coastal village that is set against the backdrop of Batiki Island’s rich tropical forest.
Manuku is located on the windward side of the island facing the surrounding Koro Sea with a clear and closer view of the neighbouring islands of Koro, Nairai and Gau that sit on it’s horizon.
