Bula
Denarau

Bula Denarau (formerly the Denarau Island Magazine) was founded in 1996 by the late James Siers – a legendary author, filmmaker, and adventurer who dedicated his life to documenting the soul of the Pacific. Having authored over 30 books, including the seminal Fiji in Colour and Fiji Celebration, James’s lens captured a Fiji that few outsiders ever saw, preserving the traditions and beauty of the islands for future generations.

Today, that legacy is carried forward by his son, Conrad Siers. Conrad’s connection to the Pacific isn’t just professional; it was forged in real-world adventure. Having survived the shipwreck of the Taratai II with his father at age 10, Conrad spent two weeks adrift in a liferaft after their voyaging canoe was broken by a storm 200 miles east of Niue. That experience – a “sweetness of life” shared with a crew of five others – instilled a deep respect for the ocean and those island communities that exist amongst it. In fact the Taratai II was built and launched from Denarau, and had one Fijian crewman, Jope, so Conrad’s association with the Island goes back fifty years.

Having spent his life between the archival pages of South Pacific history and the reality of its modern growth, Conrad brings a unique, “unfiltered” perspective to the digital evolution of the magazine. Married into a Fijian family and raising his two children in Tavua, Conrad lives the culture he writes about.

Operating 2 hours north of the Denarau hub, the Siers family continues to provide an authentic insider’s look at the islands – blending six decades of archival depth with the lived experience of modern Fiji life.