NOT so long ago he was a young boy running along the shores of Nukubalavu in Savusavu, either with his four younger siblings or helping his parents collect coconuts, firewood or going fishing.
His mother was a stay at home mum who made sure the best was prepared for the family, while dad did odd jobs from working part time at nearby hotels to going fishing and attending to the farm.
It’s a simple life that taught him and his younger siblings to always remain grounded, being humble, being resilient with a lot of determination and taking the bull by the horn despite what life throws at him.
His younger siblings turned out to be successful athletes, Thomas Vulivuli a national football rep, Finau Vulivuli became the first Fijian female referee to officiate at the FIFA World Cup and youngest brother Albert who is based in France also a national 15s rugby rep.
“I also used to play back in high school, but when I left there was no time to play because straight after high school I was out at sea,” said Captain William Vulivuli.
He was determined to rise through the ranks and from just a young 18 year old lad exploring the ropes of working on a ship, by the time he turned 22 he was already a fully-fledged and licensed ship captain.
“I celebrated my 21st birthday out at sea and I must say there were a lot of sacrifices along the way,” said Captain William.
For over two decades he circumnavigated the globe before returning home working for local shipping agencies.
“The money was really great but I missed something far greater than that and that was family. I missed the birth of my oldest child, and the turning point was when I came home one time and my child ran past me as he did not recognise me. I had to do something about it and the best thing to do was to look for work at home and stay on dry land so I can be close to my family.”
Captain William later became chief executive officer of Bligh Water Shipping and general manager Interlink Shipping Line Ltd, but he was not giving up, he had to try new things and just like a sailor venturing into uncharted waters, he decided to enter the business world.
“I remember when I was sailing we were paid $30 a day, get paid on Friday, get drunk and return broke on Monday. That was the life of a seamen, but as I grew older I started saving and purchasing properties, before opening my own business,” he said.
At the age of 42 years the Nukubalvu native has several companies under his name – a shipping, engineering, construction and a couple others with his latest initiative the opening of his new restaurant at the Wailada Industrial Sub-Division in Lami.
“This is a new initiative all together, I know very little about working in a restaurant but I saw there was no restaurant in this area that cooks traditional Fijian cuisine so I thought of opening it,” he said.
“So to get the best result I have to hire the best in the business therefore I had to come up with a good package, the person that is paid the lowest here is $5 per hour and increases depending on the position you hold. Most of the guys that work in the kitchen have worked in five star resorts.
“At the moment I am still doing my Masters in Business Administration at the University of the South Pacific, and something I learnt from there is BOT – Build Operate and Transfer. I have the idea, I have the money, I just need to get in the right people and we build the company and transfer it to them to look after.
“Capitano Café provides the best dish you would want to taste. Food is carefully selected, we often purchase from rural and maritime farmers, as a way to ensure their business is also thriving.”
The buck, however, does not stop there for Captain William. He hopes to keep expanding and investing in other initiatives.
“I hope this café will be a breeding ground for those who want to go and serve in cruise liners, maybe a pathway of that kind so I have made a few contacts on how we can do this, we can have students come here for training before moving on.
“For me, I have some very loyal staff who have been with me since day one, these people I always keep because I trust them. As for those who work in the café I don’t intend to have them here for the rest of their life, I prepare them for something far greater. This is where they are groomed before they move out.”
His first aim now is to try and complete his MBA, before making another bold move.
If you ever have a chance looking for a local eatery, try the Capitano Café in Wailada, Lami, trust me they cook the best traditional cuisine.
You will not be disappointed and for $15 you are sure to leave the place satisfied.
