🌴 #11 Fiji Flow: Real Talk, Real Receipts & Real Respect

Bula FijiFlow Fam,

This edition is packed with sharp moves, sharper words, and a few reality checks along the way. 📚🏡

From spelling slip-ups at the top, to real estate price tag drama, to a young boy quietly setting the standard for civic pride - the past fortnight had no shortage of moments worth a second look.

We’re talking respect, responsibility, and what happens when the small things (or small mistakes) tell a much bigger story.

Let’s get into it. ⬇️

Freedom of Speech: A Two-Way Street

In a time where every post, share, and comment travels faster than ever, the conversation around responsibility on social media has never been more important. Recent news from the Fiji Police highlights growing concerns over hateful speech and incitement online, a reminder that while freedom of expression is a right, it’s not without limits.

At FijiFlow, we ran a quick poll with our followers and 71% agreed: freedom of speech must come with responsibility.
Words have power - and the way we use them can either build communities or break them apart. Let's choose wisely.

Dining with Respect: It Goes Both Ways

Tracy Powell, a restaurateur and consultant for MyKai, raises some very real and very raw truths about life behind the kitchen pass. Long hours, low wages, customer abuse, and mental health struggles - it's the tough reality many hospitality workers face daily. And yes, a bit more empathy from diners wouldn’t hurt.

But flip the table for a second. Customers aren't just walking wallets with endless goodwill. They, too, work hard, save up, and when they choose to spend their limited cash at your restaurant, they’re entitled to expect a good meal, decent service, and a genuine experience. It's a two-way relationship: hard work and respect flow both ways. Restaurants aren't charities - they're businesses. If the customer experience fails, so does the business.

So next time you’re dining out, sure, show some empathy. But for restaurants, the reminder is just as important: earning that empathy starts with consistently delivering on what customers are paying for.

Privacy, Professionalism, and the Price of Getting It Wrong

Whether you agree with Leanne’s frustration or not, the real takeaway here is a business one: privacy breaches and careless communication cost credibility — fast. In an era where trust is everything, forwarding confidential emails without consent isn't just sloppy; it signals to your customers that their information isn’t safe with you. And that perception sticks harder than any apology after the fact.

For context, here’s the content of the email reply Leanne received:

The bigger failure, though, wasn't the breach. It was the breathtakingly casual response from management - dismissing a customer’s valid concern as “pathetic.” Not every customer complaint is reasonable, but every single one is an opportunity: to show professionalism, to de-escalate, and to protect your brand.

Instead, Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) gave a free lesson in how to turn one private grievance into a very public headache.

🍽 FOOD FINDS

New Flavours, Same Address: Welcome to My Kai

Island vibes, vintage feels - chandeliers, artefacts, and a whole lot of soul. We dived into entrées, tackled the Island BBQ Grill, and conquered the Char Sui Pork Banh Mi.

Dessert? Tiramisu and a zingy lychee coconut lime cake.
New name. New vibe. Fresh menu.

P.S. It’s where the Old Kanu restaurant was located (46 Knollys St, Suva)

🀄 Red Banquet: Lautoka’s Northern Chinese Gem 🍜 

We hit Red Banquet and it’s serving bold Northern Chinese and Sichuan vibes with a side of Ghost of Tsushima aesthetics.

Savoury heat, complimentary tea, crunchy peanuts - it’s the little details that lock in the experience.

Whether you’re rolling solo for lunch or locking down a private booth with the gang, it’s a win either way. Only 5 minutes out of Lautoka (on the way to Ba)… this one’s worth the effort.

📲🧠 Social Media Chess Masters

When the Real Complaint Is the Spelling

Trying to dunk on the media but tripping over your own keyboard... tough scenes. 📚 Maybe next time, the first check should be spellcheck.

📈📉 Market Listings vs Reality

Tasked for proof, got served with a price list. 📜🔍

This was less a "check it out" and more a "check yourself.

For context, this was the price list Jay shared:

💪🏽 Health & Fitness

Grace Road Group has officially flexed into the fitness scene with the launch of True Fitness in Vitogo, Lautoka - and it’s already making waves. With a fully air-conditioned space, state-of-the-art equipment, shower facilities, and a spotless, modern layout, it’s easy to see why the gym is drawing so much attention.

Locals are sharing their love for the new space (like Zunaid here! 👇), showing that Lautoka’s health and fitness community is growing stronger by the day.

Here’s a member showing the various equipment and the general setup.

🎥✨ Video of the Week 🌴

Small Hands, Big Message

At this weekend’s Coca-Cola Games, one young boy quietly delivered a masterclass in civic pride. As crowds cleared out, he stayed behind - garbage bag in hand, picking up rubbish twice his size. The clip has since gone viral, and for good reason. In a world where it’s easier to leave problems for someone else, his simple act reminds us that real change starts with the small, unglamorous choices.

It’s a scene that echoes the respect-driven culture we often admire in places like Japan, where cleaning up after major events isn't left to stadium staff - it's a shared responsibility woven into daily life.

Maybe the real victory at this year’s Games wasn’t just on the track…it was this quiet moment, asking all of us: what kind of footprint are we really leaving behind?

Vinaka for riding the wave with us, FijiFlow fam! 🌊 We’ll be back in a fortnight with more stories that matter, moments that hit different, and a few laughs along the way.

Until then, share the vibe - because good energy (and a little bit of real talk) is meant to travel. 💬✨ Catch you in the next one!