Story
ブナケン チャ チャ ネイチャー リゾートは、ラフとレイコが共有した夢から始まりました。その夢は、まったく予想外の、魔法のような形で始まりました。
わずか2日間一緒にダイビングした後、レイコさんは日本に戻り、ブナケン島での今後のサンゴ礁清掃プロジェクトについてラフさんに手紙を書いた。
そのシンプルな手紙がきっかけで温かい交流が始まり、数々の偶然や共通の情熱を通じて、彼らのつながりは急速に自然に育っていったのです。
実際に一緒に過ごしたのはわずか4日間でしたが、二人は結婚して新たな冒険を始めることにしました。
彼らはまず英国に定住し、本業の傍ら小さなダイビング事業を営み、ブナケンへのダイビングツアーを企画しました。
こうした旅の途中で、彼らはブナケン島で静かな土地を発見し、そこから彼らの夢が本当に始まったのです。
海とブナケン島の素晴らしい海洋生物に対する深い愛情を持つラフさんとレイコさんは、ここがまさに自分たちの場所だとすぐに分かりました。
二人は一緒にチャチャを手作りし、自分たちが想像していた親密で個人的な隠れ家へと形を整えていった。
ゲストが自然と静けさを楽しめる場所
おいしい料理と、温かく心のこもったおもてなし。
今日、ブナケン チャ チャ ネイチャー リゾートは、海への愛、食への情熱、そして心を込めて造られた家にゲストを迎えるシンプルな喜びから生まれた場所という、共通のビジョンを尊重し続けています。
Choosing a New Life on a Remote Island
Bunaken Island lies about 60 minutes by boat off the coast of Manado, the capital of Indonesia’s North Sulawesi Province.
We were drawn to a small, secluded beach and its rare sense of calm and privacy. However, before Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort was created, the northeastern side of Bunaken Island — often considered the island’s ‘back side’ — was completely undeveloped. There were no permanent residents, no buildings, and no basic infrastructure.
Choosing this untouched part of the island meant accepting an extraordinary, life-changing challenge: building everything entirely from scratch.
Below are some of the challenges that shaped Bunaken Cha Cha, and the steps we took to transform our vision into a place we are proud to share with guests from around the world.
A Man of Passion
Raf was not only the founder of Cha Cha, but also a deeply passionate and gifted builder whose hands shaped much of what the resort is today.
With great respect for the island and its people, he generously shared his knowledge and skills with the local village craftsmen, teaching them techniques and building side by side. His spirit, dedication, and love for Bunaken continue to live on in every corner of Cha Cha.
The First building
We started construction a year before we moved permanently.
A local carpenter built the dining area about 3 meters higher than originally planned, which was a welcome surprise.
The First Cottgaes
There were no machines, so Raf and Reiko began digging the foundations by hand together with local carpenters, and then started building the first wooden cottages.
Everything was done manually — and in many ways, it still is today.
Setting the Basics Right
At the time, there was little awareness on the island of environmentally responsible wastewater management, so the project began by sharing its importance and building a proper treatment system.
iStep by Step
We learned to communicate patiently, sharing construction techniques, providing guidance on compressor settings, and passing on everyday skills, including cooking and cleaning, while working side by side.
Shaped by the Island
The original cottage design was born from a dream, but nature soon taught us its realities.
Through wind, rain, and sun, the design continued to evolve, eventually giving rise to its second, third, and fourth generations - all thoughtfully designed by Raf and Reiko, together.
A Matter of Water
At the time, there were no proper machines for digging. Securing daily water by building a holding tank quickly became one of our top priorities