Same here. I'd smoked cigarettes but not regularly. I was smoking hookah daily though. Vaping is a whole lot better for you, more portable, and even better tasting. There sell starter kits of varying qualities but here is what I recommended for a friend earlier. These aren't necessarily links to buy from, just the products. Try and grab from one site to save on shipping, you'll have to look around. Its a relatively inexpensive quality beginner setup that you'll likely enjoy.
http://www.smoktech.com/product_10053.html
http://www.kangeronline.com/products/aerotank-mow-emow-clearomizer?variant=883975493
http://www.myvaporstore.com/Joyetech_eGo_Rapid_USB_Charger_p/ego-char.htm (omething like this, any "ego charger" will work)
Juice is really up to you, for pack a day smokers its recommended to get juice that has 18mg/ml of nicotine. I'd order a bottle in 6mg, 12mg, and 18mg just to see what does it for you. The more nic the harsher the throat hit. Maybe get one fruity flavor, and another dessert flavor as people have different tastes. To start off don't go cheap on the juice ($7-15 for 15Ml would be fine).
My only reservation is that hookah has really big clouds with a wide open inhale. It'll be a different experience. Airflow will feel a bit more restrictive, but you'll get your nicotine and some flavor and small clouds. If you got more advanced with vaping there are setups a bit more similar to the feeling of smoking hookah.
Hope that helped, its 8am and I didn't sleep last night. Just tried to get some stuff down for you.