SONG AND DANCE
An intrinsic part of the Cook Islanders lifestyle is their dance. Each island has its own historical dances, which are a form of storytelling and these are practised assiduously from early childhood.  | There are numerous competitions throughout the year on each island and these are hotly contested. Cook Islanders are regarded as amongst the finest Polynesian dancers anywhere and have won many international awards. While the rest of the world is well aware of the allure of the Hawaiian hula and the Tahitian tamur, the Cook Islands hura is far more sensual and fierce. The Cook Islands talent for music both in the song and dance can be seen at the many festivals throughout the year.
There are numerous string bands who create a range of ingenuous music when they play at restaurants, hotels and concerts - as they combine modern electronics with traditional ukeleles fashioned from coconut shells.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVATION Missionaries have had a tremendous impact on the Cook Islands and today, the worship of God is deeply ingrained into the islanders psyche.
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Missionaries from The London Missionary Society arrived in the Cook Islands as early as 1821 Cook Islanders have remained firmly entrenched in a tropical religious bastion that is very important to them, ever since.
Not to be missed is Sunday morning service at one of the many churches distributed around the island.
Most visitors exposed for the first time to Cook Islands hymn singing are astonished at the power of the voices and the quality of the harmony. |  |
 | Men turn out in their Sunday best and the island women are always immaculate in their stiff 'rito' hats made of young coconut fibre. Churches are at Avarua, Arorangi, Titikaveka, Ngatangiia and Matavera and visitors are always welcome.
There is much interest also in wandering around the churchyards checking on the headstones.
Note that Sundays are regarded island-wide as a day of rest (and, for islanders, a mandatory attendance at church).
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 | You will find very few shops or tourist activities open on a Sunday, other than perhaps petrol stations and half a dozen restaurants. DRESS CODE While The Cook Islands are informal and the dress is casual, it is recommended that very brief attire such as bikinis not be worn in shopping areas or public places outside of the beach and resorts, as it may cause offence in some places.
Click here to view images of Cook Islands |
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