Regular Events Earmarked To Promote Culture

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is planning to run Kia Orana Week regularly to give visitors the opportunity to learn and understand more about the Cook Islands culture and tradition.

This year’s Kia Orana Week opening event started yesterday with tivaevae-making, fabric painting (tie dying) and pareu-tying at the Maire Nui Park across from the Banana Court in downtown Avarua.

A good turnout was recorded on the opening day of activities, which ran from 11am to 2pm.

Cook Islands Tourism Director of destination development Metua Vaiimene said after the success of the Tourism Week held last year, the corporation had decided to hold regular programmes such as the Kia Orana Week to highlight Cook Islands culture and heritage as a key part of the tourism industry.

He said two more Kia Orana Weeks were planned for the year, to be held from June 25-29 and September 26-30.

“We would love to have a programme like this at the market or on the another side of the island – not always in town. What we want to do through the Kia Orana Week is to increase the interaction between our visitors and our locals and our local culture, art and crafts,” Vaiimene said.

“This will not only help with visitors experience to gain a true sense of the place and to understand Cook Islanders and their lifestyle, their history, their heritage but also makes economic sense because it gives our visitors an opportunity to spend more on our local crafts.

“This has two benefits; firstly the yield from our visitors will be better and therefore will go up. Secondly, our local people will have a chance to make something out of the tourism boom that we are enjoying.”

A number of activities have been planned as part of this weeklong event.

An ei-making demonstration, as well as a weaving demonstration to teach visitors more about the styles of head and neck garlands common to the Cook Islands, and about fun and easy weaving techniques, will take place today.

On Wednesday, local jewellery and craft making demonstrations will be the main visitor activity. This will be followed by the Vaka Pride prize‐giving.

On Thursday, there will be a coconut husking and grating demonstration, followed by a demonstration of how to make ika mata, the iconic local raw fish dish, will take place. Visitors will be offered a sample of ika mata.

There will also be a Maori medicine demonstration for all to learn more about local herbs and potions.

Kia Orana Week will end with a physical and active Friday where visitors will be taught ura (dance) followed by the Ura Fitness class and demo.

Ura Fitness is a local fitness craze involving Cook Islands and Polynesian dancing.

Vaiimene is calling on visitors and residents to take advantage of the free activities they were running this week.

(Source: Cook Islands News 20 March 2018)

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