Cook Islands Culture and People

Cook Islands society is intricately woven -- often with large extended families living in a single house, or collection of houses. Family lineage is very important to Cook Islanders, most of whom can proudly trace their ancestors back for many generations to the original tribes of the islands. This is why most islanders bury their relatives in elaborate graves within the family garden.

The term "cousin" is loosely used to describe someone with whom your family roots can be traced. Titles of authority and land rights are passed through both the male and female lineage. Land cannot be bought or sold, so often those on the outer islands without land rights will try to marry someone who does have land rights on Rarotonga. About 70 percent of the population belongs to the Cook Islands Christian Church. The second largest group are Roman Catholics, although Anglicans, the Assembly of God, Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and those of the Apostolic and Baha'i faith are also found.

Traditional dress is a distinctive feature of island life. Like much else on the islands, dress is casual and modest. Both men and women wear wrap-around pieces of material called "pareu" around the home, and women sometimes tie them nicely to wear out on a special occasion. The freedom of such clothing is always a source of enjoyment for volunteer teams! While the high quality arts and crafts of the Cook Islands today are but a shadow of their former importance, they were once widespread. However, Cook Islanders still produce unique, massive wooden carvings, finely woven hats and "black pearl" jewelry sought by tourists.

Perhaps the most widely recognized art form are the communally sewn "tivaevae" -- colorful and intricate appliqué quilts that women piece together in groups not much different from the quilting bees of frontier America. These beautiful quilts, whose designs often feature flowers, plants, butterflies, and sea-life, are often hung to adorn a wall in a place, such as a village hall, where a special ceremony is taking place. Highly valued as gifts, they often are given on special occasions such as the first time a boy or young man has his hair cut, or to visiting dignitaries. Tivaevae are also sometime used to wrap the body of the deceased at funerals. This historic art form is rarely seen outside of homes.