Some Raro Happenings

For those of you who have just started looking at this site, Rarotonga is the largest island of a country made up of 15 islands called The Cook Islands. Rarotonga is the capitol island with a population of about 9000 in a country with a population of about 18,000 residents. Rarotonga is located directly south of Kaua'i, Hawaii.... the same distance south of the equator that Kaua'i is north. The island is about 5 miles long and 4 miles wide....the distance around is about 20 miles. About 85% of the population are pure Polynesian Maori. They speak both Rarotongan and English with a New Zealand accent. Cook Islanders are among the friendliest people in the world.

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The sun comes up through those coconut trees....my motor bike is ready to go, but not so early because the mornings, starting very early, are spent at the computer.

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When I got into Avarua, the drumming and I don't know what other contests were being held here. The drum teams were from the different schools around the island. I couldn't get close enough to get any good photos without crowding in front of people so here are some crowd photos.

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The Banana Court Bar was the last of the famous South Seas bars to close. Quinn's Bar in Papeete,Tahiti was the most famous and found it's way into many stories by authors you know about. The Banana Court Bar was open when I went there and partied with a table of Pukapukans in 1985. Now, it is no longer a bar and party place. Check it out.

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