Mauke, Cook Islands Southern Group

Marcel Teraimana Tua gives an insight into everyday life on Mauke through his photographs of family and friends. He says: "Life is hard and simple. It's fun too once you get used to it, but it's not that easy."

Marcel's little cousin swimming with friends at Mauke harbour. Jumping from the concrete wall into the water is a popular pastime for children.

One of Marcel's bigger cousins husking coconuts. Islanders make coconut cream to mix with their food.

Marcel's aunty digging kumara or sweet potato to take home, clean, cook and eat. Planting and fishing are part of a typical Maukean lifestyle, and are all about providing food for the family.

Centenary celebrations of St. Mary's School, Tamariki

Marcel says: "The airport is a place to see new people and greet friends, family and tourists. It's also a place where you see lots of eis - head eis and neck eis. The fragrance of the flowers and plants of the island just put you into a dreamy trance. It's all so awesome. Leaving Mauke was always hard for me but I keep in mind that I will always be back."

Eis or leis are made from the maire plant. Marcel's Aunty holds a bunch of stems. The leis were exported to Hawaii providing a good income for islanders.

MAUKE AIRPORT