THROUGH YOUNG ISLANDERS' EYES
Cook Islands is a peaceful island because the people are friendly and kind. We love to welcome tourists to our island. Our island is a kind and friendly island. Our island has no war and we live in peace and harmony. We are not in war because we live in a little island.
Ngatokorima Paia, Avarua School. Rarotonga
Ngatokorima Paia, Avarua School. Rarotonga
In the Cook Islands the people are Polynesians. They are friendly, caring, respectful, loving and very kind people. They stay as one and live very close to relatives because families mainly own the lands. The people show love to one another. They are very helpful and cooperate with each other. The people mainly enjoy working in groups for the betterment of society instead of individuals. There are not many people on each island especially the outer islands and everybody knows each other. No matter if a tourist is a different race they still show love and make that person welcome.
The environment is important to the island people. The people always keep the environment clean. The environments on each island are super clean and beautiful. The air is fresh and free from polluted gas of industries. The islands are blessed with natural beauty, white sandy beaches, hidden caves and black pearls to name a few. On each island we have different species of birds unique to that island's environment. When you want a perfect, quiet place where only island birds are heard, the Cook Islands is the perfect place.
Christianity is the religion in the Cook Islands which is important to the Cook Islands people. The religion is what shapes the people because it teaches about forgiveness and repentance. Sunday is a special day in the Cook Islands where people attend church.
Our customs are precious to us Polynesians. It portrays our identity. This is what makes us a unique people. Welcoming people to the Cook Islands by presenting flower eis is a sign of acceptance and love. Time is more flexible in the Cook Islands.
So the best destination spot is the Cook Islands. No trouble, no stress, no feeling of lost hope, just the feeling of happiness and relaxation.
The environment is important to the island people. The people always keep the environment clean. The environments on each island are super clean and beautiful. The air is fresh and free from polluted gas of industries. The islands are blessed with natural beauty, white sandy beaches, hidden caves and black pearls to name a few. On each island we have different species of birds unique to that island's environment. When you want a perfect, quiet place where only island birds are heard, the Cook Islands is the perfect place.
Christianity is the religion in the Cook Islands which is important to the Cook Islands people. The religion is what shapes the people because it teaches about forgiveness and repentance. Sunday is a special day in the Cook Islands where people attend church.
Our customs are precious to us Polynesians. It portrays our identity. This is what makes us a unique people. Welcoming people to the Cook Islands by presenting flower eis is a sign of acceptance and love. Time is more flexible in the Cook Islands.
So the best destination spot is the Cook Islands. No trouble, no stress, no feeling of lost hope, just the feeling of happiness and relaxation.
Vainemaru Matapo, Mangaia
THE ISLANDS OF PEACE
The following are extracts from the winning entries in an essay writing competition for schools run by the Peace Council
First published by Cook Islands News, November/December, 2004
The following are extracts from the winning entries in an essay writing competition for schools run by the Peace Council
First published by Cook Islands News, November/December, 2004
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EXPLORE NEXT?
A SOUTHERN GROUP ISLAND A NORTHERN GROUP ISLAND ISLANDS NEWS
OR TAILOR MAKE YOUR OWN TOUR USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
A SOUTHERN GROUP ISLAND A NORTHERN GROUP ISLAND ISLANDS NEWS
OR TAILOR MAKE YOUR OWN TOUR USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
The Cook Islands is an ideal place to live in this world of war and strife. Why? Because there is peace and love everywhere.
For most of my life, I have lived in the Cook Islands, and there has not been a day when my family and I have feared for our lives, suffered from hunger or been deprived of the necessities of life. Our people are of different religions, political parties and ethnic origins, but it does not create tension, which leads to violence. We respect each others differences and get on with each other in spite of them.
Cook Islanders are fortunate because we never run out of food. Food is always abundant. Our islands are full of all kinds of fruits and vegetables and the sea abounds with a huge variety of seafood. Nearly everywhere you look there is a source of sustenance, such as a banana tree, a mango tree, guava tree, the amazing coconut tree, a chicken, pig or goat, even a fish leaping out of the sea with a silvery flash of scales.
Another thing about the Cook Islands is that we are, generally speaking, a clean country. Most of us take pride in keeping our little islands clean and tidy. However, there is much more that we can do to preserve the fauna and flora of our island paradise. Living in beautiful, clean surroundings help to promote a feeling of well-being and pride in our country. After all, as the saying goes 'cleanliness is next to Godliness' - and where God is, peace is.
Sometimes I overhear tourists saying to each other that, "this place is like Heaven on Earth", and it always thrills me when I hear them saying things like that. I know that they are not just talking about the islands, but also about the people. Our people are naturally hospitable and friendly. You don't often see an islander without a welcoming smile on their face. And why shouldn't we smile? We have so many things to smile about.
Jacqueline Carisa Hosea, Araura College, Rarotonga
For most of my life, I have lived in the Cook Islands, and there has not been a day when my family and I have feared for our lives, suffered from hunger or been deprived of the necessities of life. Our people are of different religions, political parties and ethnic origins, but it does not create tension, which leads to violence. We respect each others differences and get on with each other in spite of them.
Cook Islanders are fortunate because we never run out of food. Food is always abundant. Our islands are full of all kinds of fruits and vegetables and the sea abounds with a huge variety of seafood. Nearly everywhere you look there is a source of sustenance, such as a banana tree, a mango tree, guava tree, the amazing coconut tree, a chicken, pig or goat, even a fish leaping out of the sea with a silvery flash of scales.
Another thing about the Cook Islands is that we are, generally speaking, a clean country. Most of us take pride in keeping our little islands clean and tidy. However, there is much more that we can do to preserve the fauna and flora of our island paradise. Living in beautiful, clean surroundings help to promote a feeling of well-being and pride in our country. After all, as the saying goes 'cleanliness is next to Godliness' - and where God is, peace is.
Sometimes I overhear tourists saying to each other that, "this place is like Heaven on Earth", and it always thrills me when I hear them saying things like that. I know that they are not just talking about the islands, but also about the people. Our people are naturally hospitable and friendly. You don't often see an islander without a welcoming smile on their face. And why shouldn't we smile? We have so many things to smile about.
Jacqueline Carisa Hosea, Araura College, Rarotonga
