Situated about twenty degrees below the equator, the 15 distinct islands of the Cook Islands are scattered across the South Pacific, each island more enchanting than the next. If you were to draw a straight line directy down from Hawaii, you would come pretty close to hitting the Cooks. Because Hawaii and the Cooks are about equidistant from the equator, they share pretty similar weather patterns - warm days with light cool breezes that keep everything feeling just right.

 

Named after Captain James Cook who spotted the islands in the late 1700's (and who later died on the shores of my home on the Big Island of Hawaii), the Cook Islands are relatively self-governing, though they share a strong connection, both politically and economically, with New Zealand.

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As members of the Polynesian triangle, the Cook Islands represent a beautiful, but distinct facet of the Polynesian culture. Here, you won't be surprised to see aunties wearing 'ei, or head leis, everywhere - from picking up their friends at the airport, to riding on their moped around town, to sitting down for lunch at a restaurant. In Hawaii, this practice is not as often seen on an everyday basis.

 

Yet, just like Hawaii, Cook Islanders are proud of their heritage and are extremely welcoming hosts. Ben and I only barely scratched the surface of exploring the culture of the Cook Islanders, and it is something I look forward to learning more about in the future. 

 

To read more about Cook Island history and culture, be sure to check out this website.