Rakahanga – A Hard to Get To Paradise

 The atoll of Rakahanga lies near the larger island of Manihiki. However, access to this atoll is very difficult. Without an airstrip, the only access is by boat from Manihiki or Rarotonga. The atoll comprises nine islands surrounding a central lagoon. The main islands are Akaro, Moto Ngangie, Huananui, Motu, Mahuta, Motu Okakara, and Te Kainga. The total population of all the islands is just over 120. Many islanders choose to leave for better economic opportunities on the bigger islands. The total amount of land is just over 1.5 square miles. The land is rich in many forms of tropical foods and it keeps the local population well fed.

The main village of Rakahanga is Matara, which lies on the southeast corner of the atoll on the island of Te Kainga. The people of the island speak the Rakahanga-Manihiki language. Europeans first spotted the island sometime in the sixteenth or early seventeenth century. Some claim Magellan saw it first, but there is no historical proof of that claim. The first proven sighting was by Pedro Fernandes De Queiros in 1606. Visits continued throughout the next couple of centuries. When New Zealand became an independent country in 1901, this island was included in its boundaries. It is now part of the Cook Islands.

People rarely visit Rakahanga due to its remote location. Information on the island is hard to come by at times. Locals find the fishing to be excellent both inside and outside the lagoon perimeter. Coconut crabs make their home in the shallow waters of the lagoon. Sea turtles often find places to nest along the shores. Tuna fishing is a popular pastime and a supplement to the island diet. The islands are home to many forms of tropical fruit such as breadfruit and coconut. Taro is also part of the common diet. The local population can exist without external goods.

The islands have people from two separate tribes. Each tribe has seven divisions within its ranks. Many natives have left the island to seek work at Manihiki with the pearl industry there. For those left on the island, they have many modern amenities yet still preserve their old way of life as much as possible. One common custom is to erect a tiny hut over graves. Mourners place the dead person’s belongings in the hut to help them into the next life. That is just one reason to visit this unique place.