October the 26th 2021, a dawn ceremony took place on the Arutanga foreshore in Aitutaki. Aitutaki was the very first island to receive Christianity in the whole of the Cook Islands, and it was accepted by the chief Tamatoa. Christianity’s played a huge part in the lives of the people here for two centuries. In October 1821, the Reverend John Williams from the London Missionary Society (LMS) arrived in Aitutaki two Tahitian Christian converts, Papehia and Vahapata; leaving the two Tahitians to teach the gospel while he continued his on journey.
In honor of this magnificent celebration, my family took the opportunity to share gifts of guitars and ukuleles to all the schools in the Pa Enua (Outer Islands). Presentations were made to representatives from the Islands of: Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, Mangaia, Mitiaro, Nassau, Palmerston, Rakahanga, Pukapuka and Penrhyn, along with some of the Elderly -Disability Centres on some of these islands. Again- Special Thanks to the friends and family at Air Rarotonga , along with respective Islands School Principals and Cook Islands Ministry of Education.