2021-2022 COOK ISLANDS – GIBSON GIVES PROJECT
In 2021 the world was torn apart with COVID-19 devastating every inch of the planet, except-the Cook Islands. We were free of Covid-19, it had not reached our shores yet. Closed off from the world, our local Airlines Air Rarotonga Home Page – Air Rarotonga, decided to offer locals the opportunity to visit the sparsely populated and remote Northern Group Islands of Manihiki, Pukapuka and Penrhyn. After living in the Cooks for 20 years and having seen most of the Southern Group Islands, my wife Hermie, our 15 yr old son Akatapu and I decided to join 4 other passengers and fly on Air Rarotonga’s Jet for this once in a lifetime adventure (flying almost 1,000 miles to the North).
AS a retired Engineer, Teacher, Musician and Philanthropist, I was overwhelmed by the beauty, charisma, and simple life of these remote communities. I also saw a guitar my family donated from back in 2002 at a school in Manihiki, and took it back, repaired and asked the pilot to return it. Also, I saw the desire and passion of local youth for Music and Performing Arts and the lack of proper instruments, some of which were in dire need of repair and replacement.
Upon returning on June 10,2021, I wrote the following Letter to the Gibson Guitar Company, who in the past was incredibly supportive for youth/community projects I worked on in USA with Native Americans.
“Dear Gibson Guitars- I am a 74 year old retired Engineer, Educator, Musician, Veteran and Philanthropist. I have owned Gibson and Epiphone Guitars for 50 years (still have an original JG-0 acoustic purchased 1972). I want to purchase and give away 24+ Guitars (possibly Epiphones if more cost effective), for students in remote islands of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific. Epiphone previously donated guitars and amps to me for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe in Needles, CA in 1999. I am now asking for reduced prices and possible co-sponsorship so that I can give guitars to schools on the islands of Manihiki, Rakahanga, Pukapuka, Nassau and Penrhyn in the Northern Cook Islands, South Pacific.. Frank Sabatano, Aitutaki, Cook Islands”
THE SAME DAY, I received this reply from Dendy Jarrett-Executive Director | Gibson Gives: “I just shipped guitars to the island of Tonga … much for the reasons you are shipping them to the South Pacific! Let me gather some thoughts tomorrow and give a best response. How many guitars were you looking to purchase? (And hopeful we can match?)”
After many months of supply and shipping delays, resulting from the CV-19 World Pandemic (which finally arrived in Cook Islands in 2022), we received 30 new Epiphone Acoustic Guitars packages, with gig bags, strings, tuners from GIBSON Guitar Companies- GIBSON GIVES. AND, they were delivered at NO COST, TOTALLY FREE.
These Guitars were received in Aitutaki in partnership with Joanna Patterson, Coordinator for our local Pakipakitai, Aitutaki Disability Centre Pakipakitai Aitutaki – Aitutaki Disability Center, and with the cooperation and special Meitaki Atupaka to the MANY staff from MFEM, Aitutaki and Rarotonga Customs, Aitutaki Port Authority. These guitars, with the generous and loving support of Brendan and Ewan Smith and local Air Rarotonga, were delivered to almost every school in the entire Cook Islands and to Disability Centres on Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke, Mangaia, Manihiki and Pukapuka. Also assisting in making deliveries to some of the remote islands was Sanjinita Sunish-Finance Director at the Cook Islands Ministry of Education. THANK YOU ALL- This could not happen without the LOVE and support from every one of you. Apologies for any forgotten names, God knows who you are..and WILL Bless you!
PS.. Many thanks to my Good Friend and Traveling Partner Marcus Gleinig – Information. Technology.