History of Aitutaki Cook Islands

Pre-historic Aitutaki Geography

The Aitutaki almost atoll formed from a volcanic eruption on the floor bed, 5 kilometres below the South Pacific ocean. After Aitutaki rose above the Pacific ocean surface, coral formed on the shores of this "high island" (Like Rarotonga is today) Weathering eroded much of the basalt rock but the reef kept building vertically from it's original position, leaving the Aitutaki lagoon between the reef and the remaining basaltic parts of Aitutaki being the main island of Aitutaki, Mutu Ropata and Motu Rakau which lay inside the Aitutaki lagoon.

Ancient History of Aitutaki

Polynesian migration began with the Lapita culture around 1500 BC, as Austronesian peoples expanded from Islands in Southeast Asia into the western Pacific. They settled islands like Tonga and Samoa by about 900 BC, but then paused their expansion for approximately 1,000 years. The migration resumed around 700 AD, leading to the settlement of eastern Polynesian islands, and eventually reaching Hawaii, Easter Island, and New Zealand around 1200 AD.

Ancient Polynesian sailors used ingenious navigation in their voyages of discovery of South Pacific Islands including Aitutaki.

Photo of Polynesian Voyaging Society replica sailing sailing canoe, the "Hokule'a" after sailing from Hawaii to Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Photo of HMS Bounty visiting Aitutaki on 11 April 1789. Bounty mutiny date: 28 April 1789.

Photo of outrigger sailing canoe, Aitutaki, Cook Islands by Ben Grummels

Written History of Aitutaki

11 April (Teina's and my Birthday) 1789: Captain Bligh discovers of Aitutaki. 11 days later the lure of Polynesian hula dancers must have been one of the motivations for Fletcher Christian to lead mutiny on the Bounty in which Captain Bligh was put overboard in a long boat. The mutineers sailed the British Royal Navy ship the "Bounty" back to parts of Polynesia they had recently visited.

1800's Whalers and missionaries arrive. Cannibalism outlawed.

Recent History of Aitutaki

1943 New Zealand and American millitary build air base on Aitutaki

1951-1960 Seaplanes (TEAL Short Solent Flying boats) land on the Aitutaki lagoon for refuelling at motu Akaiami before flying to Tahiti.

Advertising TEAL seaplane flights from New Zealand to Tahiti with a water landing stopover on the Aitutaki lagoon

Photo inside TEAL Solent cabins for flights to Aitutaki on the Coral Route.

1965: Self-governance in free association with New Zealand

1992 Hokule‘a reconstructed ancient Polynesian voyaging canoe arrives in Aitutaki harbour from Hawaii, northern Polynesian Triangle.

1980's: Collapse of the banana growing industry. Growth of tourism. Aluminium boats mostly replace dug-out canoes.