Island Night on Rarotonga

cavafizz08:56 UTC17 Apr 2008

Hi guys

Am currently reading the LP guide to Raro & CK Islands and they keep banging on about Island nights so I thought I should check one out. Only in Raro on Thur the 2nd May then i'm off to Atutaki for the Fri and Sat night.

Do any locals know if there are any plans for celebrations either on the Thursday in Raro or Fri/Sat on Atutaki.

Edited by: Cavafizz

papamike14:58 UTC17 Apr 2008

Thursday Night on Rarotonga Island Night is at Staircase Restaurant in Avarua, just past Trader Jacks. Dinner and the show is NZ$30.00, if you just want to attend the dancing it is only NZ$5.00.

Friday night Island Night on Aitutaki is at Pacific Resort, while Saturday Hight Island Night is at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort. Prices will be higher on Aitutaki than at Staircase on Raro.

I am stateside, so can not help with any specific celebrations.

Papa Mike

cavafizz19:42 UTC17 Apr 2008

Cheers Papa,

Would you reccomend one of these nights? I enjoy mixing with the locals where ever I am doing whatever they do. I don't so much like going to 'cutlural' events which are just put on for the tourists. So this one on Thursday would people reccomend?

papamike21:00 UTC17 Apr 2008

Thursday night at Staircase would be probably the least "touristy" Island Night. A lot of the famililys of the younger performers attend the show. While Island Night is obviously put on for the benefit of the tourist, the dancing and drumming is quite authentic and one of the main reasons for performing is to teach the younger islanders the historic dancing and drumming of their ancestors. I have witnessed nearly a dozen Island Nights and the experience is still quite profound. Far different from the dancing in Tahiti and Hawaii.

Papa Mike

cavafizz22:14 UTC17 Apr 2008

Cheers Papa.

I'll be there on that Thursday.

raro23:40 UTC17 Apr 2008

I second Papa Mike. Staircase is the closest you'll get to traditional, and afterwards everyone mixes together, etc.

cavafizz02:23 UTC28 Apr 2008

Cheers Raro.

Raro or Papa,

What is the address of staircase? I am looking for one nights accommodation near to the staircase can you reccomend anywhere.

Budget NZ$80 Max, prefer private room and not too noisy.

Cheers CF

clubfred03:02 UTC29 Apr 2008

Hey Papa Mike et al,

I have to put my two cents in for Puffy's Island Night, Fridays on Aitutaki. Sure, not as polished and professional as some of the others but I love the atmosphere there. Very friendly! The drumming is amazing. Keo and Scotty, the owners, are sweethearts. We send all of our guests there. And for $35 it's a great deal.

Island Night on Rarotonga Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Cook Islands
cavafizz08:56 UTC17 Apr 2008	Hi guys Am currently reading the LP guide to Raro & CK Islands and they keep banging on about Island nights so I thought I should check one out. Only in Raro on Thur the 2nd May then i'm off to Atutaki for the Fri and Sat night. Do any locals know if there are any plans for celebrations either on the Thursday in Raro or Fri/Sat on Atutaki. Ta Edited by: Cavafizz
papamike14:58 UTC17 Apr 2008	Thursday Night on Rarotonga Island Night is at Staircase Restaurant in Avarua, just past Trader Jacks. Dinner and the show is NZ$30.00, if you just want to attend the dancing it is only NZ$5.00. Friday night Island Night on Aitutaki is at Pacific Resort, while Saturday Hight Island Night is at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort. Prices will be higher on Aitutaki than at Staircase on Raro. I am stateside, so can not help with any specific celebrations. Papa Mike	1
cavafizz19:42 UTC17 Apr 2008	Cheers Papa, Would you reccomend one of these nights? I enjoy mixing with the locals where ever I am doing whatever they do. I don't so much like going to 'cutlural' events which are just put on for the tourists. So this one on Thursday would people reccomend?	2
papamike21:00 UTC17 Apr 2008	Thursday night at Staircase would be probably the least "touristy" Island Night. A lot of the famililys of the younger performers attend the show. While Island Night is obviously put on for the benefit of the tourist, the dancing and drumming is quite authentic and one of the main reasons for performing is to teach the younger islanders the historic dancing and drumming of their ancestors. I have witnessed nearly a dozen Island Nights and the experience is still quite profound. Far different from the dancing in Tahiti and Hawaii. Papa Mike	3
cavafizz22:14 UTC17 Apr 2008	Cheers Papa. I'll be there on that Thursday.	4
raro23:40 UTC17 Apr 2008	I second Papa Mike. Staircase is the closest you'll get to traditional, and afterwards everyone mixes together, etc.	5
cavafizz02:23 UTC28 Apr 2008	Cheers Raro. Raro or Papa, What is the address of staircase? I am looking for one nights accommodation near to the staircase can you reccomend anywhere. Budget NZ$80 Max, prefer private room and not too noisy. Cheers CF	6
clubfred03:02 UTC29 Apr 2008	Hey Papa Mike et al, I have to put my two cents in for Puffy's Island Night, Fridays on Aitutaki. Sure, not as polished and professional as some of the others but I love the atmosphere there. Very friendly! The drumming is amazing. Keo and Scotty, the owners, are sweethearts. We send all of our guests there. And for $35 it's a great deal.	7