Mariners restaurant Haapai

We are booked to return to Haapai in late June early July and intend spending time in Lifuka and Uoleva. We are familiar with the Haapai group, having worked there for 2 years in the 70's, but would like to clarify whether Mariners, under Fifita's guest house is still operating. Our e mails are being returned.
Also is Tiana's up and running or is Captain Cook's a better option. Not interested in Serenity as no nothing about it and doesn't sound locally owned.
Any info. on recent developments would be welcome. Four years since we were there.

cheers
Tony

Hey pigeons,

Mariner´s is still operating, but Trevor, the old fountain of knowledge has sold the place and it has new owners now. If you want to stay in Pangai, then Langilangi (also known as Fanongovainga) Guesthouse is a great option. Only a two minute walk from town, very friendly and clean and offers tasty and affordable lobster and fish dinner. Also, believe it or not, there is a Tongan restaurant in Pangai now, serving the classic BBQ and Kale Sipi alongside other things at great prices for Tongan sized portions. Hope it will still be there when you come, you know how things go here :o)

On Uoleva I would recommend Taiana´s. It has very nice little beach fales, basic, but very clean, with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and Kalafi and Taiana are just great.

Sounds like you guys were Peacecorps volunteers here? If you need any more info on Ha'apai, you can contact me anytime.

Thanks Fins

Yes we were volunteers back in the day VSA from New Zealand teaching at Taufa'ahau/Pilolevu college as they were then. Actually taught with Katalina the current Principal. I know Craig?? took over Mariners from Trevor who was there when we visited last- a man of few words. No truth then to the rumours about it being shut down recently by Craig??

Everyone we spoke to says the same Tiana's so will probably go with that. Still don't Know where we will stay.
Do you guys do snorkel trips alongside your divers or strictly tank diving?
We've snorkelled a good portion around the island including Uoleva and Foa. Also climbed and snorkelled both Tofua and Kao back in the day. We stayed in a small copra village on Tofua- an amazing climb into the
crater

Thanks for the info.

Edited by: pigeons

I can´t really tell you what is going on with Mariner´s. All I know is that at the moment it is still open.

Oh yes, the Tofua trip is great. We did it ourselves 2 years ago, an amazing adventure! Loved to see the lava in the active vent; but haven´t made it to Kao so far.

We do snorkel trips, both for snorkelers accompanying divers and dedicated snorkeling, on request combined with a trip to e.g. Luahoko.

Hi Tony

Craig here from Pangai.
Just came across this thread and wanted to confirm and clarify that Mariner's is still very much alive...not sure where the rumours came from.
Our email addy is marinerstonga@yahoo.co.uk - not sure what email addy you had?
We'll be offering sailing charters and whale-watching this year on our yacht Gwendolyn - have a look at www.uoleva.com for further info.
Drop us a mail if you need any further information.

Cheers
Craig

We stayed for five nights at Captain Cook's in februar and liked it a lot. Tiana's seems to have more guests but that could be because Finsnflukes promotes them in every way they can. Provision?
Anyway the food at Captain Cook's is truly great and the huts are more rustic. While Tiana's has a more scenic position.The prices are about the same.

Mariners Cafe' on Lifuka is highly recommended!

How did the huts at Tianas look?

I ask because when I was there in late 07 they looked ready to fall down. The huts at Cooks, where I stayed, were rustic but in excellent condition.

Captain Cook sure can cook!

Bigronnie,

We have taken hundreds of guests to Diana's Resort on Uoleva and have never received a single complaint about the place; only very positive feedback with regard to the owners, the location and the food.

Any recommendations we may choose to make are at our discretion of course but based solely on past visitor satisfaction levels.

If by provision you mean commission. Although it is a good business idea in principle, putting it into practice in Ha'apai may actually be counter-productive to tourism as a whole. I'm quite sure a small locally run enterprise such as Diana's, on a pretty remote island, trying their best to provide for the needs of visiting tourists inspite of imposing logistical difficulties can well do without a foreign owned company such as ourselves putting a hand into their pocket (especially considering their rates!).

Thanks for your promotion of Ha'apai as a worthwhile tourist destination but, without wanting to sound harsh, future visitors may find it more useful if you stick to helpful info about the travel experience rather than inappropriate and misplaced speculation with regard to the nature of the business relationships between the service providers here.

Ultimately we are all here to help you, the tourist.

Brian.

We are pleased to hear that Mariner's is still in operation.I'm uncertain where we picked up the idea that it had closed so always good to have another food option for travellers in a place like Pangai.

The current discussion about accomodation options on Uoleva triggered by my question does highlight the need to cater for a broad spectrum. Many of the accomodation choices in Ha'apai from Sandy Beach and Matafonua throught to Fifita's,Billy's Place and the Uoleva sites are viable because they are different. To say that one is better serves no purpose. They simply suit some people better- often for a variety of reasons from price to location, environmental concerns and local ownership to style of cooking and "feel".

We have made our choices based on some of the above, as do others, and try to steer clear of discussions about what is supposedly better. They simply suit our style of travel.

Thanks for all the help.
Tony

Brian, Finsnflukes
Ooopps, I didn't mean any harm with my reply to Pigeons but obviously I stepped on your toes.
Pigeons reply shows that he is a very clever person.
Sorry for my poor english.