Cook Islands Travel Guide

Swinging Hips -- I never visit the Cook Islands without watching the hips swing at a traditional dance show. Take my word for it: Had the crew of HMS Bounty seen the dancing on Rarotonga instead of Tahiti, even Captain Bligh might have mutinied. The best times to see the best dancing come during the Dancer of the Year contest and during Constitution Week.

April

Anzac Day. Cook Islanders killed in the two World Wars are honored with parades and church services. April 25.

Dancer of the Year Contest. This is one of the South Pacific's great traditional dance competitions; villages from all over the country send their young people to Rarotonga to compete for the coveted Dancer of the Year award. Begins mid-April.

August

Constitution Week/Cultural Festival Week. Honoring the attainment of self-government on August 4, 1965, this celebration is highlighted by parades and sporting events. Begins August 4.

October

Edgewater Round Rarotonga Road Race. Marathoners race completely around Rarotonga -- all 32km (20 miles) of it. First week in October.

Tivaevae Exhibition. Traditional and modern quilts are showcased in a month-long show. Mid-October to mid-November.

Gospel Day. Honors the arrival of the first missionaries and features outdoor religious plays known as nuku. Last Sunday in October.

November

All Souls Day. Colorful decorations and evening programs are held to remember deceased loved ones. November 1.

Tiare Week Festival. Shops and offices are ablaze with fresh floral arrangements, leading up to a beauty contest and parade of flower-covered floats. Mid- to late November.