Aitutaki. Cook Island. Polynesia. South Pacific Ocean. A beautiful woman interprets dances of Polynesia at the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa Hotel. Everyone at The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa is very proud of our Cook Islands history, our culture, our music, our dance and our people, and we’re excited to be able to share it with you as part of our Complimentary Daily Activities Programme.  Often the word ‘culture’ conjures up something heavy, worthy, and not very interesting. Not so in Rarotonga. Here ‘culture’ is another word for fun, laughter and high spirits. Nowhere on Earth will you find a people more genuinely willing to share their culture with you - in a natural, unaffected way, peppered with a lot of good humour.  Some of the highlights of our range of cultural activities include: Coconut Show – see how the masters climb tall coconut palms (technically speaking, not ‘trees’), pluck a nut and show you how to husk and open it Ei (lei) making – In Hawaiian, a lei. In Rarotongan, an ei. Learn to make your own from fresh tropical blooms – one of our most popular activities, and you can wear it to our riveting ‘Legends of Polynesia’ Island Night Dinner / Show that evening. Hura (hula) dancing – once you’ve seen genuine Cook Islands dancing, you’ll realize why these are the best dancers in all of Polynesia, sought after around the world for ‘Polynesian Shows’. You’ll feel good shakin’ your booty – plus you’ll gain a new appreciation for just how skilled they really are.  Then again, they’ve been doing this since before they could walk. Log drum playing – when Cook Islanders play their drums, you can hear the heartbeat of Mother Earth. The instinctual sense of rhythm, the super-human speed of the beat – it’s a sound which drives straight to your soul. They make it look natural and almost effortless. Just try it and see. Ukelele playing – for many, the lilting island strings is like the signature sound of the South Pacific. Enjoy strumming your own island tune, your way. Pareu tying – there’s so many looks you can get from one length of fabric, why doesn’t the whole world live this way? So easy, breezy and … inexpensive! Palm frond weaving – learn how to make your own sun hat from coconut fronds Ika Mata – learn to make the Cook Islands national dish, yum (make from the freshest tuna steeped in fresh coconut milk, onion, tomato, and a little chilli). Cook Islands culture continues to be something lived and breathed by the people in their every day lives. Because most Cook Islanders speak English, it is relatively easy to gain a little insight into the richness of the culture – unlike places where there is a language barrier, or where tourists are not genuinely welcomed. Our Activities Team is always willing to share their deep love and knowledge of their culture with you as our valued guest.  Immerse yourself in some wonderful aspects of exotic Cook Islands culture, and by doing so, deeply enrich your vacation experience – and have a whole heap of fun doing it!