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Nestled in the South Pacific Ocean, the Cook Islands form an exotic location for an amazing vacation. The Culture of Cook Islands refers to various aspects such as the lifestyle, art and civilization of the region. During a tour in Cook Islands, tourists can not only explore the picturesque surroundings, but also can delve into the local life and Culture of Cook Islands.

Cook Islands Culture is reflected through various facets such as music, dance, arts and crafts, and even in literature. Music in Cook Islands includes mainly church music and the hymns at the weddings. A varied range of popular music is played during the festivals and events in Cook Islands. Polynesian string bands can be noted performing at the local eateries, hotels and live shows. They make use of traditional as well as modern musical instruments.

Dancing is considered to be a special and serious form of art in the Cook Islands. An integrated part of Culture of Cook Islands is dance. Every island in this region has its own special type of dance. Several people tend to practice it from their childhood. Dance is accompanied with the beats of the drum. The sultry 'hura' is a prominent type of dance in the Cook Islands.

Culture of Cook Islands is also reflected in the various forms of art and sculpture. The local artists have formulated the modern Polynesian styles. The work of carving out of wood is quite popular in the Cook Islands. Stone and basalt carvings, rare though, can also be found to some extent on the islands. The islands have their own characteristic forms of art - Rarotonga is famous for its fisherman's gods, Mitiaro and Mauke for their slab and mace gods, Atiu is quite known for its wooden seats, and Mangaia is reputed for its adzes.

In Atiu, one can get to notice extensive carvings and local fiber arts namely tapa. Carvings on calcite can be widely noticed in the amazing limestone caves in Mangaia. However, most of the original wood carvings are no more there on the Cook Islands. They were either burned or taken away by the Europeans.

The Culture of Cook Islands can also be observed in the handicrafts produced on these islands. The Outer islands excel in making traditional hats, mats and baskets. The 'rito' hats are quite popular and are worn by the ladies heading for the church on Sundays. These hats are usually made from the fiber of the coconut palm. At times, they are adorned with small 'pupu' shells which are stitched and painted.

Tivaevae is a prominent form of art in the Cook Islands. It refers to the making of puffs. This craftwork was brought into the islands by the wives of the missionaries in the 19th century and gradually turned into a distinct activity of the community. The Arasena Gallery on Rarotonga and the Fiber Arts Studio on Atiu are the two places where one can spot the tivaevae.

You can have an insight into the Culture of Cook Islands from the various literal works, produced in the region. Stephen Savage was one of the earliest writers. Robert Dean Frisbie was another well-known writer, who mentioned about the Cook Islands in several books and magazines. Ronald Syme and Julian Dashwood were two other eminent writers on the islands.

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