Aitutaki is a tiny island in the South Pacific. It is one of the Cook Islands and is a dependency of New Zealand.

The original name was Ararau ‘Enua O Ru Ki Te Moana but no one could pronounce that so they renamed it Aitutaki which means ‘to keep the fire going’. (kidding).

1773 – Captain James Cook explores the islands and names them the Hervey Islands. Fifty years later they are renamed the Cook Islands in his honor.

1888 – Cook Islands are proclaimed a British protectorate.
1901 – Islands are annexed to New Zealand.
Legend has it that the original settler on the island was a guy named Ru. He moved to Aitutaki because his hood had become overcrowded and he had to share his bedroom with his brothers. Annoyed, he set off in a canoe on his own along with his four wives, four brothers and their wives and a crew full of royal maidens.

 

When he got there he climbed to the top of Mount Maungapu (all 416 feet of it) and looked out over the island. He decided to parcel it in 20 sections, one for each of the Royal Maidens. They were very happy, however, his four brothers were pissed so they left the island in a huff. They climbed in a canoe and headed off to explore other islands they could share a bedroom together in. They eventually ended up in a place called Aotearoa which was later called New Zealand.

Soon others settlers from islands such as Tonga and Somoa showed up but by then the 20 Royal Maidens had formed a homeowners association and could accept or deny claims of land. Ru was fine with this because he didn’t want the island to become crowded and have to share a bedroom again.

 

Soon Europeans came, like Captain Bligh, who visited Aitutaki on HMS Bounty a mere 17 days before his crew mutinied. Also Charles Darwin visited in 1835. The Americans came during WW2 and built a massive runway and, most importantly, the thirteenth episode of the show “Survivor” was shot there in 2006.

 

Note: I took some liberties in the history section but it’s pretty accurate anyway.

First Stamps Issued: 1903, Overprinted New Zealand stamps

First stamps issued: New Zealand’s stamps were surcharged for use in Aitutaki from 1903-1920.

From 1920 to 1927 the island had its own engraved series. From 1932-1972 stamps of the Cook Islands were used.

 

Stamps of Aitutaki are beautiful especially the engraved series of 1920 – 27. The designs are shared by the other Cook Islands and Niue issues. Some stamps are pretty expensive and out of my price range so I have just the one at this time. In 1972 Aitutaki contracted with a company in Spain to print stamps directly targeting the collector market.

If you can afford it, go for it. The engraved stamps are beautiful featuring local motifs. If you are going to focus on the Cook Islands or Pacific Islands check out joining the Pacific Islands Study Circle.

The beach, swim, dive, fish and go to church. Yes, church. Pretty much everyone on the island attends church and the music is, supposedly, pretty amazing.