Cook Island society is well-known for friendliness, openness and a gentle, easy-going spirit. The legendary generosity and charm of the Polynesian people quickly becomes obvious when you arrive in the Cook Islands. A warm welcome and sincere generosity is extended to visitors, instantly creating a feeling of total acceptance and tranquility.
Some 90 percent of Cook Islanders are "pure" Polynesians -- people of the 'many' (poly) islands of the South Pacific, distantly related to the New Zealand Maori. Only 10 percent of Cook Islanders descend from minorities from Europe, New Zealand, Fiji, or China. Individuality between islands is the hallmark of the culture of the Cook Islands, and reflects their varied sources of ancient migration. The local language is Cook Islands Maori -- closely related to the Polynesian languages spoken in Tahiti and Hawaii -- although English is widely spoken as a second language.