The Cook Islands community is intricately woven -- often with large extended families living in a single house, or collection of houses. Most islanders bury their relatives in elaborate graves within the family garden. Both the elderly and children are respected, regarded as the knowledge and future of life. This can go back many generations. Tattooing of the body was traditionally used to symbolize one's family lineage, and today this art form is again becoming popular.
Family lineage is very important to Cook Islanders, most of whom can proudly trace their ancestors back for many generations to the original tribes of the islands. The term "cousin" is loosely used to describe someone with whom your family roots can be traced. Cook Islands society is based on an association to a village and its chief. Titles of authority and land rights are passed through both the male and female lineage. Land cannot be bought or sold, so often those on the outer islands without land rights will try to marry someone who does have land rights on Rarotonga.
About 70 percent of the population belongs to the Cook Islands Christian Church. The second largest group are Roman Catholics, although Anglicans, the Assembly of God, Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and those of the Apostolic and Baha'i faith are also found.
Hard-working and resourceful, Cook Islanders' optimism has eroded in the past two generations in a struggle to maintain their lifestyle and renew a faltering economy. Many families have established cottage industries such as exploring for black pearls, creating original jewelry, and making coconut perfumes and soaps.
Like most of life on the islands, dress is casual and modest. Both men and women wear wrap-around pieces of material called "pareu" around the home, and women sometimes tie them nicely to wear out on a special occasion. The freedom of such clothing is always a source of enjoyment for volunteer teams!
