The 15 islands that make up this island state are in the center of the Pacific and lie about 2800 miles south of Hawaii. The first Polynesians probably reached the Cook Islands about 500 AD. Their travels in large catamarans navigating by observation of clouds, waves, birds and fish covered thousands of miles and dwarf voyages of discovery made centuries later by Europeans. Archeological evidence indicates that voyages back and forth between distant islands were common. By the 1880s these islands became a British protectorate. In 1965 the Cook Islands became a self-governing state "in free association with New Zealand." Islanders hold dual Cook Island and New Zealand citizenship. 18,000 islanders live here, 60,000 live in New Zealand and 10,000 live in Australia. While everyone speaks English, their first language is Cook Island Maori, similar to Tahitian, Rapa Nui and New Zealand Maori. I was able to visit the islands of Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu.
