In Pacific dance and creative circles, Aunty Kura Taruia needs no introduction.

She has judged, critiqued and shaped the highest levels of Cook Islands competition for the last two decades. She has dressed, designed and choreographed champion performers and provided mentorship, training and creative support to hundreds of Cook Islands and Pacific performance artists.

At the 13^th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) underway in Honolulu, Hawai’i, she’s part of the costume and team support to the Cook Islands National Arts Theatre (CINAT).

Taruia provides timely advice for the youth of the Cook Islands inspired by the social/digital conversations and buzz around Team Cook Islands in the multi-cultural, 27-nation FestPAC mix.

Her message to the young Cook Islanders and those who want to excel and be Ta’unga across all the fields of costume, choreography, composition, dance, music, chants, and other creative fields, is: “Know yourself deeply and consider investing time in knowing more about your heritage and lineage.  Stand in that energy and knowledge of who you are, your roots and identity, and the roots and identity of your parents and tribe and use that to drive your journey.”

“Our heritage as individual island communities of culture and diversity making up the 15 stars of the Cook Islands, our binding faith and principles of love, humility and respect, and the bedrock of reo Maori language/identity to feed the cultural journey is all part of the mana and joy we bring to FestPAC.”

• FestPAC Cook Islands 2024