At 5am this morning the tangi kaara of the drums around the island will signal the start of the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Rarotonga Airport which starts 8.30am.

For the generation who were present at the opening ceremony on 29 January, 1974, today’s ceremony has triggered fond nostalgic memories of the past.

Pa Marie Ariki was aged 26 and a board member at Tereora College when the airport was opened.

 “There are a lot of memories for me and for a lot of us who were there,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to it “ngakau parau au ia te Prime Minister o teia ra no te akaoki mai teia au memories o te aronga te ora nei rae… it’s beautiful, manea, I’m very proud.

“What happened then is history and today we have the planes landing helping our economy.”

Retired school teachers Teinakore Cecilia Hosking Emile and Elizabeth Hosking Kairua both attended the airport opening with their respective school students.

Kairua was aged 25 and teaching at Titikaveka primary school at the time, “I’ll be there on Monday, I was there for the opening and I’m still here for its 50^th…”

Her late husband Fabian Kairua was one of the first Cook Islands employees at the airport alongside Christina Hosking Manual, Akaiti Ama (Puna), Rouruina Maui and Amene Rangi.

Emile was teaching at  St Joseph’s primary school and recalls the excitement of the arrival of Queen Elizabeth, “everyone was just so happy… my late husband (Porinae Emile) also bought a watch to commemorate the opening, I still have it even though it doesn’t work,” she said.

Vaine Maui aged 83, was working at the Treasury Department and was “happy” to get time off for the ceremony.

“I feel good and I feel proud to be here 50 years later and I will be coming on Monday, my husband used to work for the airport,” she said.

Ikiariki Rua was a young 22-year-old from the Takuvaine Youth Club who performed at the opening ceremony for the Cook Islands National Arts Theatre.

“It was a beautiful opening… and we wore all white kiriau with rauti.”

Rua said they were led by cultural expert Ota Joseph, assisted by Tepoave Araitia, Mamia Tunui (Savage), Tumupu Tumupu and Timoti Turu.

“I’m blessed and I’m so happy to be here for the airport’s 50^th , that’s why I’m here staying on a longer holiday,” she said.

Airport Authority Cook Islands, Human Resources – Manager Moari Fortes-Ngamata was attending Avarua Primary School at the time and was one of the hundreds of students standing along the road at the old Constitution Park (National Auditorium) waving their little flags at the Queen.

“I remember it being a big occasion and our school lined up from the Empire Theatre waving our flags, it was a memorable time,” said Ngamata.

Everyone is welcome to attend the opening ceremony this morning, guests are to be seated by 8.30am.