Dance, drums, song, and a downpour of rain marked the 50th Anniversary of Rarotonga International Airport as joyful cultural celebrations took flight on the tarmac yesterday morning.

Nearly 3000 people, from the very young to elderly, attended the occasion, which featured the amazing and impressive performances of 700 cultural students from Tereora College, Apii Avarua, Apii Nikao, Apii Te Uki Ou, Te Fuinga O Niva, and Akauka.

As the speeches began the blazing sun streamed down from the clear blue skies.

Cook Islands icon, 84-year-old Papa Jake Numanga, who has spent over 35 years welcoming visitors at the arrival terminal with his smooth, melodious voice and gentle ukulele strums, was present at the event.

His daughter Cathy Numanga Wearing said: “He loved it, he started singing and wanted his ukulele…”

Trevor Howearth from Aotearoa New Zealand, now 77, worked on the airport construction as a scraper.

The polished 50th anniversary stone piece, created by Muri-based artist Grace Henry, a descendant of Cook Islands’ first premier Papa Arapati Royale Henry, was unveiled by Prime Minister Mark Brown and Taoro Brown. 24012931

He was invited to the 50^th celebrations by Airport Authority chairman Taoro Brown.

Howearth had just finished a job in Papua New Guinea when he saw the Rarotonga Airport construction advertisement in New Zealand and soon enough, he was on his way to Rarotonga.

“I was the scraper, all the coral sand from the beach I put it all underneath the runway,” said Howearth.

He recalled Bill Maniapoto from Taupo who worked the dragline that dug out the swamp, “and three guys from the workshop were from Whangarei”.

Nikau Tangaroa, CEO of the Airport Authority, was pleased with the event that began with the early morning “kave kura” drumming around the island from 5am.

“It’s been a fantastic day,” said Tangaroa, adding that he “felt for our children performing in the rain”.

“Seeing our children here at this event, in the next 50 years they will be sitting where we are and the kids of the future performing.

“It is quite a remarkable moment and it was nice to see people come in and enjoy themselves and be a part of the commemorations.”

He acknowledged the Cook Islands government for supporting the event “and not forgetting the landowners who provided this land to the country for the people”.

“This is the Cook Islands people’s airport, it’s here to provide us the demand of the travel and to improve our economy.”

Tukua Tangaroa, Airport security manager and organiser of the event, said the day’s events ran smoothly, and they had rehearsed the programme several times to ensure everyone was on the same page.

“Unfortunately, we got caught by the rain but everything went well, the kids did great,” he said.

Renall Vogel (far right) and the first Airport Rescue Fire serviceman William “Papa Ve” Vogel at the 50th anniversary celebrations. RENALL VOGEL/24012945

Renall Vogel’s father, William “Papa Ve” Vogel, was one of the first Rescue Fire servicemen at the airport and was also involved in rigging up the sound system for the 1974 airport opening.

Renall said he was “quite overwhelmed” at the celebrations.

“I used to go with my dad to his work as a child, so it was one of my playgrounds with those trucks.

“Christmas parties were a highlight for the families.”

Renall has fond memories of the Rescue Fire Fighters, describing them as a big family.

“When they went for ocean rescue training, they would take along spear guns and go fishing and share the fish for the families.”

The polished 50^th anniversary stone piece, created by Muri-based artist Grace Henry, a descendant of Cook Islands’ first premier Papa Arapati Royale Henry, was unveiled by Prime Minister Mark Brown and Taoro Brown.

Cook Islands Investment Corporation Minister Albert Nicholas and Nikau Tangaroa had the privilege of blowing out the candles on the enormous cake made by The Edgewater Resort staff.

Thousands of plates of wrapped meals were handed out for everyone to take home.

The Rarotonga International Airport was officially opened in 1974 by the late Queen Elizabeth II 1974, accompanied by Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips.