Pukapuka Pakitonga Tetio Paulo Iti has been remembered as man who had “passion” for people.

The Aliki Wolo passed away enroute to Rarotonga from Pukapuka on Tuesday afternoon - he was 81.

He was honoured on Rarotonga with a service at the Pukapuka Hostel on Saturday.

Members of the House of Ariki gathered for condolence prayers late Saturday afternoon at the hall where he will lay until Friday when he will be received on Pukapuka.

He will be buried in Pukapuka on Saturday. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday have been set aside for prayer groups at the hostel before a family service from 6pm at the Cook Islands National Auditorium on Wednesday.

On Thursday there will be condolence prayers at the Pukapuka Hostel.

A family member at the Saturday service said he touched many lives.

“He was an extraordinary character, very humble and he loved children.”

He had family spread across the globe.

“He looked after all his brothers and sisters, he raised a number of children, he looked after me.”

The family member said his first love was people.

“He had a passion for people, he had a love of children and family, and he was a keen sportsman, and fisherman.”

It was also noted that he was passionate about agriculture, having planted guardinia around the island.          

Paulo-Tetio-Kaisala Aliki was born Paulo Paulo Junior on Pukapuka on March 13, 1940.

He was schooled in Pukapuka and married Nerla Ngarau in 1962. They were blessed with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He struggled financially and planted crops and went fishing in order to feed his family.

A turn of good fortune came their way when he was employed as a labourer with the Ministry of Agriculture on Pukapuka.

In his own words, Aliki Wolo earlier said: “The money wasn't exciting but at least we were able to purchase the basic necessities of life.”

“It was a job which I held on to so dearly.”

From 1962 to 1982 he worked on a temporary basis and was then finally informed in 1982 that he had been confirmed as a permanent staff member of the work force of Pukapuka.

From 1982 to 2000 he worked as a termite control officer until retirement at the age of 60.

The title of Paramount Chief of Tetio-Kaisala was bestowed on him by the people of Pukapuka on November 19, 2008.