Maki loved life on the ocean

Aitutaki paddler Alan Maki has been remembered by friends as a hardworking yet down to earth man who loved life on the ocean.

Maki was laid to rest yesterday afternoon in a service held at his family home in Amuri, Aitutaki. Vaka Eiva competitors at Rarotonga also held a minutes silence and said a prayer for Maki before events were run yesterday.

He died, aged 49, while competing in the Vaka Eiva Round Rarotonga Relay on Wednesday afternoon.

Maki was one of the starting-six members of the Te Tupu O Te Manava masters crew.

Maki is survived by his parents, sister Janet and five children including two daughters he shared with his current partner of many years Tepareau Camron.

Family and friends gathered at Makis home to remember the Aitutaki stalwart, who was involved in a wide-ranging variety of businesses on the island since he returned from New Zealand in the 1970s.

Those included cement block making, a hauling business, running the familys general store and a bread bakery.

Maki also served on the Aitutaki Airport Authoritys board of directors for four years, his spell with the organisation only coming to an end about two months ago.Airport authority manager Mii Blenkarn yesterday said Maki was a man for all people, easily making the transition from being a businessman to being one of the boys.

Alan was very well-respected...Ill remember him as being one of the boys, Blenkarn said.

He one of those businessmen that could step down to our level, join us at the rugby field or for some spear fishing... Maki was an enthusiastic rugby player in his youth which he spent initially at Araura Primary School before moving to New Zealand, cycled every day and enjoyed fishing with his father.

Paddling became one of Makis biggest passions in recent years and made the basis of many trips outside and within the Cook Islands.

He recently returned from a paddling trip to Tahiti and represented the Cook Islands in the oe vaka competition at the 2011 New Caledonia Pacific Games.

Maki was described as a person who championed paddling in Aitutaki and a man who will be sadly missed in the community.