Welcome to the Cook Islands

For more than 20 years, Jake Numanga has been welcoming visitors to the South Pacific paradise of the Cook Islands. And he's been awarded an MBE by HM The Queen (Queen Elizabeth II) for his services to tourism. Jake meets every arriving international flight and sings Polynesian songs, accompanying himself on the banjo. It's a unique welcome to a unique place and this video is a taste of that. (You can find out more about the islands at http://www.cookislands.org.uk - the only independent, non-commercial guide on the net)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• cook
• islands
• rarotonga
• south
• pacific
• jake
• numanga
• polynesian
• banjo
• airport

[Vein109]

Thats my papa

[meitaki]

And you should be really proud of him...he's not only a great ambassador for the Islands but also a fantastic person

[meitaki]

I only hope there's still a place for Jake when the airport is upgraded in the coming months. It might soften the blow of the Cook Islands government more than doubling the international departure tax, at a time when they say they're trying to attract more tourists!

[kiwiwestie1960]

In June 2011 I arrived in Raro for a much needed holiday.I had lost my much loved father 6 weeks before.When I was waiting for my bag Jake played a song that meant alot to me.It was "What a beautiful world".That same song was played at my father's funeral.Arriving in Raro at such a fragile time in my life made me feel alone as I had gone on this holiday by myself.But hearing that song and the words made me realise I was not alone.Thankyou Jake.

[Phenom713]

aue te cousin a jake ,we use to call him tiampa,lovely voice,he use to call our mother ko mata poreo,so tate titikaveka ei matau ite kapiki our mother that name..good to hear your voice e jake as always...

[wadeoss1989]

MAN I MISS THIS FELLA..EVERY TIME I FLY BACK TO RARO AND C HIM...I KNOE IM HOME SWEET HOME..

[jgstargazer]

Jake's welcome was the first thing I noticed as we arrived in the airport. It made me feel I was in a special place. Jake was also there to bid us farewell.

[hoofroom]

dis be my uncle im a numanga ive havnt met him my dad nd thm bt ive met his sons

jake jnr nuhaka

[annekatu]

everytime i go back to the cooks and i see and here papa jake...it always feels like "HOME"....always sounds beautiful!

[flodelor]

Jake is such a lovely guy too. I had about 15 minutes talking with this gentleman before I boarded my plane home. He spoke of his children being educated in Hawai. He also assured me that it was much cheaper to have his children educated there rather than NZ. He and his wife are well traveled, he retired when he was 52 and these days being the musician he is welcomes passangers to and from Rarotonga

[twinzz5]

Jake your a legend. Beautiful old Will Crummer song