Manihiki

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Manihiki

One of the 15 Islands that comprises the Cook Islands, belongs to the northern group.

Manihiki is an island in the Cook Islands known as the Island of Pearls. It is a triangular atoll 1160 km north of Rarotonga, and is said to be one of the group’s loveliest islands. Polynesians are believed to have lived on Manihiki since at least 1500 CE, although it was not discovered by Europeans until 13 October 1822, when it was sighted by the U.S. ship Good Hope and named Humphrey Island. The island was claimed by the US at that time and that claim was ceded in 1980.

MANIHIKI = Humphrey Island - was discovered in 1822 by Americans and was known to passing traders from both sides of the Pacific Ocean as the island of beautiful people over the past four centuries.

This small sister island of Rakananga atoll in the northern group has 25 islets located in the central lagoon, which is most unusual for Pacific atolls. In recent years, the economic growth and wealth of the island is attributed to pearl farming. In fact, black pearls have been netting the Cook Islands millions of U.S. dollars per year during the last decade.

Several years aso, a virus infected the oyster beds and decreased production occurred.

Tourism has increased over the past few years even though Rarotonga is over 750 miles away. Underwater sports attract many, with brilliantly colored fish in the lagoon and nearly 40 coral islets to explore offshore. The required diving permit is available from the administrative centre. A local airline flies once a week and the friendly natives greet every arrival.

www.cookislands.org.uk/manihiki.html
kiaorana.com/manihiki.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_Islands