Traditional proverbs of Cook Islands in rar and English — each with its meaning and source.
Karikao pao ngata.
“This is a shell in the sea which is hard to crack — you are a stubborn one.”
Used to describe a person who is stubborn and will not be moved from their position, comparing them to a shellfish that resists cracking open.
Source: Short, Apenera, "Native Proverbs and Figurative Expressions of the Cook Islands", Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. 60, No. 4 (1951), pp. 255-259
Oore a meika para ua.
“Skin it like a banana.”
Describes something that is easily achieved or a person who is easily defeated, as effortless as peeling a ripe banana.
Source: Traditional Cook Islands Maori proverb, recorded in the corpus collected in Short, Apenera, "Native Proverbs and Figurative Expressions of the Cook Islands", Journal of the Polynesian Society (1951); compiled in Cook Islands Maori proverb collections
Kare a mango e tuku i tana kai e mate uatu.
“The shark does not give up its food, even unto death.”
Said of a person who shows great tenacity and refuses to let go of what they have set out to achieve or hold onto.
Moemoe a panako.
“The small fish that never sleeps.”
A call to stay wary, watchful, and wide awake, as a small fish must remain alert to survive among larger predators.
E tumurangi matangi ra i ua.
“A storm cloud, but no rain.”
Said of a person who promises to give or help but then forgets or fails to follow through — someone whose words cannot be trusted.
Auraka e kai mata i te vī.
“Do not eat the mango while it is still green.”
A caution against hasty action — advises patience and waiting for the right time rather than rushing something before it is ready.
Ano mai au ia ara tuitui, ia ara pukupuku ia ara ko makemakea, Nga niu kake tu ia a Tonga e a Tokerau, tana tu'itu'i ko te ka ia o tana a'i — ei ai marama no tatou e taku iti tangata.
“I came through valleys, difficult pathways, and challenging seasons; the seedling candle nuts gathered to determine the brightness of your torch — let your light shine bright for my people.”
A traditional pe'e (chant-proverb) of perseverance through hardship, calling on a person to let their gathered strength and knowledge shine as guiding light for their people.
Source: Traditional Cook Islands Maori pe'e, shared by John Kiria, published in Etu Pasifika, "Cook Islands Language Week: John Kiria"
'E tuatua tupuna tēia mei po mai ē tae mai ki tēia rā.
“This has been a proverb with us from long, long ago right up to the present day.”
A phrase used to introduce or close a traditional saying, affirming that the wisdom being spoken has been carried by ancestors across generations to the present.
Source: Dictionary of Cook Islands Languages (Rarotongan), entry "pō", compiled from Buse, Jasper and Taringa, Raututi, "Cook Islands Maori Dictionary", ed. Bruce Biggs and Rangi Moeka'a (1995)
Na te rima uruuru tena i rave.
“This was done by hairy hands.”
Praises a piece of work as the product of an expert or an elder — skilled hands, weathered by long labor, produced it.
Source: Short, Apenera, "Native Proverbs and Figurative Expressions of the Cook Islands", Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. 60, No. 4 (1951); as compiled in "Cook Islands Maori Proverbs We Should All Use In Our Daily Lives", Erica's Hub (2018)
Kua oro i Punakiore.
“He ran at Punakiore.”
Said of someone who has already faced hardship or defeat before, drawing on the memory of a place associated with past struggle.
E ra ke ia na Tiaure ei.
“"A different day," said Tiaure.”
A saying used to mean "tomorrow" or "another time" — often pointing gently at someone who keeps putting off what they promised to do.
E mahana toou.
“You will have your day.”
A warning that a reckoning or consequence still lies ahead for wrongdoing, even if it has not yet arrived.
Auraka e oake i te piripou ki te vaine.
“Do not give your trousers to your wife.”
A traditional saying about household roles, holding that the husband should keep his place leading the family.
Kai e takatakai.
“Eat, then stamp your feet.”
Describes a feast so plentiful that after eating, people rise and stamp or dance in celebration.
Tuku paka ua ki te ai.
“Put it whole into the fire.”
Speaks of giving oneself completely to a cause or sacrifice, holding nothing back.
Pakau a kikino kia kute te rave.
“A poor tool, used well.”
Said of someone unlikely or ill-equipped who nonetheless performs a task with real skill.
Mata pokia e te kai.
“His eyes are covered by food.”
Describes a person consumed by greed, so fixed on food or gain that they can see nothing else.
E tua Pukuruvaa-nui.
“This is the Pukuruvaa-nui distribution.”
Refers to a style of sharing in which everyone present receives a fair portion.
E tua Titama.
“This is the Titama distribution.”
Refers to a style of sharing in which only certain chosen people receive a portion, unlike the fairer Pukuruvaa-nui distribution.
Eaa, e koe atia?
“Is it a broken rod?”
A rhetorical question asked of a fisherman, testing whether he truly has the skill his gear and reputation suggest.
Mapii tua uruuru.
“Mapii of the hairy back.”
A figurative name used for something sticky or clinging, drawn from an old descriptive nickname.
Eaa, e rima ruru ia e te ika?
“Is his hand bound by the fish?”
Describes a truly skilled fisherman, whose hand seems tied to the fish itself because his catch never escapes.
Aere ki te tai koko.
“Go to the rushing sea.”
An instruction to go and wash or scrub oneself thoroughly clean in the strong sea current.
Eaa e ara ngaro?
“Is the path lost?”
A gentle rebuke reminding someone to put their food properly in their mouth rather than eating carelessly — mind your manners and pay attention.
A te kerearako ua koe.
“You are like the kerearako bird.”
Compares a person to the chattering kerearako bird, said of someone who talks far too much.
Toa para vaa ua.
“A hero by mouth alone.”
Describes someone who boasts of great deeds but proves incapable when action is actually required.
Utu panu.
“A floating berry.”
A figurative name for a stranger, someone who has drifted in from outside the community like a berry carried on the current.
E tamariki oro Piako.
“The boy who ran to Piako.”
Said of someone who flees rather than stands their ground, recalling the old story of a defeated chief's escape.
Akara ka veu te puna vai.
“Take care, or the clear pool grows muddy.”
A caution that carelessness can turn something once clear and good, such as a plan or a reputation, into something spoiled.
Kia pukupuku, kia taratara.
“Rough and thorny.”
Describes work that is difficult and troublesome, full of obstacles like rough, thorn-covered ground.
Mou i te ko, mou i te ere.
“Hold the digging stick, hold the rope.”
Speaks to the full duties of running a household: working the land and tending the animals both.
Kai ka pou, tangata kia ora.
“Let the food be finished, so long as the person lives.”
Advises against being jealous or stingy over food — better it all be eaten than someone go hungry or resentment grow.
Moa kakaoa i te ngutupa are.
“A rooster crowing at the doorway.”
A sign that a visitor is about to arrive, likened to a rooster announcing itself at the entrance to the house.
Rau meika taviri.
“The banana leaves are curling.”
A traditional sign read from nature that a cyclone is approaching.
Kia pupuru o vaevae, kia mokora o kaki.
“Steady your legs, keep your neck alert.”
A call to stand firm and stay watchful — to act with wisdom and courage together.
Te maata i taau ka oronga ko te maata rai ia i taau ka rauka.
“The more you give, the more you shall receive.”
Teaches that generosity returns to the giver — those who give freely and avoid selfishness receive back in kind.
Source: Short, Apenera, "Native Proverbs and Figurative Expressions of the Cook Islands", Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. 60, No. 4 (1951); reproduced in a Cook Islands Reo Māori Facebook post crediting Apenera Short
E tau te rave angaanga i tana tutaki.
“A worker is rewarded according to their service.”
Affirms that the value of one's reward should match the effort and quality of the work performed.
Kokiri kai ate.
“One who darts about eating the liver.”
A figurative description of a hot-tempered person whose anger flares quickly and lingers, likened to one who feeds on the liver — the seat of temper in traditional imagery.
Okotai rima i puta i te uti kuku i Anaupo e manotini te vaa i kai.
“One pair of hands gathering shellfish at Anaupo fed a great many mouths.”
Praises the far-reaching value of a single person's labor — one person's effort or gathering can provide for and benefit a great many people.
Ka kite o mata, kare to vaa e kai.
“Your eyes may see it, but your mouth will never taste it.”
Describes something desired but permanently out of reach — you may witness or long for it, but you will never actually obtain or enjoy it.
Tinana puaka kai moa, kai moa rai te punua.
“The sow eats chicken, so her piglet eats chicken too.”
Observes that offspring take after their parents in habits and behavior, having learned them by example from birth.
Aaere marie e aku potiki kia kite i nga inapotea.
“Go gently, my little ones, so that you may live to see the years of old age.”
Elder counsel to the young to act carefully and avoid recklessness, so that they may live long enough to grow old.
Eiaa e akatangi vave i te pu, e kare i maoa ake te varaoa.
“Do not sound the horn while the bread has not yet baked.”
Warns against announcing success or celebrating too soon, before a task is actually finished.
Kare e tuitui, kare e rauau, kare e moina tai.
“Without thread, without cord, without a single fishing net.”
A description of someone left with absolutely nothing, possessing none of the basic tools needed to provide for themselves — extreme poverty.
Ki te kopu, pakari te vavia, matutu o te kopapa e.
“When the stomach is full, the body grows strong.”
A simple observation that being well fed gives a person strength and vigor.
Kua aere a rauuru te noo nei a mata.
“The strong worker moves on; the idle one stays behind.”
Contrasts the industrious, who go forward and accomplish things, with the lazy, who are left sitting in place.
Kua rau kuru para a Tahiti, kua taka te maro i te toe.
“Like the breadfruit of Tahiti that has ripened again and again — his loincloth has grown thin with age.”
A figurative way of describing someone very old, whose many years are likened to breadfruit that has gone through countless ripening seasons.
E oki, kare e rauka a Rori, kua mou nga tamaka o Rori.
“No, you will never catch Rori — Rori's sandals are already fastened.”
Said of someone too quick, clever, or well-prepared to be caught or outdone, recalling an old story of a figure named Rori who could never be overtaken.
Me kare e vaie kare te ai e ka.
“Without an insult, no quarrel arises.”
Observes that conflict has a cause — disputes do not arise from nothing, but are sparked by an offense or insult given first.
Ko tei koe te vaarua ra koia uaorai te ka topa ki roto.
“The one who searches for others' faults is the very one who falls into the pit.”
Warns that those who dig for faults in others often end up trapped by their own doing — a caution against fault-finding and gossip.
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