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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.

— Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom, Cook Islands

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

More about Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom →·More Proverbs from Cook Islands →

More Proverbs from Cook Islands

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.

Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom

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.

Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom

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.

Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom

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.

Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom

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.

Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom

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.

Traditional Cook Islands Wisdom

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