Greetings from the President
Kia orana tatou katoatoa
Turou...Oro mai
Aere mai
To our brothers and sisters of Te Moananui o Kiva. We extend a warm Cook Islands welcome to you all. Our Cook Islands Canoeing Association is humbled and proud to have you on our shores of Rarotonga for Vaa as part of the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.
In partnership with the games organisers and the International Vaa Federation, we have all worked together to bring you what we hope will be a memorable Vaa racing experience. We offer you first rate venues and canoes that are uniquely Cook Islands. We offer you a squad of athletes who like you, are passionate about Vaa, have trained hard and seek to achieve excellence. We also offer you a country of people who are here to witness and support each of you as we all strive to perform and make our countries, our villages and our families proud.
We wish you success and extend our friendship as we participate on the great ocean of Kiva that unites us, bringing us all together in the spirit of competition, friendship and peace.
Na te atua e tiaki ia tatou,
Kia manuia
Christina Newport
President