Our Story - The Big DreamMoving from Auckland to Rarotonga Cook Islands in early 2000's it was our dream to develop a simple lifestyle. To get away from the rules and regulations, escape the hustle and bustle & raise the children in a safe village environment.
This all seemed so inviting to us city kids and our three young children. The idea went something like this - a simplistic life, growing our own food, use pushbikes to get around, no TV & reading books. Funny the first home we lived in was washing machine free and we very quickly worked out that some parts of modern living were just essential and a new washing machine was quickly acquired. This was the first of many occasions we brought our modern way of being with us to life simplistically in Rarotonga. |
But some parts of this dream were turning out to be a delusion or maybe we needed to stop and really see what it meant to be these things we wanted, to watch those who lived it. We loved the freedom the unregulated lifestyle and real uninterrupted time to connect with the children - this seemed easy in nature together. How do you unlearn what you know? We wanted it so much but we unconsciously rejected simplicity because we didn’t understand it or we didn’t take the time to watch and see how to do it.
It wasn’t long before we were brainstorming grand ideas or big dreams as Island Granddad called them. Our heads were contemplating things quite the opposite of our reason for being in Rarotonga and what a beautiful place to conceive these big dreams.
Lying in a shallow lagoon with the warmth of the sun on our skin and simply playing with the children, was the birthplace of the big dream Kakera Villa Apartments - an eco apartment complex, using fresh modern design and building techniques, a place we would design and build together as a family. It took six years hard work and the commitment of our whole family to develop what is now Kakera Villa Apartments. Then we turned our hands from builders to hosts and enjoying guests company from all over the world.
We now understand the simplicity and complexity of being part of a Island village environment, our children have grown into young adults loving and understanding their Pacific Island culture, connected to their roots.
In the process of all this, we now understand what simplicity doesn’t look like and can laugh about that. We understand that dreams and plans don’t always offer you what you thought they would but, we do know that all experiences have some gifts to offer you. Our dream of simplicity lead us to understand determination, fortitude, cooperation, unity and love. We hope during your stay at Kakera Villa Apartments you will experience some learning rich and valuable to you.
Life is a journey, the last nineteen years have kept us deeply rooted at Kakera but as the winds of time change and the adventure into adulthood comes to each of our beloved children we to are drawn into a new stage. Our eldest son has now completed an air conditioning and refrigeration apprenticeship with honors and the World calls him. I guess a smart mind would ponder "cooling" growing up in the tropics. Our beautiful island girl has kindly gifted us three gorgeous grand daughters who walk down to spend time with us each day - bliss but now for education reasons New Zealand is calling them. Our youngest son is following his dream and has been playing rugby league in Australia and is now heading back to New Zealand. In our desire to be close to our adult children and especially our Grandchildren we will be spend time way from Rarotonga and Kakera and when we are not here to look after you we leave Kakera and your care in the capable hands of our Property Managers.
We would love to hear what you discovered during your stay at Kakera Villa Apartments [email protected]
P.S.Village Sports 101 - When one lives, even only for a couple of nights in the village of Ngatangiia, one is a Ngatangiian and therefore a devoted supporter of the village teams. So the chant is "Go Ngatangiia Matavera or Go Maroon". The teams are Sea Eagles & Flying Dragons and the colours are maroon & white - nearly the only two colours in our youngest son's wardrobe, what a surprise ! You can take the boy from the village... but you can't take the village from the boy.
Kia Manuia
Andrew, Melinda, Denzel, Paulina & Repoama Ponga
It wasn’t long before we were brainstorming grand ideas or big dreams as Island Granddad called them. Our heads were contemplating things quite the opposite of our reason for being in Rarotonga and what a beautiful place to conceive these big dreams.
Lying in a shallow lagoon with the warmth of the sun on our skin and simply playing with the children, was the birthplace of the big dream Kakera Villa Apartments - an eco apartment complex, using fresh modern design and building techniques, a place we would design and build together as a family. It took six years hard work and the commitment of our whole family to develop what is now Kakera Villa Apartments. Then we turned our hands from builders to hosts and enjoying guests company from all over the world.
We now understand the simplicity and complexity of being part of a Island village environment, our children have grown into young adults loving and understanding their Pacific Island culture, connected to their roots.
In the process of all this, we now understand what simplicity doesn’t look like and can laugh about that. We understand that dreams and plans don’t always offer you what you thought they would but, we do know that all experiences have some gifts to offer you. Our dream of simplicity lead us to understand determination, fortitude, cooperation, unity and love. We hope during your stay at Kakera Villa Apartments you will experience some learning rich and valuable to you.
Life is a journey, the last nineteen years have kept us deeply rooted at Kakera but as the winds of time change and the adventure into adulthood comes to each of our beloved children we to are drawn into a new stage. Our eldest son has now completed an air conditioning and refrigeration apprenticeship with honors and the World calls him. I guess a smart mind would ponder "cooling" growing up in the tropics. Our beautiful island girl has kindly gifted us three gorgeous grand daughters who walk down to spend time with us each day - bliss but now for education reasons New Zealand is calling them. Our youngest son is following his dream and has been playing rugby league in Australia and is now heading back to New Zealand. In our desire to be close to our adult children and especially our Grandchildren we will be spend time way from Rarotonga and Kakera and when we are not here to look after you we leave Kakera and your care in the capable hands of our Property Managers.
We would love to hear what you discovered during your stay at Kakera Villa Apartments [email protected]
P.S.Village Sports 101 - When one lives, even only for a couple of nights in the village of Ngatangiia, one is a Ngatangiian and therefore a devoted supporter of the village teams. So the chant is "Go Ngatangiia Matavera or Go Maroon". The teams are Sea Eagles & Flying Dragons and the colours are maroon & white - nearly the only two colours in our youngest son's wardrobe, what a surprise ! You can take the boy from the village... but you can't take the village from the boy.
Kia Manuia
Andrew, Melinda, Denzel, Paulina & Repoama Ponga