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Manihiki as seen from the Space Shuttle
info about this image
click image to see enlargement
visit the NASA site below for More Cook Islands
http://nix.nasa.gov
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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. |
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Meitaki Korereka
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Manihiki Airport
March 2002
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Manihiki Parrot Fish August 2004
Image provided as courtesy to KiaOrana.com
by Nancy Kora
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Pearl Farming in Manihiki
Pearl farming in the South Pacific Island of Manihiki lagoon is primarily done to farm black pearls. The Black Lipped Oyster [Pinctada margaritifera] variety oyster is seeded by the insertion of a small bead in a shaped round nucleus, between 8 and 20 mm thick, from the Mississippi River clam.
This nucleus is coated with about 2mm of black pearl per year. To make the best pearls it takes about 2 and a half years. Oysters are hung in string bags holding 8-14 bivalves. The bags are hung on ropes set in the lagoon.
It takes approximately 2 1/2 years to cultivate the best pearls. Many factors affect the success rate, but of 100 oysters seeded, typically only 5 oysters will produce a round pearl. X-ray screening, similar to how dentists inspect teeth, is used to determine the consistency and depth of the nucleus coating to detect quality pearl nucleus coating. The same oyster can be reseeded 2 or 3 times.
Selection of pearls is the key to quality and pearls are screened by a variety of processes. They are separated for color, which can be black or blue or purple or silver, and for smoothness and roundness and luster.
The color of a pearl is the result of a body color and an overtone color (known as orient) present (due to surface effects) as a lustrous sheen. White, light cream, light rose, light yellow, blue and green overtones on a white body, black and colored pearls.
The basic black or dark grey colors of the Cook Islands pearl combine with a multitude of hues including iridescent greens, ocean blues, pink, rose, golden, rainbow or platinum highlights. All colors have special qualities. Individual taste is the best criteria to judge them.
Two species of pearl oyster are found in the Cook Islands, the Pinctada margaritifera and the Pinctada maculata. The small pearl oyster or "pipi" (Pinctada maculata) is widespread throughout the Cook Islands. In Penrhyn the "pipi" oyster is harvested for its natural golden pearl.
Suwarro is not as well suited for pearl farming because the Napoleon Ret fish, which can bite throught the shells, often eat oysters.
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Tangaroa
featured on
Cook Islands $3
currency
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