Helen's Life Story - Briefly!
Soon after the Cook Islands' first general election, Helen and her late husband Hugh decided to move from New Zealand to the Cook Islands, to participate and assist in the development of the new island nation.
Helen and Hugh arrived in Rarotonga in August 1969, along with their four young sons. They quickly became involved in the local community. Helen was a founding member of a Pre-school Learning Centre, a member of the local primary school committee, President of the Hospital Comforts Committee and Patron of the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation. As the family grew older her interests also evolved. She became the Secretary of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, President of the Business and Professional Women’s Association and a member of the international organization, PPSEAWA (Pan Pacific South East Women’s Association).
For many years Helen and Hugh operated an inbound tourism company and also organised ongoing Cook Islands’ educational programmes for Elderhostel and Pacific Island Travel Groups.
Now retired, Helen retains an interest in her sons’ lovely resort, Tamanu Beach, located on the island of Aitutaki, with its world famous lagoon. If you visit the Resort you may find Helen somewhere in the tropical garden, weeding and pruning. Early in 2013 Helen published her memoir, My Kotuku of the South Seas: Living and Loving in Rarotonga. A German edition (Mein Kotuku der Sudee: Leben und Lieben auf Rarotonga Eine Erinnerung)was published in 2017.
Helen is proud to say her four sons all live and work in the Cook Islands. Her daughter, Katherine, lives in Portland, Oregon, but returns annually to become an ‘island girl’ again. Helen has 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She is now happily married to John Hay. They share a love of travel, particularly in the Pacific. Helen and John reside on Rarotonga, the capital island of the Cooks Islands. Helen says everyone should come to the Cook Islands and visit ‘Heaven while they are still on Earth’.
Helen and Hugh arrived in Rarotonga in August 1969, along with their four young sons. They quickly became involved in the local community. Helen was a founding member of a Pre-school Learning Centre, a member of the local primary school committee, President of the Hospital Comforts Committee and Patron of the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation. As the family grew older her interests also evolved. She became the Secretary of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, President of the Business and Professional Women’s Association and a member of the international organization, PPSEAWA (Pan Pacific South East Women’s Association).
For many years Helen and Hugh operated an inbound tourism company and also organised ongoing Cook Islands’ educational programmes for Elderhostel and Pacific Island Travel Groups.
Now retired, Helen retains an interest in her sons’ lovely resort, Tamanu Beach, located on the island of Aitutaki, with its world famous lagoon. If you visit the Resort you may find Helen somewhere in the tropical garden, weeding and pruning. Early in 2013 Helen published her memoir, My Kotuku of the South Seas: Living and Loving in Rarotonga. A German edition (Mein Kotuku der Sudee: Leben und Lieben auf Rarotonga Eine Erinnerung)was published in 2017.
Helen is proud to say her four sons all live and work in the Cook Islands. Her daughter, Katherine, lives in Portland, Oregon, but returns annually to become an ‘island girl’ again. Helen has 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She is now happily married to John Hay. They share a love of travel, particularly in the Pacific. Helen and John reside on Rarotonga, the capital island of the Cooks Islands. Helen says everyone should come to the Cook Islands and visit ‘Heaven while they are still on Earth’.
