Atiu: See
=== Tumunu ===
From the early colonial days when the local population was barred from drinking alcohol, the Tumunu came into being. The men carved themselves a barrel from the trunk of the coconut tree and brewed the concoction in there. This would be hidden away near the plantations.
As time went by drinking was finally legalised and now the villages each have a place for drinking and socialising.
Formerly women were not allowed in these places but this rule has been relaxed and both men and women may be found in these places. There are strict rules of behaviour and anyone causing problems in one place will also be barred from other places.
Visitors are very welcome here and all one needs to do is to leave a small donations at departure.
The participants sit on home made seats around the barman who is in the centre and in reach of all the participants. The barman has a miniature cup – the bottom part of a tiny coconut – and serves everyone from it – going around the full circle. One may drink or wave away the drink.
There is a table with sliced up fruit and one may help oneself.
There are generally instruments strumming and everyone joins in the singing.
There are five villages in Atiu – visitors may not distinguish one from the other – and each village has a meeting house which is very important to them. They are well maintained and the villagers have pride in them.
In these houses they conduct village meetings and community functions like welcoming and feeding visitors, selling of products.
Educational courses are conducted in these houses and when a big group from overseas visit they could be accommodated in here for the time they are on the island
These were one of the earliest houses built by the government. There was one for each village. Inside at either end of the house is a huge concrete tank to contain the rain water collected. In the concrete floor beside each tank is a hollow about a square metre and about half a metre deep with a tap from the tank at one end. Here is where the villagers are to fill their containers to carry home for the day’s use.
Today, every household has been supplied with plastic tanks to catch the rainwater and they no longer need to go to the catchment building.
However, in times of water shortage tankers may fill up from here to take to the homes. …