In a bid to strengthen and revive traditional practices, 13 Year 9 Titikaveka College students undertook the challenge of carving traditional coconut-grating stools for the first time this term.

Class teacher Vae Unuka initiated the project with his students at the start of last month. After five weeks of commitment and hard work, six students successfully completed their coconut-grating stools.

Unuka believed that the people of the Cook Islands, particularly children, were forgetting the purpose, history and very existence of the traditional coconut-grating stool.

He explained that in present times, people rely and focus more on machines than on ancestral ways of completing household tasks such as grating coconuts.

“I think it’s a good way for us to revive this,” Unuka said.

By the end of this school term, half of his class had completed their stools, even with only one class per week.

Unuka is proud to see his young students passionately carving their own stools. He shared that it is a valuable project, as the students received academic credit for their effort and were able to take their handmade items home.

This project is important not only for reviving traditional practices but also for challenging Year 10 and 11 students to earn their NCEA credits throughout the coming terms.

For this project, Unuka collected parts of stored cut-off timber for the Year 9s to use, for the purpose of testing the project out with his younger students. However, for the Year 10 and 11 students, the school would provide them with the proper material required.

Following this project, Unuka intends for his students to carve their own ukuleles. To achieve this, he will need to secure the assistance of experienced ukulele makers.

The students who were part of the project said that they found the making process quite difficult, especially sharpening and shaping the steel for grating the coconut.

Sharing some advice to other students, Jayden Teatai Ariki Tua said, “Push through the hard work and keep going so you don’t forget where you came from.”

Teryna Emmanuela Hinangaro added, “Keep a part of your heart about your culture, speak the language and keep doing cultural stuff.”

Moana Kaveao Gempton advised, “Don’t give up on making things and just remember that this is our culture and that you have to remind others.”

The students are proud of their crafted items and are excited to show the result of their crafting skills to their parents.