From left to right (standing) Pastor Eliu Eliu, Koka Lagoon Cruises Serena Hunter, Conrad Hunter and Vara Hunter as crew member Junior Koronui (kneeling) looks on during the blessing ceremony.  

The beautifully constructed boat was moved out of the Raroweld workshop after  5 months of construction and put on the water.  Staff and crew from both Koka Lagoon Cruises and RaroWeld, together with family and friends held a blessing ceremony with Pastor Eliu Eliu doing the honours. 

“Its special having pastor Eliu bless the new boat as he blessed the Reva Moana when we first started business, and also the 2nd boat and our new office building, so he has seen our journey and blessed us along the way,” said manager Serena Hunter.

“As I’ve said many a time, the success of the company is due to our awesome crew, who provide outstanding service to our customers, and we are proud to continue that service
- Serena Hunter, Manager Koka Lagoon Cruises

The boat is intended to replace the original boat built for Koka, the Reva Moana, which will be dry docked. The tour company will run one or both of its larger boats Tai Moana and Te Tiare Vaitea on its daily tour.  

Hunter said the crew was very proud of the new boat, which has a few adjustments such as entertainment stage at the front of the boat for the crew and more legroom.  “The boys are fighting over who will get to be on the new boat,” Hunter laughed.  

The Koka Lagoon Crew in full song on board the new addition to the Koka Lagoon fleet 'Te Tiare Vaitea'. 

The tour company has grown from strength to strength since it commenced business 9 years ago, maintaining its ranking on Tripadvisor as a #1 tour with consistent excellent reviews, winning the 2018 Cook Islands Tourism Award for Visitor Experience/Customer Care, and more recently receiving certificate for excellent customer service for the 2019 A1 Meitaki Awards receiving the most nominations of any company.  Its popularity is also evident by its large Facebook following of almost 25,000 followers. 
 

“As I’ve said many a time, the success of the company is due to our awesome crew, who provide outstanding service to our customers, and we are proud to continue that service,” said Hunter.  The popular tour runs daily except for Sundays from 10am to 2pm, and contributes a percentage of all sales to a lagoon conservation trust fund.