Originally called "Are Manuiri" (guest house) and then “Otera Rarotonga” (Rarotonga hotel), this building was the first hotel in the Cook Islands. Built in 1905, at the cost £1200, the building was used both as a sanatorium and an accommodation house. The land, called Vaikapuangi, belonging to Karika Ariki, was originally leased to Donald and Edenborough and was taken by warrant by the colonial administration for the "public good".

The original building, which incorporated over 100 tons of coral stone, collected by the people of Avarua, was designed to be added to over time. Although intended to "promote tourist traffic" (according to Hon. CH Mills, Minister administering the islands, Wellington, New Zealand, in a letter dated 25 Aug 1904), the main users of the hotel were the public servants working for the colonial administration (1901-1965).

Originally, the hotel had 6 rooms, two dining rooms and sitting rooms and had the first ever bar in the Cook Islands. Locals were not allowed to buy drinks or drink in the bar.

The original structure of the building remains although it has been added to substantially over the years.

The turn of the century colonial building, which is characterised by wide verandahs and a large overhanging roof, is designed to keep the building cool and to keep out driving rain - short and sudden downpours being a feature of tropical climates.

One of the longest guests to live in the hotel was one Judge Jack Morgan, a New Zealander, who lived and worked in the Cook Islands for nearly 30 years (from the 1940s).

In the 1970s the Rarotongan Hotel at Aroa beach was built offering more rooms and services. “Otera Rarotonga” became redundant. Renamed the Banana Court Bar, it became a very popular local nightclub from the 1970s to mid 2000s and featured in a number of popular local songs from the period.

Today the Banana Court building houses a number of businesses.

We acknowledge with deep respect the landowners and their ancestors, whose enduring connection to this place allows its stories to live on and be shared.

Ko te ingo mua “Are Manuiri” i muri mai “Otera Rarotonga. Ko te Banana Court te otera mua i roto i te Kuki Airani. Akatu ia i te mataiti 1905 e £1200 tona akapou’anga, kua ta’anga’anga ia teia are ei are maki e te ngai noo’anga. Te ingoa o te enua ko Vaikakapuangi (no Makea Karika Ariki teia enua), kua rīti mua ia kia Donald raua ko Edenborough inara kua rave ia ma te tika akava’anga e te Opati akatere enua rikiriki no te “meitaki o te katoatoa”.

Ko te are mua, tei ta’anga’anga i tetai 100 tane toka kaoa, tei koi ia e te iti tangata o Avarua, kua akanoo’ia kia akatoro i te reira i te au tuatau ki mua. Me roto i tetai peapa tei tataia e Hon. CH Mills, te Minita i Nuti Reni nana e akateretere i te Kuki Airani i te mataiti 1904, ko te akakoro’anga o te otera ko te “turuturu i te teretere’ang o te au turoto”. Inara ko te aronga ta’anga’aga i te otera ko te aronga ‘anga’anga kavamani o Nuti Reni tei akaue’ia ki te Opati akatere enua rikiriki mei te mataiti 1901 ki te 1965.

I te akamata’anga, e ono pia moe i roto i te otera, e rua pia kaikai, e ngai noonoo’anga e te ngai inu kava mua i te Kuki Airani. Kare te iti tangata maori e tika ia kia oko kava e te inu kava ki roto I teia ngai inu kava.

Te vai nei te tutu mua o te are e kua akama’ata ia tetai au ngai i te au mataiti i topa.

Ko teia are no te taumano i topa, e tona porotito atea, te taupare akaaka, kua amani’ia kia vai anuanu ua te are e kia kore e māū i te ua i te tuatau ua pakari, ko te reira oki tetai tu o te reva i te au enua moana.

Ko tetai o te tangata tei noo roa ki roto i teia otera ko tea kava Jack Morgan. E akava nui a no te akava’anga enua i Rarotonga e kua ‘anga’anga ki te Kuki Airani no tetai toru ngauru mataiti akamata i te 1940.

I te tuatau o te 1970’s kua akatu ia te Rarotongan Hotel i te pae taatai i Aroa e kua maata te pia moe e te au ‘anga’anga tamataora. Kua piri i reira te Otera Rarotonga.

Topa ia te ingoa ou ko te Banana Court, e kua riro mai e ngai uraura navenave i te po no te au maori mei te 1970’s ki te au mataiti i rotopu i te 2000’s e imene ia ana te au imene rongonui o te reira tuatau. I teia ra kua noo tetai au pitiniti ki roto i te are Banana Court.

Kia akameitakiia mate akaaka te au tumu enua e to ratou au tupuna, to ratou pirianga ki te enua tei akatika ia to ratou au tua kia vai uatu e kia korero ia.