This story is of how a parent saved the life of his child by, concealing his footprints with his own, expressing a parent’s unconditional love for their child and giving the name Tapuaetai, or One Foot Island, to this famous motu.

Translated by Mike Tepaki and Anna Elia 

Author Clinton Hewett (Aitutaki, Rarotonga, European) is an artist, woodcarver and author from Aitutaki, Cook Islands. He creates oil paintings as well as digital paintings and illustrations inspired by narratives from both historic and contemporary Cook Island cultural themes.

“My passion is to visually remind us of our ancestors great achievements and inspire our future generations to be proud of our history, to be brave and to follow in our ancestors footsteps.”