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CoOK ISLANDS SuN
ISLAND LIFE
Charlie’s, a great 'chilled-out' local eatery EVER WONDER WHERE TO FIND THE MOST RELAXED, CHILLED OUT PLACE FOR CASUAL EATING AND LIVE MUSIC WHEN YOU ARE ON VACATION? WELL WHEN ON RAROTONGA YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT CHARLIE’S IN TITIKAVEKA.
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handful of years ago Charlie’s began modestly in a beachside container with kayaks, paddleboards, snorkels and flippers at Titikaveka. Today, it is one of Rarotonga’s most enjoyed venues for casual all day dining, which also features live evening music from Monday to Friday. The container has been added to but the first thing you’ll notice is the expansive back deck and alfresco dining options with an affordable menu that includes a variety of crowd-pleasing gastronomy from burgers, fish and chips and toasted sandwiches, to sashimi, fresh salads, beer on tap and cocktails. There’s added seating near the bar. The owners, Charlie and Mary Tapurau Hoskings are two of the happiest people on Rarotonga. They love life, they love their family, and they love their businesses, Charlie’s Rarotonga and the new Charlie’s Villas at Matavera.
Charlie’s began modestly in a beachside container. Whilst Charlie and Mary first met at Rarotonga’s Tereora College, they got together later when they both started dancing with the Ta’akoka Dance Troupe: “It’s named after motu Ta’akoka out there in the Muri lagoon,” said Maryy. “We were married in Rarotonga and have six children: Anthony, Vivian, Tamatoa, Charlie Jnr, Christian, and one daughter, Elsie. The oldest is 38 and the youngest 20. Anthony was born in Rarotonga, the others in Australia.” Initially Charlie studied to be a pastor in Melbourne at the Harvest Bible College, which specialised in training for Christian ministry. Graduating with a BA, he and Mary lived in Australia for 21 years. Mary was a homemaker and
Charlie Tapurau Hosking with Charlie’s Rarotonga’s A1 Meitaki Award
mother: “But, I also did odd jobs in supermarkets and in telemarketing,” said Mary. “I came back in 2005 because my dad passed away and my mum was alone, so I came back first. Charlie returned later after he sold our house.” Back in Rarotonga, Charlie worked for four years at Tereora College as a PE teacher before starting the Hosking’s first tourism venture in 2010, which was accommodation on family land, Te Akapuao Studio Villas. Then came beachside Charlie’s Rarotonga, also on family land, where they rented out paddleboards and snorkelling equipment, and started a basic café open during the day. Charlie Jnr, who now manages Charlie’s Rarotonga, said he was just happy to help out when his parents started the business. He began the Charlie’s Facebook page and Instagram account for the café and beach rentals: “That was in 2014.”
Charlie’s offers live music from Monday - Friday from 5pm
Fridays and Dad was playing Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we had Tok Haurua coming in on Wednesdays”. Charlie Jnr played guitar and piano, Charlie Snr guitar and ukulele. “Today, Anania Brown plays on Monday, Tupous Fynest on Tuesday, Tok on Wednesday, Kahiki and Mo on Thursday, and Dad’s band PVC on Friday: Pania, Varani and Charlie Snr. Koti Teina also performs on Friday.” “On Saturday afternoon from 1pm we’ve added Mo, Ronnie, Jimmy and Mii to the line-up of musicians.” The Charlie’s Rarotonga menu is wide-ranging, and includes local fresh fish, chicken and steak.
He and the Hosking family are also avid supporters of the Ngatangiia - Matavera Sea Eagles rugby league club where Charlie Snr played in the B Grade as a teenager. Charlie’s Rarotonga is one of the club’s sponsors. “The Sea Eagles Club won the 2019 competition in June completing the season without any loss!” said Mary. Charlie’s Rarotonga also sponsor the Titikaveka Bulldogs Rugby Club, the Turangi Cricket Club and others groups and events. “We sponsor sports all the time!” said Mary. “But we’re also a sponsor for other things like the Maori Speech Competition, which is for local schools.” “Another event we have been involved with has been the Cook Islands Sevens!”
The Hosking family is sporty, and they are community minded, but they are also one of the top visitor-orientated “I was born and raised businesses in in Clayton south east Rarotonga, having of Melbourne, then been presented in moved to the city 2019 with an A1 later. I came to Raro Meitaki Award in 2005 with mum by the Cook and dad. I lasted a Islands Tourism year then went back Corporation. To working mainly in receive an A1 retail and management Charlie Jnr represented Cook Islands in basketball Meitaki Award where I learned a lot a business, or about advertising and individual, must be nominated marketing, graphic design and “Our sashimi is always fresh multi-times by visitors to the off the boat,” said Charlie web design at that time.” Cook Islands. Nomination Jnr. “We have also started to forms are only available from Charlie Jnr added: “This is incorporate some Indonesian the Cook Islands Tourism a really a family business, cuisine.” Information office in Avarua although we also have a few Charlie Jnr is a basket baller (or Aitutaki), and in the Indonesians working for us!” who has represented Cook Rarotonga International “When we got our bar licence Islands, most recently in the Airport departure lounge. about two years ago, Mum Polynesian Basketball Cup in Businesses are nominated decided we should start Samoa. for ‘excellence in service to serving dinner, so we did that. visitors’. In his leisure time, Charlie “Then we added live music. Snr is the vice president of the On weekdays and Saturday I was playing Mondays and Cook Islands Rugby Union. from 11am Charlie’s serves
Charlie’s Rarotonga logo and lagoon image
up hearty light meals, teas, coffee, smoothies and cold drinks. Licensed, Charlie’s also opens for dinner Monday to Friday until 8pm, each evening accompanied by live music from some of Rarotonga’s finest musicians! Saturdays 11am-3pm, closed Sunday. Charlie’s Rarotonga & Charlie’s Villas W: charliesraro.com; E: info@charliesraro.com; T: 28 055
