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.

Ahandful 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.

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 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.” “I was born and raised in Clayton south east of Melbourne, then moved to the city later. I came to Raro in 2005 with mum and dad. I lasted a year then went back working mainly in retail and management where I learned a lot about advertising and marketing, graphic design and web design at that time.” Charlie Jnr added: “This is a really a family business, although we also have a few Indonesians working for us!” “When we got our bar licence about two years ago, Mum decided we should start serving dinner, so we did that. “Then we added live music. I was playing Mondays and 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.

“Our sashimi is always fresh off the boat,” said Charlie Jnr. “We have also started to incorporate some Indonesian cuisine.” Charlie Jnr is a basket baller who has represented Cook Islands, most recently in the Polynesian Basketball Cup in Samoa. In his leisure time, Charlie Snr is the vice president of the Cook Islands Rugby Union. 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 businesses in Rarotonga, having been presented in 2019 with an A1 Meitaki Award by the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. To receive an A1 Meitaki Award a business, or individual, must be nominated multi-times by visitors to the Cook Islands. Nomination forms are only available from the Cook Islands Tourism Information office in Avarua (or Aitutaki), and in the Rarotonga International Airport departure lounge. Businesses are nominated for ‘excellence in service to visitors’. On weekdays and Saturday from 11am Charlie’s serves 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

Charlie Tapurau Hosking with Charlie’s Rarotonga’s A1 Meitaki Award Charlie’s offers live music from Monday - Friday from 5pm

Charlie’s began modestly in a beachside container.

Charlie Jnr represented Cook Islands in basketball