Church
Sunday is down time on the island, but you will find that there are church services being held in nearly every village. Hakupu hold services at 10am and one at 4pm so you have a couple of opportunities to catch a service. Personally, I enjoy the morning services where the singing is lovely and the men’s voices ring out strongly through the church. Most services run for an hour and if they are extending it for a specific reason, you can normally sneak out without being noticed.
Showdays
Showdays are a big event for the Niuean people. There is a showday held in every village and if you check the Niue Tourism calendar you can work out who is holding one whilst you are on the island. Normally held on a Saturday, the village have food for sale, crafts and produce for sale once they have been judged for a prize. There are also sporting events which you can often join in and win yourself a prize.
Weaving
Weaving is a craft that has been passed down through many generations in Niue, with some women very skilled at making hats, baskets, table mats, floor mats, wall art, and jewelery. Although there are many raw products on the island that the women prepare and use for their weaving, the pandanus is the most popular leaves used. The village women meet weekly in a hall to work together on their crafts including weaving and you will find out where this takes place on which days if you visit the Niue Tourism centre.
Haircutting
The haircutting ceremony and the ear-piercing ceremony are the rights of passage of girls and boys growing into young adults. You can often find one of these ceremonies on the Niue Tourism calendar and if you are fortunate enough to be on the island at that time, go along and watch what takes place. The boys are getting their haircut for the first time and family plus villagers gift an envelope of cash to cut a bit of hair to keep. They will receive a basket of goods for their gift often amounting to pork, fish, chicken, taros, sausages and corn beef. How many baskets they receive is often dictated by the amount of cash they gifted.
