Kiribati is an adventurer’s paradise, a place for cultural adventures where you can explore the Kiribati culture in many ways and forms. To really experience the culture you need to spend some time in a homestay or in a local community somewhere in North Tarawa or on an outer island because this is where you will discover the rich Kiribati culture. Your cultural adventure in Kiribati is guaranteed will be the highlight of your trip, a truly special one.
Experience Our ‘Mauri’ Culture
Our Mauri Culture will be your first cultural introduction and experience in Kiribati. Mauri is hello, a greeting word. It will be the first words you will hear when you set foot in Kiribati; you will hear children saying Mauri Mauri as they try to greet you along the road. All you have to do is say ‘Mauri’ back. Our Mauri Culture is reflected in the nature of our people who are very friendly and curious.
Kiribati is full of smiling, friendly faces willing to talk to you or take you in as family. Some of the most beautiful children you will ever meet. They are among the friendliest of people in the world.
Being friendly is rooted in our culture as we value the importance of guests, iruwa. They are also shy but once they get to know you, they will share a genuine friendship you. Above all I-Kiribati are very simple but happy people.
Learn about the Kiribati Way in the Home and in the Community
Discover the true essence of the Kiribati culture in the heart of a Kiribati home and community where you can truly experience the Kiribati way of life. You can best experience it on outer islands or in North Tarawa where you can live with a local family homestay or in the community. Experience sleeping like local on a buia (a traditional local hut); eat local food and share a meal together; do chores together; learn about the maneaba (a local meeting hall) system; learn the Kiribati language; help out in a community project; and more; to truly experience the Kiribati way.
Learn about Kiribati Survival Skills
One way to experience the Kiribati Culture, is to learn about their survival skills on these atolls; the way they utilize and exploit their natural resources, and developing skills necessary for them to survive on these islands. You can learn about important trees & plants and their uses and what makes the coconut tree the most important tree in Kiribati; copra harvesting, collecting toddy; learn to sail a Kiribati canoe; weaving skills; cultivation methods; making of the tuae (a unique sweet local dish made from pandanus fruit); and participate in the different types of local fishing and hunting activities; and more; for you to fulfill your I-Kiribati cultural experience.
Explore Kiribati Traditional Food and Feasts
Experiencing local food will be part of your Kiribati Cultural Adventure. Freshly caught seafood, pork, chicken, and vital food crops such as coconut, taro, breadfruit, pandanus fruit, pumpkin, papaya and bananas, are the traditional diet in Kiribati. Imported foods like rice, flour, and sugar are important today as part of the staple diet in Kiribati. Coconut cream is an important ingredient to most of the traditional dishes.
Feasts ‘Botaki’ plays a major role in the Kiribati lifestyle an as a traveller you likely find yourself invited to a local feast where you will enjoy an array of local food. The most symbolic food at a local feast is the roasted pig. Without a roasted pig the feast is considered a small feast.
As part your cultural adventure, you will likely to try out some of the Kiribati traditional food & beverages. Fried breadfruit chips; sun dried preserved pandanus fruit paste te tuae folded in sheets then mixed with fresh coconut cream to make a delicious sweet dessert called te roro.; grilled, boiled or stir fried Mantis shrimp te waro; fish or octopus cooked in curry and coconut cream; BBQ nouo or bun shellfish kebabs; and more. You will also enjoy these local beverages, ‘Toddy,’ coconut zap collected from the flower spathe of the coconut tree is a refreshing vitamin C drink; that can be mixed with water or tea teikarewe. It can also be boiled to form sweet syrup kamaimai as a drink mixture with water or you can use it on your pancakes. Fresh toddy can also be naturally fermented to palm wine kaokioki or timbakatai for you to enjoy.