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Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on contrasting taro patches in Pukapuka of the Cook Islands, and argues that the socio-cultural and geographical differences of these contribute to make the atoll　"islandscape" not only diverse but also flexible as a living space.

Paper long abstract:

The aerial photograph of the main island of Pukapuka, an atoll of the northern remote islands in the Cook Islands, shows scattered green "meshwork". These are muddy taro patches that provide the residents with the staple food. They are significant elements of "islandscape" of the atoll island, in the sense that they represent entanglement of constant human activities and natural environment. The residents recognize four types of taro patches; (1)uwi kotikoti e te wenua (patches managed by the whole atoll), (2)uwi kotikoto e te oile (patches managed by villages), (3)uwi koputangata (patches managed by decent groups), and (4)uwi kelinga (patches managed by families). (1)&(2) are regularly to be redivided and reallocated to individuals depending on the changes of members. However, (3)&(4) are inherited through genealogical links over generations. In other words, (1)&(2) constitute relatively communal landscapes with public memories while (3)&(4) constitute private landscapes with individual memories. Besides, the locations of taro patches are also contrasting. The communal ones tend to be found on the lower open land near the lagoon where swamps previously spread, while the private ones are on the higher narrow inland where more efforts for excavation were needed to access water. I argue that such differences of taro patches contribute to make the atoll "islandscape" not only diverse but also flexible as a living space. They have managed to deal with unexpected situations like natural disasters or depopulation by sharing vulnerability of the "islandscape".