At Kia Orana Villas & Spa, you’re more than a guest — you’re part of our family. Start the day chatting over a tropical continental breakfast with our General Manager, Sane Cowan. Slow down in peaceful gardens, float in our saltwater pool or spa pools, and unwind with a massage from our therapist Nancy. When you’re ready to explore, we’ll help you book the tours, activities, and restaurants you want — so you don’t miss out. Most guests come for a holiday and leave with a sense of having been somewhere small and looked after. Many come back.
From two villas in 2016 to a family-run oasis of thirteen. We opened in 2016 with just two two-bedroom villas. With our guests’ support, we’ve grown — quietly, without losing what made the original idea work — into a tranquil retreat of 13 villas, a Reception Villa with café and spa, on-site team accommodation, and the owners’ villa, all tucked among tropical gardens in the peaceful village of Atupa. It’s still small enough that our General Manager remembers your name, and our team will share the kind of insider tips that turn a holiday into a real experience of the island. That’s the size we want to stay. The people running the property day-to-day — the ones who’ll be looking after you while you’re here. Most chain hotels rotate staff in and out. We don’t. The people you meet on arrival are the same people you’ll see throughout your stay, and most of them have been with us for years. They get on brilliantly together — and the rapport they have with guests is something we’re genuinely proud of. The four featured TripAdvisor reviews on our home page each name members of our team. So do dozens more. Here are the people behind those reviews. General Manager · joined 2018 Sane runs Kia Orana Villas day-to-day. She joined us in 2018 after running the front office and reservations at Crown Beach Hotel, and she’s the first person you’ll meet on arrival. She handles bookings, breakfasts, recommendations, requests — whatever you need. Her freshly baked banana loaf has become a small local legend. “Sane is an exceptional host. Even though she provided us with detailed instructions on how to access the property, she personally greeted us on arrival at almost midnight.”
— Booking.com guest
Manager Joe is Sane’s husband and our Manager. He was a self-employed tiler before joining us — he met Janet and Ross while tiling the Kia Orana Villas additions, loved mingling with guests, and decided on a career change. He’s also the man behind the morning coffee at the Café. “Joseph and Sane are fabulous hosts. Make you feel very welcome and nothing is too much trouble. Joseph’s great coffee, and they have a vast knowledge of the island and things to see and do.”
— Booking.com guest
Maintenance Manager · joined 2019 Anare keeps the property running — the saltwater pool and spa pools, the air-conditioning, the gardens, the things that need fixing before you notice they’re broken. He’s been with us since 2019. Most guests never see him; the way the property looks is how they know he’s there. “Joe and the team in the grounds and maintenance — fantastic job of external impressions. Garden maintenance and pool daily was impeccable.”
— Recent TripAdvisor guest
Housekeeping Manager · joined 2022 Tevita leads our housekeeping team and makes sure every villa is spotless when you arrive and stays that way throughout. He’s also the team member most likely to share an island story or local tip when you bump into him mid-morning. “Meitaki Maata to Sane Cowan from reservations, meet and greet to farewell. Just wow. Tevita, Nancy, Puna for the cleanliness of the villa and refresh where needed.”
— Verified guest review
Spa Therapist & Housekeeper · joined 2022 Nancy looks after our on-site spa — traditional Polynesian, deep tissue, hot stone, and reflexology. Her treatments are a guest favourite and book out fast in peak season. She’s also part of our housekeeping team when she’s not in the spa. “Absolutely recommend a massage from the amazing Nancy — thoroughly enjoyed my scrub and scalp massage.”
— Booking.com guest
Housekeeper · joined 2022 Purna joined our housekeeping team in 2022. She works alongside Tevita and Nancy to keep every villa in the kind of condition that means our most regular guests notice the difference, even after years away. “Cleaners were hard working and did a great job… the room is serviced everyday without fail. Daily room service was fast and appreciated.”
— TripAdvisor & Booking.com guests
Spacious, fully self-contained villas designed for being together — or apart. Our villas are deliberately spacious and fully self-contained — full kitchens, in-villa laundry, generous decks, and free Starlink Wi-Fi that actually works. Whether you’re a couple on honeymoon, a family of four with two young kids, or four friends on a golf trip, there’s a villa that fits. Many guests tell us it feels like coming home. That’s the reaction we work for. Cook Islands certified eco-tourism — what that actually means at our property. We’re proud to be Mana Tiaki Eco-certified by Cook Islands Tourism. Mana Tiaki means “guardianship” — a Cook Islands philosophy of caring for the land, the people, and the culture. Here’s how that shows up in practice: By staying with us, you’re supporting all of it. Meitaki ma’ata — thank you for helping us protect this beautiful island. What you can expect from us — and what we’d love to know about you. We look after you like family — with personal touches, local knowledge, and someone always on call when you need help. We’re small enough that your name on the booking arrives weeks before you do, and we’ve already started thinking about your stay. Celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, or special occasion? Tell us. We’d love to make it memorable. A few thoughtful touches at the right moment are the things guests still talk about years later. Kia Orana Villas is owned by J. R. Enterprises Limited, was founded by Janet and Ross Holmes. They are not involved in the day-to-day operations — the property is run entirely by Sane and the team you’ll meet during your stay. Janet was born in Atiu in the Southern Cook Islands — a former Cook Islands primary school principal whose deep connection to the islands shapes the spirit of the property. Ross is a lawyer practising in Auckland and the Cook Islands. He looks after the business side — bookings infrastructure, compliance, and long-term planning. Their shared vision — from the very first villa — was genuine island hospitality where guests feel at home. That’s the brief Sane and the team have been delivering on, day in and day out, ever since. Book direct for our best rate, member benefits, and the warmest welcome on the island.Our story
The real gems here are the staff. Super helpful and engaging with laid back charm. From the moment we arrived, the GM Sane and all the team went out of their way to be helpful. Great hosts, great ambassadors for Rarotonga.
— Recent guest review on TripAdvisor
Meet the team you’ll actually meet
Sane Cowan
Joe Cowan
Anare
Tevita
Nancy
Purna
Space to relax, room to be together
Mana Tiaki in action
Hospitality with heart
Behind the scenes: Janet & Ross Holmes
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