Coral Kids
A visual community archive in Aitutaki
Coral Kids is a long-term documentary and visual arts project developed with Grow Aitutaki, Aitutaki Coral Restoration, and the community of Aitutaki, Cook Islands. It follows local efforts to care for the lagoon and pass on the knowledge and traditions that have shaped life on the island for generations.
Coral gardener Mike Lee began restoring coral with salvaged ropes, limited resources, and no institutional support. As the work grew, a partnership with Grow Aitutaki brought children into the lagoon to learn about coral restoration. They take part in invasive species removal and marine surveys, and discuss the lagoon’s future.
For some children, taking part also means rebuilding their confidence in the water. Swimming and play are part of their learning as they develop their relationships with the lagoon and learn from elders and community members.
The children also photograph their own lives. Their photographs, stories, and observations form a growing visual community archive documenting everyday life in Aitutaki, their experiences in the lagoon, and their connections with elders. Through these accounts, the project explores how knowledge passes between generations and how children understand their place in island life.
Who gets to produce the visual archive of a place? This question runs through Coral Kids, from who makes a photograph to how it circulates and who decides how it is used. The project explores how the community can shape the way Aitutaki is represented and remembered over time.
The work will contribute to a feature documentary, exhibitions, publications, and educational resources. The visual archive will continue to grow with the community over several years.
Support the Project
Your support funds continued fieldwork in Aitutaki, film development, and exhibitions. It helps document the community’s coral restoration work and share the children’s photographs and experiences with wider audiences.
If you have visited Aitutaki and would like to give back, or if this work matters to you, you can donate through Documentary Australia. Donations are tax-deductible in Australia.
Contact: hola@rosaaureliaproductions.com.au
Raquel Trejo, photographer and filmmaker based in Adelaide