Kia orana! My name is Daniel Mataiti, Owner/Director of Mona’s Lagoon Charter and Water Taxi.
Before private charters and customised lagoon tours came into the picture, this boat had a completely different purpose. It was originally planned and built to be a fishing boat.
One day, my mum and dad thought, “Why don’t we try doing a water taxi?” And that is where the journey began.
A water taxi is basically like a car taxi, but instead of travelling by road, you travel across the beautiful Aitutaki Lagoon. You choose your destination, we take you there, and then we come back to pick you up at an arranged time.
Back then, our water taxi service was around $50–$60 per person, with children travelling at half price. Mum and Dad operated the water taxi for a couple of years, but along the way we experienced multiple engine failures. Despite the challenges, that did not stop Mum and Dad. They pushed forward and invested in a new engine to keep the business going.
A few years later, Mum and Dad moved to Samoa, where they served on their mission, pastoring and working with the people of Samoa. This was when we stepped in and took over the family business.
From there, we began expanding the services, building on what Mum and Dad had started and introducing more ways for visitors to experience the beauty of Aitutaki Lagoon.
Today, Mona’s Lagoon Charter and Water Taxi offers private lagoon charters and customised tours, including both half-day and full-day private charters.
Through this journey, we have had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people from all over the world. One of the most rewarding parts of what we do is seeing guests return to Aitutaki and come back to us wanting to head out onto the lagoon again. Having returnee guests choose to spend another day on the water with us means so much to our family.
We always try our very best to meet our guests’ requests and be as flexible as possible, working around their needs and schedules wherever we can. Every guest is different, and we want their experience on the lagoon to be something they truly enjoy and remember.
What started as a fishing boat, turned into a water taxi, and eventually grew into a family-run lagoon charter business.
We are proud of where we have come from, grateful for the foundation our parents built, and excited to continue carrying the family business forward.
From our family to yours — come and experience the beauty of Aitutaki Lagoon with us.
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