My husband surprised me on our honeymoon to the Cook Islands. Everything about Etu Moana is perfect from the setting, the accomodations, and the staff and owners. We were picked up by the airport by Lovey and greeted with warm sincerity. The staff all call you by name and make you feel right at home. Every one of our needs was attended to, and easily. I loved the "honor" bar. The entire island is laid back and welcoming. The staff will arrange any kind of trip for you, big or small. There are mostly honeymooners there - we didn't see any children. Definitely the best place on Aitutaki. Would avoid the nearby fancy resorts - they are far more exclusive and stuffy feeling

After a hectic week of festivities on the main island of Rarotonga, we escaped for a few days of bliss to Aitutaki and the Etu Moana. The resort is as fabulous as everyone says but it is the small extras and attention to detail that make it truely superb.

I would really like to thank the staff there for helping us out with trying to get Origin tickets online (there is no broadband on Aitutaki only dial up which is challenging when you only have a small window to buy tickets!), offering advice on restaurants and going out of their way to look after us - even on the last day after we had checked out!
They are truely deserving of the excellent reviews and the awards they have won. You won't be disappointed - though you will need to book a fair way in advance as they have a high occupancy rate (each villa is very private and you never feel crowded) - trust me you won't want to miss out.

By far the best place we have ever stayed, and Aitutaki itself is beautiful and untouched by developers. Let's hope it stays that way.

I am one of those people who read the reviews of Tripadvisor and am used to seeing multiple great reviews with a sprinkling of negative reviews. For the most part Etu Moana has excellent reviews so my standards were high for this hotel.
I am happy to say the hotel lived up to its reputation. I stayed in Villa 6, next to the pool. Originally I was not pleased about being next to the pool because of noise levels, privacy, etc. I could not see the pool area from the bungalow, but did have a great ocean view. It never gets loud because people are usually at the ocean instead of the pool and either way, it would be a max of 16 or so people if everyone met there at once.
The staff was wonderful, they are more than willing to talk and answer questions about anything. David, the grounds keeper, is the local historian and artist, he is fun to talk to about Aitutaki stories and general island info. All the ladies at reception are great at offering up places to eat, dishes to try and how to get there. Jim and Jo-Anne, the owers are very approachable to talk to and ask questions as well.
I would recommend this hotel to anyone thinking about visiting Aitutaki.
I personally did not notice more of a mosquito problem at the hotel than any other place on the island. I came prepared with insect repellant and still got bit, but no worse than any other tropical island I have been to.
The locals are all great and will wave at you when riding by.
Some restaurant suggestions:
JK's Bar and Cafe, recently opened. Items ranged from 10-18 NZD and the portions are big
KuKu's Cafe, burgers started at 6 NZD
Tauono's
Tapuna's
Try an island night somewhere as well

Just as everyone has said, the cabanas were very nice, the staff was wonderful and the location was idyllic. However...the mosquitoes were horrible! My husband and I stayed in several different places on the island during our stay there and even came back to Etu Moana a couple of times for various reasons. Each time the mosquitoes were easily 3 or 4x worse there then anywhere else. The only possible explanation we could come up with was that Etu Moana has much more lush vegetation than the other hotels and thus had less of a breeze going through it. I enjoy 'roughing it' during vacation but having to vigilantly and immediately close the door and screen every time I entered the cabana then try to kill the half dozen who slipped in with me was really annoying.

In addition there were birds that patrol around during breakfast everyday. If you get up to go back to the buffet for more fruit or whatever, they will jump on your table and ruin whatever you have left. Not a big deal, but something to be aware of.