If you are looking for a quiet yet beautiful resort this is your place. We chose Etu Moana after reading the other reviews and it was amazing to find it is actually better than the photos. The villas are well designed so they all face the sea, yet are all private due to the gorgeous plants and landscaping that make Etu Moana the tropical paradise it is. I wont repeat what others have wrote so I will just write what we enjoyed the most. We booked a lagoon cruise with Aitutaki Adventures (yellow boat) which was so good, we went again two days later. The lagoon has to be seen to be believed, the colour of the water, the fish, just amazing. Also the lunch on the cruise was absolutely delicious, you wont need dinner, believe me!
There are free beach cruiser bicycles at Etu Moana, and it was so nice to ride around on them. The pool is just fantastic, so warm and great for a midnight swim too. It was quite hot but we never needed the A/C because Jim (Jim and Joanne are the owners) has designed the villas so the air flows through, so even at night, we just left all the shutters open and the insect screens closed, so it was very comfortable, especially with the huge doors and screen looking right out to the sea from our bed, just paradise. In the evening grab some torches from the office and walk along the beach for 10 minutes and there is a lovely restaurant called "Te Vaaka", then when you walk back watch the huge crabs!! There are scooters at Etu Moana, so hire one (only $25 a day) and ride around the island, then climb to the highest point for a great view. You can ride the scooter most of the way up if you like.
But dont feel like you have to do anything if you dont want to, its so nice just relaxing at Etu Moana, watching the beautiful lagoon.
So if this sounds like you, just go, you wont be disappointed, I promise.

Booked 5 nights at the absolute beachfront villa (#3 I think) in early January 2007 (it was available those five nights only - one year in advance!). Villa is lovely, comfortable and very romantic. It feels private with the view of the beach and lagoon.

The owners was very helpful when I wanted to propose to my girlfriend, and even lend me their van!

We had the Lonely Planet Rarotonga & Cook Islands, which were very helpful, as the information booklet in the villa and reception staff only gave information about a few of the tour operators available. We wanted to go on a lagoon cruise on a Saturday (or Sunday) and was told that it was not possible that day. We rang up Teking (found him in the LP), and he was happy to do it. A few days later, we had another lagoon cruise with Kathy (which is Etu Moana's "favorite"). Both cruises were very good. Teking provides a much more comfy boat (with roof and pillows) and by far better lunch (bbq fish and salads on one of the islands), while Kathy has a smaller open boat and cold lunch on the boat. Kathy gets a plus for the fishing part of the cruise (very cool, but probably not politically correct fishing).

You'll love Etu Moana and Aitutaki.

The rave reviews and Trip Advisors Awards are all justified.
Etu Moana is very obviously a work of art, concieved and executed with loving attention by Jim and Joanne. Jim built the 8 villas himself with an focus on detail in construction and client satifaction that I have never before seen. Jim planned the landscaping in such a way as to mask the villas with privacy by screens of flowering bushes and palms, yet keep the ocean views which everyone craves. The whole facility is immaculate, again the result of Jim's and Joanne's demanding eye for providing the best possible client experience. I watched JoAnne with the staff offering advice and letting them perform. All with a charm that is enviable. It makes for for a relaxed, charming atmosphere that in turn results in rave reviews and awards.
That said my wife and I had the best stay (7 nights)of our 6 week New Zealand/Cook Island retirement trip. Relaxing, adventurous, and fun. Impossible without the Etu Moana experience.

We have travelled many places on this blue planet but Etu Moana IMO is simply breathtaking! The key ingredient that separates Etu Moana from all the others (we have stayed before) are the people. It is a real credit to Jim, Jo-Anne and all the staff here that they have made this part of our trip an unforgettable one.

It's also worth noting my wife and I tied the knot at Etu Moana on 29/12/2007 so it's fare to say this place will always be part of us.

Many, many thanks for all of your efforts you will be highly recommended to our friends and families all over the world.

Bryan & Jodie Falealili (London, UK)