Tuanaki or Tuanahe is the name of an

anecdotal Anecdotal evidence is evidence based only on personal observation, collected in a casual or non-systematic manner. The term is sometimes used in a legal context to describe certain kinds of testimony which are uncorroborated by objective, independ ...

vanished group of islets, once part of the Cook Islands. It was located south of

Rarotonga Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 13,007 of a total population of 17,434. The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings a ...

and within two days sail of Mangaia. In 1916, the

Polynesian Society of Honolulu Polynesian is the adjectival form of Polynesia. It may refer to: * Polynesians, an ethnic group * Polynesian culture, the culture of the indigenous peoples of Polynesia * Polynesian mythology, the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia * Polyn ...

reprinted an account by a sailor who had visited there in 1842, spending six days among the natives. However this account added that two years later in 1844, a schooner of English missionaries had found nothing. Some Tuanakians who had emigrated to Rarotonga allegedly survived. The 1916 publication re-ignited interest in the flyaway islands, and explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, when planning the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition of 1921–1922, proclaimed as one of his goals the rediscovery of Tuanaki. The explorer died in Antarctic waters before he was able to mount a serious search for the vanished archipelago. It was suggested in 1952 that the

Haymet Rocks The Haymet Rocks were reported by J.E. Haymet, master and owner of the cutter ''Will Watch'', when on passage between Auckland and Rarotonga; in 1863 the cutter passed between two rocks and struck on the northern of the two, damaging her false kee ...

were a remnant of Tuanaki. However, the existence of the Haymet Rocks at some point is unconfirmed as well.

References

Former islands History of the Cook Islands Former populated places in Oceania Islands of the Cook Islands Phantom islands {{CookIslands-geo-stub