Photo: CANDICE LUKE/ 24021212. Retrieved from cookislandsnews.com

Excerpt from cookislandsnews.com

A young Cook Islands teen runs a successful temporary tattoo business at the market, connecting with customers through his art and cultural heritage.

Entrepreneurship runs in the family for 12-year-old Iaveta Kara-Elisa, known as Veta.

The young artist delights visitors and locals alike at the Punanganui Market every Saturday, offering temporary tattoos designed by himself and his mother, local artist and tangata tātatau, Stormy Kara.

His range features traditional Cook Islands motifs, flowers, turtles, stingrays and he’s always working on fresh designs. He has learned which patterns belong to which islands and is able to connect Cook Islands customers to their heritage.

Veta loves to make people smile with his work, especially his peers.

“I like seeing the kids happy. I want to go to an area where there aren’t many things (that) kids like so I can provide something they’re interested in.”