Rarotonga Five

**Highest Placing Member**:Alexis (4/20)

The Rarotonga Five was an alliance from Survivor: Cook Islands.

The most dominant original tribe of the season, the veterans from the Rarotonga tribe formed an alliance and steamrolled most of the pre-merge. However, they soon crumbled at the merge and failed to fight the uphill battle to the end that followed.

## History

### Origins

The blue Rarotonga tribe was formed on Day 1 of *Survivor: Cook Islands*, comprised of *Survivor* veterans Alexis, Katniss, Kayla, Leo and Liamm. Alexis and Kayla previously competed on *Panama*, where they worked together on the original Bayoneta tribe and decided to join forces once more this season. Raro won all four immunity challenges they had together, strengthening the bond between the women. By the time the tribe dissolve occurred, the girls decided to create an alliance of five with the rest of their tribe.

### The Switch: Raro

At the tribe dissolve, Alexis and Liamm remained on Rarotonga. They were joined by three pairs; Manihiki's Carter and Lea, Aitutaki's Brooklyn and Tommy and Puka Puka's Jack and Marisa. The fact that the new Raro tribe only contained pairs greatly concerned Alexis and Liamm. In response, they aligned with Brooklyn and Carter and were planning on targeting the two Puka Puka castaways. This 4-4 split on Raro divided the tribe so much that they lost their first immunity challenge on Day 13. The rival Aitutaki tribe was given the opportunity to kidnap a member of Raro who would bypass tribal council, winning immunity but missing the opportunity to vote. They chose Jack. This move allowed Alexis and Liamm's new alliance to take control over the tribe, leading to the eliminations of Marisa, Tommy and Lea at the following tribal councils.

### The Switch: Aitu

Meanwhile, Katniss, Kayla and Leo were switched to the red Aitutaki tribe. Katniss had a strong relationship with Peeta after working with him during *Redemption Island*, and she quickly brought him into her alliance of original Raro members. Katniss, in addition to secure another ally, became even more powerful when she found the Aitu Hidden Immunity Idol. When the tribe lost on Day 18, this quarter voted for Johanna whereas the rest of the tribe voted for Peeta. At the revote, Katniss wanted to prove her allegiance to the Raro Five and decided to flip on Peeta in order to avoid a rock draw.

### The Mutiny

On Day 20, the remaining castaways were offered mutiny and the chance to flip to the opposing tribe. Due to their connection to Katniss, Kayla and Leo on Aitu, Alexis and Liamm decided to mutiny from the original Raro to Aitu. This allowed the Raro Five to hold the majority on the Aitu tribe of nine castaways. Aitutaki lost the following two immunity challenges they had together, leading to the eliminations of Johanna and Charlie by the Rarotonga Five.

### The Merge, Their Downfall

The remaining ten castaways from the two tribes merged on Day 25. Following Alexis and Liamm's choice to mutiny, their formers allies Brooklyn and Carter flipped and decided to work with the Puka Puka Three. This alliance of five went head to head against the Raro Five at the first merged tribal council, leading to a tie between Liamm and William. Kayla felt like her closest ally was Alexis, but they had drifted apart following the switch and her mutiny with Liamm. To avoid a rock draw and to become Alexis' number one ally, Kayla flipped at the revote and Liamm was eliminated.

This move, however, had the opposite effect on the Raro Five (now Four) as they fractured into two pairs; Kayla and Katniss worked together whereas Alexis and Leo became a duo. Kayla and Katniss convinced Brooklyn and Carter that they could create a stronger alliance rather than being the fourth and fifth members of the Puka Puka Three. The pair agreed because there was animosity between them and Alexis, not the rest of the Raro Five. At tribal, this group voted for Leo but the rest of the tribe had the numbers and Carter was voted out. The remaining members of the Raro Five made amends the following morning and agreed to work together once more. Katniss' name was being thrown around and she played her idol at tribal council. With the only other votes that counted, the Raro Five eliminated Brooklyn.

There continued to be smaller relationships and alliances between the four castaways on the Raro Five. Kayla had strong personal connections to Alexis and Katniss separately, and decided to bring these together in order to create a tight trio. Alexis was hoping to bring in Leo in order to get rid of William, but Leo wanted to work with the Puka Puka Three instead and Katniss was voted out. The Puka Puka Three however considered Leo dispensable and he was voted out at the following tribal council. Alexis and Kayla were in the minority by the Final Five and despite their best efforts, Kayla followed by Alexis became the final two members of the *Cook Islands* jury. The Raro Five, all now members of the jury, voted for Jack to win the title of Sole Survivor.