Made friends with a couple of Kiwi builders who frequented the bar...Tyson & Steve.
They were contracted to build a house by "Sunset Beach". We went up there a couple of times with Pauls' guitar, some beers and they had a BBQ. Paul cooked Pasties up there one day and they were great (first time for Paul).
After a few weeks on Mana we felt island life was for us, so we extended our stay several times. Made friends with all the staff.
Stayed in a dorm for 2 weeks then tryed camping, but after two nights got invaded by little red ants. The manager felt for us and agreed we could move into a private room with a fan for 8 pounds a day, to include 3 meals. We got on well with the Manager Mark and his girlfriend Rashma.
After 5 weeks I did a trip to the mainland with some leaving friends. The island had been quite isolating and the internet was expensive, so no contact with home and not much news coming in. Short of provisions too. It was a shock coming back to civilisation...traffic, noise, so many people. Stayed for two nights, not intentionally, but our arranged lift left us behind. (Moses, the resident artist and fisherman had been payed to take us back to Mana but decided he couldn't wait). Had some treats on the mainland, hot showers, Pizza, curry and shopping! (Toiletries, snacks, alcohol)
After a week back on the island we watched our dormitories burn down!