The original settlers of the area which is now known as Aitutaki were the Polynesian people ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesi... ).  Though the history of their settlement of the area is only partially known, it is believed that they reached the area in approximately the ninth century, during a time of migration known as the Great Polynesian Migration.  The area began to be developed by the Polynesian people and was a thriving area by the eleventh century.  During that time, the first roads (which are made of coral and are famous tourist attractions today) were begun to be built.

In the thirteen century, leaders from nearby islands came to conquer the people who had settled in Aitutaki.  More specifically, the Tahitians and Samoans settled in the area.  Their reign was short lived, however, because it was only a few centuries later that the Spanish conquistadores.  They conquered the people there but they did not remain in the area for long.

In fact, it was not until the twentieth century that Aitutaki began to be seriously developed by the Western world.  It was used as a military base by the United States military during World War II.  Even after that, most international people did not became highly aware of the area until the famous shows “Shipwrecked” and “Survivor” brought the area in to the consciousness of popular culture.