At Kokomo Private Island, care is not something outsourced or operationalised; it is lived, shared, and quietly woven into daily life. Nowhere is this more evident than in the work of Kokomo’s nannies, the gentle guardians who shape the experiences of the island’s youngest guests with instinct, patience and heart.
For many families, the presence of a Kokomo nanny becomes the difference between a holiday and something deeper: a feeling of trust, freedom and ease that allows parents to truly exhale, and children to thrive.
For Teru Kele, caring for children has always been second nature. “I love looking after children,” she says simply. She has been part of the Kokomo family for six years, drawn to the opportunity to do what she loves in a place that celebrates connection, culture and care. Her days are shaped by curiosity and adventure. “My favourite part of working on the island is looking after the children and taking them on adventures,” she says. “For instance, on the glass bottom boats, snorkelling and on Hermy hunts.”
It’s this sense of discovery that Teru treasures most not just for the children, but for herself. “I love learning about their culture and learning new words,” she says of caring for children from all over the world. “The whole learning experience is amazing, and they have a lot to tell us, as young as they are.”
Some moments stay with you forever. One of Teru’s most memorable experiences involved caring for a five-year-old guest living with Type 1 diabetes. “She needed extra care,” Teru recalls. “I learned a lot more things from her that I am grateful for especially about diabetes and the latest technology that monitors her levels.” It’s a quiet reminder that nannying at Kokomo is as much about attentiveness and adaptability as it is about joy.
Fijian culture is gently embedded into every day. Teru shares stories of growing up in Fiji and introduces children to language and music through Kids Club culture sessions. “We teach them songs in our indigenous language and Fijian words of the day,” she says. One favourite is Era sa voce yani ki cakau which is a song and dance passed on to children with pride.
Alongside Teru is Arieta, affectionately known as Eta, who has been with Kokomo for eight years.
Like Teru, Eta finds joy in her work each day and utilises the islands sustainability initiatives and surrounding nature to create lived experiences for those in her care. Children join mangrove planting, nature walks, scavenger hunts, glass-bottom boat tours and marine biology presentations. “With these activities we inform children about the names of plants and marine life, the benefits to our environment, and the results of not caring for it, especially our corals,” Eta explains. “We also tell them what we can do to help prevent this.”
Calm and joy come in many forms: weaving at Kids Club, fish feeding, Hermy hunts and races, treasure hunts. Each activity is carefully matched to the child in front of them. As Teru explains, personalisation is a team effort. “We can tailor activities to the interests of the child,” she says. “If a child loves cooking, we try to schedule another class before they leave. If they love turtles, the Baywatch team lets us know about sightings so we can kayak out to see them.”
A typical day is never quite the same. It might begin with breakfast together, move through Kids Club activities, snorkelling or beach time, fish feeding with family, and end with movie night before bed. Birthdays are celebrated. Favourite songs are sung. Familiar routines from home are honoured.
What emerges is something rare: care that feels deeply personal, culturally rich, and utterly unforced. At Kokomo, our nannies don’t simply look after children, rather they welcome them into island life. And long after families depart, it’s often these quiet connections that linger longest in memory.
