MK Stone Carving

Rangatira

In another life, a long, long time ago in France, a valiant young lad was a judo teachor for 30 years. He retired to devote himself to stone carving. Many years later, at 83, he decided to try out Jujitsu….

Kia Orana,

For over 15 years, Papa Michel has poured his heart and soul into hand-carving personalised headstones from Rarotongan basalt, creating timeless tributes that honour the lives and memories of loved ones. His artistry and dedication have touched countless families, and we are deeply grateful for the trust and support you have shown him throughout the years.

As Papa Michel approaches his 83rd year, he has made the heartfelt decision to take a well-earned rest and step away from this part of his craft. It is with both gratitude and a touch of sadness that we share this important update: we will no longer be taking orders for memorial rocks in 2026.

To ensure that all ongoing projects are completed with the same care and precision that Papa Michel is known for, we kindly ask that all work be finalised and uplifted from our workshop in Matavera by Friday, the 19th of December 2025.

This marks the closing of a remarkable chapter, and we thank you for being part of this journey. Your support has been the cornerstone of Papa Michel’s work, and we are honoured to have been part of your stories.

While Papa Michel will no longer be creating memorial rocks, he isn't setting down his tools completely. He's dedicating the time that remains to him to focus on personal creations and artworks—following his artistic vision in this new chapter. His hands will still bring beauty into the world, just in a different form.

If you have any questions or need assistance with current projects, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Meitaki maata,

Sylvie and Papa Michel

Whale season is here in Rarotonga!

In case you were wondering, Papa Michel has been keeping busy carving small pieces for Punanga Nui Market on Saturdays!

He began to carve massage stones to soothe his own aches and pains in combination with some therapeutic oil from ! Word got out and so through popular demand he prepares a new series every week 😃

#

The carver’s having fun with some new ideas for tomorrow