Easter Island
Easter Island was given it's European name when Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen landed there on Easter Sunday 1722. Since then, non-Polynesian cultures have adapted the name into their own language: Isla de Pascua, Île de Pâques, Osterinsel.

Oral history says that the original name of the island is Te Pito O Te Henua, which translate to "the navel of the world" or "the center of the land." It is common in many isolated cultures for their inhabitants to describe themselves as being at the center of life.

The Polynesian name for it is Rapa Nui. "Nui" in many Polynesian languages means "big." This name was given to the island after the slave raids in the 1800's when the islanders were being compared to inhabitants of another island Rapa Iti, or "small" Rapa. Currently, the local people call themselves and the language Rapanui while calling their island Rapa Nui.

History

To many, Easter Island is seen as a mystery because much of the oral histories that would have told us about the islands past have been lost. Many popular writers since the 1970’s have promoted an idea of a cultural collapse on the island, which caused the population to decrease to only 111 people (from an estimated original population of around 20,000).  This idea of a collapse, however, is largely based on theories and assumptions and there is very little fact that actually supports it.

What we do know is that the Rapanui people came from Polynesia.  We know this because the language, genes, and many traditions are grounded in shared Polynesian cultures.  We know that the Rapanui people carved the giant stone statues, called moai, to represent their ancestors.  We know this because there is a lot of archeological evidence and some oral history that proves it.

Statues
T he stone statues of Easter Island, or moai, were carved out of volcanic tuff from Rano Raraku Quarry.  The statues are full bodies, not just heads.  Most of the famous pictures taken show statues that have been partially covered by eroding soil.  There are about 800 statues that are currently accounted for on the island.  Their sizes range from 4 feet up to 35 feet.  The heaviest statue is estimated to have weighed 90 tons. (that’s about 3 humpback whales).   There is one statue still unfinished in Rano Raraku that would have reached 66 feet (a 6 story building) and weighed close to 165 tons (weighed 6 humpback whales!).

Once carved, the statues were transported to ceremonial platforms called ahu at each village.  Once on the platform, the statues were decorated with coral eyes and red hats (representing hair in a topknot).  These platforms and statues were positioned facing inland and looking over the villages, much like a forefather looking over his children. 

AHU TAHAI
At the edge of the town of Hanga Roa sits Ahu Tahai, a cluster of three ahu. Ahu Vai Uri has several distinct types of moai, built during different time periods. Some recently carved statues have taller and longer shaped bodies with proportionate faces. Earlier style of statues have a broad body, deep eye sockets, and short ears.
Ahu Ko Te Riku was restored in 1964 by archeologist Prof William Mulloy.  The statue’s topknot and eyes were later reconstructed.  In ancient times the statues were called Aringa Ora o te Tupuna which meant "the living face of our ancestors." Each family group, or lineage, had a ceremonial platform topped with a statue that faced their village.

RANO RARAKU
For hundreds of years the islanders carved the statues, or moai, from the crater rock. The crater's soft rock is a mixture of volcanic ash and basalt. Today over 300 moai surround the crater, abandoned in various phases of construction. Carvers used basalt tools, or toki, to shape the face and torso of the moai. Many statues have unique markings or styles. Soil erosion and the island's strong winds have buried their torsos over time.

High on the crater are two moai that exhibit female characteristics. Moai Tuku Turi is a unique kneeling statue with more naturalistic features, unlike the other moai, which are standing and have squared features. The largest moai, 22 meters high and 165 tons, still remains in the crater wall, half-carved.

HARE PAENGA
Houses were built in the shape of upside-down boats.  To build the frame, poles were arched across the foundation and anchored into holes in the platform. The shell was then covered with grasses to form a roof.

HARE MOA
Hare Moa, chicken houses, were built with thick walls and no visible entrances. Only the owner knew which rock could be removed for access to the chickens. Chickens were important not only for food, but for gift giving ceremonies.

ANA
During wartime, caves entrances were fortified with stone walls, a practice unique to Rapa Nui.  The entrances were small in order to force an attacker to vulnerably enter head first.

TAKONA
The art of Takona, or body painting, is still practiced today. The painted performer chants about the symbols on his body in order to tell a story. The paints are made by mixing red or white clay or soot from burnt ti leaves with sugar cane sap and water.

TAPATI
The Tapati Rapanui festival was established in the 1980’s to celebrate Rapanui culture. The festival takes place each February and lasts for about two weeks. The Rapanui select several young women as candidates for festival queen.  Islanders form teams to support each candidate and compete in a variety of cultural events. The competitors spend months practicing and training for the festival. The competing teams are not paid; they participate to celebrate and support their culture.