And so ended our most enthralling three days on Easter Island. We’d read a lot before we’d arrived but we’d understood a lot more after our visit. We left with some answers to our questions but even more importantly a longer list of questions. We had enjoyed our very brief stay on Easter Island. It is remote, it is the home of friendly hospitable people and it is definitely worth the visit.
Notes from my research and the writings of others
Rapa Nui culture is complex and there are many gaps in our knowledge. But assembling together the facts that researchers have determined, together with reading such books as Katherine Routledge’s The Mystery of Easter Island published in 1919, has helped us broaden our understanding. Although dated, this book provides many insights into the history and the culture of the Rapa Nui.
The Moai
The carved statue of this particular style is not only found in Rapa Nui but it has been found in Hawaii, New Zealand and a couple of lesser Pacific islands. However, none of these are anything like the size or numbers that are found in Rapa Nui.
So what is the purpose of the moai?
To understand this we must first understand the Polynesian concept of mana. Mana is a form of wellbeing, presence, power, prestige and worldliness. The statues delivered this mana to the clan or sub-clan (community). However, they were not gods or idols nor were they statues of ancestors but they did represent ancestry in the form of power from the past.
Originally it is believed that all of the moai were erected on platforms called ahu. These platforms were built to a traditional specification that provided space for the storage of the bones of their ancestors as well as providing a platform for the display of the dead. The dead were wrapped in tapa flax cloth and placed on “racks” on the platforms. Villagers maintained vigil over these bodies for periods varying from one to three years. After the period of mourning, celebrations were held and the remains were relocated to vaults under the forecourt of the platforms. These are sacred sites and both visitors and locals need to understand that stepping on them is tabu.
