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Easter Island ~ Rapa Nui

The early settlers called the island "Te Pito O Te Henua" (Navel of The World).  Admiral Roggeveen, who came upon the island on Easter Day in 1722, named it Easter Island. Today, the land, people and language are all referred to locally as Rapa Nui.

Rapa Nui is one of the most isolated places on earth -- a place where a complex culture existed, under extreme conditions.

With Hawaii in the North and New Zealand in the South, Rapa Nui forms what is known as the Polynesian triangle. It is the only Polynesian island where Spanish is spoken (it’s actually under Chilean rule) and located over 2000 miles away from any coastline. Easter Island lies in the middle of the Pacific, almost half way between Tahiti & Santiago).
 
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1995 by Unesco, Easter Island is best known for the giant stone monoliths, known as Moai, that dot the coastline.   The population, originally native of the Marquesas islands, built the gigantic statues as dedication to their most important ancestors. Their presence, meaning, construction & transportation are still being studied and their size (up to 60ft) make them unique in the world.

Easter Island today, remains one of the most unique places you’ll ever encounter; an open air museum showcasing a fascinating, but unfortunately lost, culture. The Rapanui are among the friendliest people you’ll meet, and the landscape is truly amazing - with its volcanic craters, lava formations, beaches, brilliant blue water, and archaeological sites.

In late January to early February the islanders celebrate Tapati, a festival honoring the Polynesian cultural heritage of the island.