Welcome to the Rapanui (Easter Island)
Ia Orana!

Rapanui is one of the most isolated islands in the world, but the Polynesians managed to find it! Now-barren, Rapanui lies midway between Tahiti and Chile, over 2,200 miles from either. Adventurer and author Thor Heyerdahl argued Rapanui was settled from South America, but the Rapanui people share many traits with other Polynesians, including language, artifacts, economic plants, and architecture.

What about the mysterious moai (giant statues) and the enigmatic bird cult and petroglyphs. Could these be influences from South America? Or can they also be traced to Polynesia?

At this island station find out where Rapanui's giant moai (statues) came from.
Welcome to the Society Islands
Upstairs Gallery of the Hawai`iloa Exhibit

Back to the Hawai'iloa page
Back to the Past Exhibits Page
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Revised on August 29, 1996 by mcb