A visit to Easter Island is like visiting a dream.
This Polynesian island is stranded in the Pacific Ocean about 2,600 miles off the Chilean coast. Until 1968, the only way to reach this island was to hitch a ride on a Chilean warship. (The ship brought provisions once a year.) Now, a 5 1/2-hour plane ride from mainland Chile will deposit you at the shores of this otherworldy outdoor museum.
We spent four days and four nights on the island. One day we hiked, two of the days we took guided tours and one day we just hung out. The weather was partly cloudy most of the time with highs in the upper 60’s (Fahrenheit)and low 70’s. Certainly not beach weather.
But you don't come to this island for the beaches. You make the pilgrimage to gawk at the over 600 “moais” – gigantic carved stone heads – scattered around this island. They eerily keep watch over the denuded island landscape. A surreal experience. Utterly dreamlike.
Date(s): August 2006. Album by David Kohl. Photos by David Kohl & Ross Rosenberg. 1 - 38 of 38 Total. 1110 Visits.
Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) The island received its "western" name when the first European - a Dutch admiral -landed on the island on Easter Sunday in 1722. But the island is known as "Rapa Nui" to the Polynesians who arrived on the island around 800AD.
Tahai The statues ("moai") at Tahai are the closest grouping to Hanga Roa - the main and only town on the island. There are three "ahus" (platforms) in the Tahai grouping.
Tahai Although no two moai are identical, all are carved in a similar stylized manner. They range in size from 6-30 feet tall. Some have red "topknots" (pukao) that may represent a hat or a hair style.
Tahai Almost all the moai face inland. The statues represent important ancestors who watch over and protect their descendants.
Partially buried moai head A half-buried head found near Ahu Te Pau on the north coast.
Ahu Akivi These seven moai are the only ones to be erected inland - not along the coast and are the only ones that face the sea. But they overlook the former site of a village.
Ahu Akivi These statues were raised in 1960 by two acheologists recruited by Thor Heyerdahl. The pair subbsequently devoted their entire careers to work on Easter Island.
Ahu Akivi The moai at this site were oriented directly towards the rising summer solstice.
Ahu Vaihu These eight moai have been toppled and lie face down. Their red topknots have been scattered along the coast.
Dead horse at Ahu Vaihu According to our guide, dead horses are sometimes found around the ahus. When horses become ill, they often seek out these sites as their chosen place to die.
Ahu Akahanga Many of the statues were toppled by the natives after a class war between the "long ears" and the "short ears". The long ears were the dominant upper class; the short ears were the lower class.
South coast view It is believed that to transfer these statues from the quarry to the ahus they were pushed along a series of wooden rollers. These rollers were constructed from the trees on the island. As a result, to transport the hundreds of statues carved, most of the island's trees were cut down.
Rano Raraku This is a view of the volcanic mountain quarry where most of the statues were carved.
Moai Tukuturi This is a unique kneeling moai. It is only about 13 feet tall. When it was discovered it took 20 men, a Jeep and some chains to raise it. (Ahu Tongariki can be glimpsed in the distance.)
Half-buried head at Rano Raraku At first it was thought that these heads were torso-less. But when archeologists began digging they discovered the other half (the torso) of the statue beneath the ground.
Rano Raraku The half-buried moai were probably among the last to be completed.
Rano Raraku The moai in this area that are various states of completion - some half-buried,some half finished and some still attached to the rock from which they were being carved.
Rano Raraku The archeologists have determined the tools and the methods of carving but the actual mode of transport to the ahus is still only conjecture.
Rano Raraku The production of the moai became the downfall of the society. Too much time was spent on carving and tranporting the statues and not enough attention given to farming and fishing.
Rano Raraku You are not allowed to touch any of the moai on the island. This picture is an optical illusion. No hands are touching the statue. It's the postion of the photographer that creates this illusion.
El Gigante This is the largest statue ever carved but it is still attached to the rock face. It is over 60 feet long. (This is scanned from a postcard.) In the quarry there are about 160 unfinished moai.
Rano Raraku Many of the completed moai weigh between 20-25 tons. The island's oral histories offer no clue as to how the statues were moved only claiming that the statue's own mana (supernatural power) enabled them to walk a short distance every day until they reached their platform.
Crater lake atop Rano Raraku
Ahu Tongariki Probably one of the most photographed grouping on the island. Ahu Tongariki is comprised of 15 colossal moai.
Ahu Tongariki The platform - some 600 feet long - is the largest built on the island. It also boasts the largest number of moai ever erected on a single ahu.
Ahu Tongariki This ahu was totally destroyed in 1960 when a massive tidal wave swept these stautes some 300 feet inland - a remarkable distance considering that some of these statues weigh 30 tons!
Ahu Tongariki The whole site was restored between 1992-1995. Only one topknot (on this statue pictured) was recovered. The rest were scattered far inland.
Ahu Tongariki
Ahu Nau Nau In 1978, archeologists found fragments of white coral and a circular red pebble at this site. When fitted together, they created an eye with a red iris. They now assume that these statues had "eyes".
Ahu Nau Nau Located along the beautiful Anakena Beach, Ahu Nau Nau was covered in sand until its restoration in 1978. The sand actually helped protect these moai from weathering and erosion.
Iglesia Hanga Roa The island's only Catholic church integrates Christian doctrine with Rapa Nui tradition. The hymns are sung in the native language (rapa nui) accompanied by an accordian, guitar and drums.
Church carving The church also contains fine examples of Rapa Nui wood carvings.
Rano Kau crater This crater lake at the southwestern end of the island is covered with a bog of floating totora reeds - the same reeds that are found in Lake Titicaca on mainland South America. (This panoramic photo was "stitched" from five still photos.)
Orongo A view from the top of a 1,000 foot tall cliff overlooking two basalt islands. This was the site of the "birdman" compeition. For the competition, a representative from each clan would climb down the cliff, swim across a shark-infested sea to the island, grab an egg from a nest, then swim and climb back to the top with the egg intact.
Orongo Ceremonial Village These stone huts were mainly used for sleeping; all cooking was done outside. The low-lying entries were meant to make it difficult for intruders or evil spirits to enter the home.
Humble bungalow This was where we stayed during our time on Easter Island - a spacious, immaculate bungalow.
Our hosts at Hostal Pikera Uri Ross with Patricia and Karin.
Our hosts at Hostal Pikera Uri David with Karin and Pontu.
