Rapa Nui Journal Volume 14 Issue 1

Rapanuiphile Tome Christopher has acquired some old news clippings about Easter Island, and we are delighted to share a few of them with our faithful readers. These are dated 1923, and concern the astonishing news that Easter Island has "sunk into the Pacific".

TATTOOS FROM PARADISE. TRADITIONAL POLYNESIAN PATTERNS

By Mark Blackburn. 1999. Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA. ISBN: 0-7643-0941-2. 205 pages. Hardcover, glossy, oversize.

Review by Georgia Lee

Te Pita a te Henua: Rapanui. A 90-minute documentary about Easter Island, directed by Merata Mita

Reviewed by L. L. (Bud) Henry, Kane'ohe, Hawai'i

Moai Sightings

What's New in Polynesia

What's New in Hangaroa

One of the most isolated islands in the world is Rapa Nui in the south Pacific. It is famous for its gigantic moai (statues) and for that reason it attracts many visitors each year. These statues, however, are not the only archaeological treasures. The island also boasts numerous caves, stone structures, and artifacts. Above all, there are thousands of rock carvings (petroglyphs) plus some rock paintings. Most people, however, are unaware of the existence of the petroglyphic wealth on this small island. Only occasionally are they noticed when in good condition and conveniently close to the megalithic remains on the island, such as the "birdman" at 'Orongo or the turtles at Tongariki on the south coast.

Scholars of the prehistoric cultural process on Easter Island know that Easter Island's ahu (ceremonial centers) show that, through time, a sudden major change took place in the architecture of its religious structures. This implies rather strongly that either a societal revolution or a religious revolution took place, or perhaps both. Revolutions in religion are not uncommon in the world, but often are themselves a result of chaos caused by other outside factors. If debate can be resisted over that, in Polynesia, Hawai'i had a revolution in its religion post-contact, but pre-missionary era.