Who moved the giant monolithic statues of Rapa Nui, a remote island in the South Pacific? And how did they do it? These questions have been at the center of much speculation and debate since Europeans first arrived there on Easter Sunday, 1722, and called it “Easter Island.” The most popular theory was that this remote civilization destroyed itself – cutting down all the trees to make contraptions for moving statues.
But according to the indigenous people of Rapa Nui, their ancestors didn’t need to cut down any trees to transport the statues. In fact, their oral history has always been clear about how the statues were transported. The question is: why hasn't anyone been listening?
Featuring: Sergio Rapu Haoa, Carl Lipo, Terry Hunt, Sergio Mata’u Rapu, and Gina Pakarati
Links
A profile of Sergio Rapu Haoa for the 2002 Rotary World Peace Scholars program at Berkeley.
Eating Up Easter – a documentary film produced by Sergio Mata’u Rapu, about how the people of Rapa Nui are grappling with environmental and social changes brought on by tourism and economic development.
The NOVA-National Geographic Documentary
- A team of 18 volunteers move a 10-foot 5-ton statue for the NOVA-National Geographic documentary, Mystery of Easter Island.
- A figurine animation by National Geographic demonstrating five different theories of moai-transport through the years.
- Mystery of Easter Island – The NOVA-National Geographic Documentary in its entirety.
Lectures by Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo
- National Geographic Live Lecture – Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo: The Statues That Walked
- Long Now Foundation Lecture: The Statues Walked – What Really Happened on Easter Island | Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo
