Easter Island Local Customs

  rongo rongo copy at island museum
by pure1942
 
  • rongo rongo copy at island museum
      rongo rongo copy at island museum
    by pure1942
  • Rapa Nui Flag
      Rapa Nui Flag
    by pure1942
  • Stone Hut at Orongo Ceremonial Village
      Stone Hut at Orongo Ceremonial Village
    by pure1942
  • Moai Kavakava
      Moai Kavakava
    by pure1942
  • Mahina Beer
      Mahina Beer
    by pure1942
 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

A deep faith

by TheWanderingCamel

European missionaries brought a new faith to the islanders of Rapa Nui - that of Roman Catholicism. We weren't fortunate enough to be able to attend a Sunday Mass in the church - a real treat we were told, with wonderful singing - but we certainly were able to observe the unique nature of the islander's faith in the way they bury their dead. Have you ever seen a more joyous cemetery?Small shrines observed around the island also reflect the devotion of the local people whilst,inside the church, the carved wooden statues were a wonderful combination of Catholic imagery and Rapa Nui heritage.

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Bring a little present ...

by vtveen

We did sleep in a residencial (B&B) in Hanga Roa and one of the advantages is the fact we were picked up from the airport by our hosts Fatima and Patricio. We did get the special Rapa Nui welcome, which means we both got a 'flower necklace'. In the morning of our departure Hetty got as a farewell from Rapa Nui a huge 'shell necklace'. (Later on, during our around the world trip in New Zealand and Australia, we got almost problems to import these necklace due to tough biosecurity check's in these countries.)We had read about these local custom and we were so happy we brought also a gift for our hosts. So we didn't feel embarrassed and our hosts were very happy !!

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Mass on a Sunday in Hanga Roa

by easyoar

There are a couple of masses on a Sunday in Hanga Roa. The first one is early and is in "Rapa Nui", the second one is a bit later and is in Spanish. However it is worth being aware that the "Rapa Nui" mass is actually in Spanish too! What it means is that there is a lot of traditional singing going on throughout the mass, especially the first half of it.It seems like most of the island goes to church, even the big blokes with tattoos and swarthy complexions. It makes a great place to people watch, and the Rapa Nui singing is really rather good.We were staying with a local, and she encouraged us to go, and we thoroughly enjoyed it - it is well worth going however religious or not that you are!I regretted not taking my camera along, as the Rapa Nui mass was heaving, and people were videoing in there too. This picture was taken at the later Spanish mass when I just popped my head through...

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If staying in a B&B, have a present for your host

by easyoar

Obviously this will depend on how you felt the level of service you were given was. It is typical that you will be collected from the airport by your host and taken back there too. They will normally give you flower necklaces on arrival and shell necklaces on departure. Shortly before leaving we gave our hosts a pack of deluxe biscuits and a bottle of Baileys. The bottle was much better received and by the time we left, it felt like we were leaving an old friend rather than a B&B host.

Currency

by CulturalCompetence

We found that many of the locals preferred US dollars to Chilean pesos. Furthermore, we could bargain better with US dollars than with pesos. I will only exchange 200-300 for pesos (for gas, groceries, and other local items) on our next trip, however be sure to bring CASH. Although the most expensive part of our trip was the airline ticket, we found cash to be invaluable. Many of the locals will take credit cards, but usually with a 10-15% fee attached.

Opening Times

by mayasmin

We never completely understood when the stores open or close. Based on our limited stay in Easter Island, stores are open in the morning and late afternoon (when tour buses come back to the town). However, most stores are close on Sundays. Our best advice: ask the locals working in the hotels or residenciales what stores are open at a particular time.

Rapa Nui and Pinochet

by cochinjew

Rapanui under the military dictatorship flourished and Army strongman, Augusto Pinochet Ugarte visited the place three times, along with several of his ministers. Extensive public works were carried out, subsidised government housing and public buildings erected. The first Rapanui to be governor was appointed in 1984. The year before, an Elders Committee had been formed around Alberto Hotu Chavez who organised a letter, with the consent of virtually all the Islanders, to petition the United Nations Committee on Decolonisation for assistance in securing a referendum on independence on Easter Island. Mr. Hotu continued his agitation and community action throughout the 1980s as one of the few voices of protest during the long period of military rule in Chile. In 1992, Mr. Hotu was elected Mayor of the Municipality.

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Recent History

by cochinjew

Recent history. After an unexpected "revolt", really a cargo cult in 1914, the Chilean government began to send regular governors to represent Chilean interests on the island, to affirm sovereignty. After the first, all were naval officers, either active or retired. Increasingly, rule became more restrictive. In 1953, the contract for Williamson, Balfour was terminated and the Chilean Navy took over the entire running of the island. Throughout this century, Chilean authorities forbade islanders to leave the Hangaroa area, a fence being put around the settlement and written permission required to visit the rest of the island. After the escape of some Chilean political prisoners in the 1930s, Islanders movement off the island was severely controlled. This sparked about fifty islanders over the years to take to sea in small fishing boats, Boston whalers, about half of them dying in the...

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Chile and Rapa Nui

by cochinjew

In 1934-5, a Franco-Belgian expedition spent about half a year taking down the most complete ethnological record to date. The Belgian, Henri Lavacherry, published his studies in French, but the Frenchman Alfred Métraux, published in both English and French, both popular and scientific accounts of his research. Father Sebastian Englert, a Capuchin missionary, arrived in 1935, mission Metraux, and remained the resident researcher and priest until his death, in Florida, in 1969, on his way back to Rapanui after an exhibition of Rapanui work. In 1955-6, Thor Heyerdahl led the Norwegian Expedition to Easter Island, resulting in several publications, including his still popular novelistic account, Aku Aku, available in many editions and languages. The Canadian Medical Expedition to Easter Island in 1964-5 was the last large scale research team to descend on the place.

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Chile and Rapa Nui

by cochinjew

Chilean ships had called at Rapanui from as early as the 1830s, but serious contacts began in 1870. Flushed with pride at winning their "War of the Pacific" with Peru and Bolivia, Chilean patriots urge the acquisition of a colonial possession to validate their claims to nationhood. On 9 September 1888, Capitan Policarpo Toro Hurtado signs a deed of Cesion and another of Annexation with the chiefs of the island. The treaty is in both Spanish and a kind of Rapanui. In the latter, Chile offers to be a "friend of the land", whilst in the former the island becomes part of the Chilean state. Brander was to be compensated for his property, but full payment never took place. Policarpo Toro's brother, Pedro Pablo, ran a sheep ranch operation until 1892, when their ship (and fortunes) sank. Eventually, the Toro brothers sold their interests to one Enrique Merlet, who took a strong lead which...

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Q:  Hi All, I live in Macau PRC and am thinking of visiting Easter Island which is always one of my dream places. But travelling to... 

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A: Hi! Was on that amazing island a few years ago. And then the only flights from South America was from Santiago, Chile. But there were also possible to fly there from... 

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