I have invited a “guest writer” to share a part of the magical happenings from the land of Rapa Nui. Her story brings forth the sensory experience of the strength and humanism found in this unique historical site. Blaire’s visit has enriched my knowledge of the compassionate kindness of the Rapa Nui community.
EASTER ISLAND
The Moai Statues at Sunset: My granddaughter Blaire joins the traditional “good night” sunset.
(Every statue on the island faces into the island. Are they watching over the past and the future inhabitants of Rapa Nui ?)
Blaire:
“Easter Island is the most remote place that you can travel to by commercial airplane. This summer, I had the opportunity to go with my parents, and it was an incredible experience that I will never forget. From Arizona, we took an hour flight to Los Angeles, eleven hours to Santiago, and then another five to Easter Island. Between flights, we spent time in Santiago exploring the city, flying down to Patagonia, and seeing the beautiful glaciers.
History/Sights:
Easter Island is known by three different names: “Easter Island”, “Rapa Nui”, and “Isla de la Pascua”. These three names might sound extremely different, but one thing is for certain – the island is full of history that connects us as people. It is known most famously for its statues, the Moai. I will get to that later, but first I want to touch on some of the other amazing experiences available. My top three would have to be …
1. The Quarry (Ranu Raraku)
2. The statues themselves (Moai)
3. The volcano (Orongo)
The Quarry:
The Quarry (Rano Raraku) was definitely my most anticipated and rewarding sight. Upon entering, there is a “toll/check” booth. You have to have a guide to enter, and some of the sights you can only visit once on your trip! After that, there is a small table with different kinds of rocks. Each rock has a specific purpose for creating the statues, and the location of the quarry was chosen with immense precision along with the rock’s durability and appearance.
(The hats on some Moai are red lava and the statue’s bodies are black lava. Each kind comes from a different part of the island.
Walking through the actual quarry was a life changing experience. There are statues along the way that have been broken or are just simply “practice” pieces. So, they are discarded and left in their final resting places.
Each statue is cut out in one piece, so there is no way to fix it once it breaks! There are even some statues that had been started on during the chiseling process, but are forever frozen in their original place.
The people of Easter Island would then take the finished statue and transport it to its final location.
The Actual Statues:
The Statues (Moai) After a 15 minute drive, we arrived at the most famous sight (Tonariki) – 15 statues lined up in a straight line. There are three more empty spaces, forever empty and waiting to be filled. The process is the same: walk up with our guide, the toll person stamps our passes, and then we enter. The statues are huge – some at least 40 feet tall! Most are bare headed, and some had special “hats” on, that were made at a different preparation site. Each face/body is specific and different. I stood there in awe, imagining myself speaking to the Moai, hearing them say, “I am here to protect my people; please respect us as we respect you.” I wish I could have gone up to feel closer to them, and to bask in all their glory. I could not, because of the barriers protecting them. They are exquisite!
Walking around the island, there are statues everywhere, left not fully finished. Some people say that there are bones buried underneath, but no one knows the true reason for these statues being lined up in their meticulous spots. I asked my mom what she thought and she said, “The basic things you need to survive are water, food, and shelter. After those are secure, people can begin to create.” This perfectly explained the purpose in my head. We might not know the exact reason, but we know that people like, and also live, to create. This gives us worth and joy in today’s age, so I have zero doubt that it was the same in the past.
The Volcano:
The volcano (Rano Kau) was actually our first stop of the day. We visited Orongo, the village at the top of the volcano. This sight is one of the few that you need a guide, but can also enter on your own from the opposite side. The side that we entered with our guide featured a few signs with information on the volcano, as well as a perfect view of the “Motus” – three islands serving the “bird man competitions”. This is when each chief, or person representing the chief, had to compete to show their rank on the island. A special bird would lay its eggs on one of the Motus. The competitors had to climb down the volcano into the water, swim to one of the islands, find the egg, and swim back with it intact. The first person to find the egg wins!
There is also another way to access the volcano, through driving or hiking. My parents and I hiked and got to see the other side of the volcano. It’s a gorgeous view – looking at a giant empty hole in the ground. It’s surreal to think about, that this volcano used to spew lava that hurt, and sometimes killed, people.
Now, the previous angry and violent creation is a hollow and filled with beautiful flora and fauna. I love to think about Mother Nature, and of what she is truly capable. The volcano also has healing properties, being where “Rapa Mycin” was founded (an important anti organ rejection drug), along with being one of three of the island’s main sources of water. Yet another one of earth’s beauties and legacies.
Culture:
Another favorite part of this trip would have to be the people. As someone who has traveled a fair amount, I know that locals aren’t always fond of Americans. They also aren’t usually afraid to show it. But from the moment I stepped off the plane, I felt welcomed. Each person local to the island has their own personal story, and it shows in their every day lives. There is virtually no crime, and it feels safe to walk at night. Even as we walked through the cemetery – each person was dedicatedly mourned. Their resting spots are kept clean and are decorated, with string lights hung around to keep the area bright. The people of the island value their own in death just the same as in life, which I found especially beautiful and moving. As we walked around the island, multiple people told us, “yurana”. This is the native tongue for hello. Some people spoke magnificent English, and others spoke broken English, but everyone always made sure to say “yurana.”
So, yurana! To everyone, thank you for reading about my experience and my section of my Granna’s incredible blog, and thank you for reading about my experiences and taking the time to get to know me, just as you do with my Granna each month.
I love you Granna – thank you for asking me to be a part of this, and good wishes in your happy birthday month!
Sy’s Salient Points: Blaire’s story takes us to a far, far distant shore where her fresh viewpoint infused our experience of Rapa Nui’s calm mood. We met the kind hearts and gentle souls of the island’s peaceful and stable populace who are surrounded by their bold iconic and ancient forms dispersed amidst them in their unspoiled land.
Blaire Darling, Thank you for being the first Guest Writer on my blog. I love the fact that your energy, flair and warmth speaks to us through your writing.
Love,
Granna
Happy Sophomore Year at your University, Blaire!