Easter Island - October 2008

 

Hanga Roa is the main town, harbour and capital of Easter Island on the southern part of the west coast.

Hanga Roa is a short drive from the airport and the island's hotels, restaurants, post office, bank, supermarket, pharmacy and church are found here.

In recent years the first ATM opened outside the bank, and there are now relatively fast internet services.

As Easter Island is part of Chile you won't receive a passport stamp if you fly in from from Santiago. At the post office you can have your passport stamped with an 'Isla de Pascua' souvenir stamp for a small fee. 

There are three principal ahu close to the town at the Tahai archaeological complex. One of the most impressive is Ahu Ko Te Riku. The moai were once fitted with coral eyes and this moai is the only one on the island with modern eyes fitted.

Ahu Tahai has a solitary moai; nearby the Ahu Vai Uri has five moai. As you stand looking out over the ocean Ahu Vai Uri is on the left, Ahu Tahai in the middle, and Ahu Ko Te Riku is on the right.

The complex was restored by William Mulloy between 1968 and 1972 and on his death in 1978 his remains were buried at the Tahai complex.

The location of the Tahai complex is great for early morning photographs and makes for spectacular sunsets as you can see.

Another solitary moai near Hanga Roa is Ahu Hanga Kio'e.

To the north of the Tahai complex is a small beach with an intriguing modern petroglyph and an old rusted anchor.  On the internet I discovered a few issues of 'Rapa Nui News'.  Volume 1, number 9; dated 14th March 1997, mentions the Tapati Festival. It reads...

'A new feature of this Tapati was a large statue carving contest. Huge blocks of scoria were set up at Hanga Vare Vare and carvers had a week to complete their entries. The stones were not of equal quality for carving and carvers got them by a random drawing. Some were outraged by the blocks they were assigned and refused to work them. We noted that most carvers used hatchets and files but a few employed electric drills and other electric tools. The final collection of carvings will be permanently set up at the site to enhance the area and make it more attractive to visitors.'

I wonder if the modern petroglyph seen by the beach was carved for that contest?

Ahu Ko Te Riku, to the north of the village of Hanga Roa

Ahu Tahai with Ahu Ko Te Riku in the background

Ahu Vai Uri

Ahu Hanga Kio'e

Ahu Hanga Kio'e seen from the side

An old rusted anchor near the Ahu Tahai

A modern petroglyph near the Ahu Tahai

Ahu Vai Uri at sunset

Ahu Ko Te Riku at sunset