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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE April 9, 2008
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| March 26, 2008 |
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) – Inheriting the legacy of the Moai architects |
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| Experiencing the monolithic, volcanic tuff Moai statues was spiritually moving for many tour participants |
Anthropological theory suggests that some 1600 years ago, bold navigators from the Polynesian Islands traversed the vast Pacific to land on the small, triangular shaped volcanic island known today as Rapa Nui by some, Easter Island by others. On this geographically isolated island, a vibrant and prosperous civilization flourished, created an unrivaled collection of nearly 900 monolithic statues known as Moai, and then mysteriously collapsed, likely due to the effects of war, deforestation, disease and famine. Today nearly 4000 people inhabit Rapa Nui, world famous for its Moai and recognized by UNESCO as a Cultural World Heritage Site, but less well known for its status as “the most extreme example of forest destruction in the Pacific, and among the most extreme in the world.” |
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| Participants were surprised to realize that the game of Cat’s Cradle, known widely in Japan, is also popular in Rapa Nui |
When the 60th voyage called to Rapa Nui, some participants joined an exchange program to meet the inheritors of this legacy of extremes, and to learn about the challenges of preserving indigenous customs and traditions in the modern world. Through the exchange of simple songs, dances and activities, Japanese and Rapa Nui participants had a chance to learn a little bit about a new culture as well as to reconsider their own culture from a new perspective. Using activities, gestures and smiles to bridge the language gap, Peace Boat participants found the tour both educational and refreshing. |
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| Steam rose from the buried “Umu” as the large banana tree fronds were pulled away |
A traditional Rapa Nui feast called “Umu” was prepared in preparation for tour participants, beginning a full day before Peace Boat’s arrival. They buried mutton, sweet potatoes, manioc bread, and a banana dessert in the ground, covered it with banana leaves, hot volcanic rocks and soil, and then baked it underground for a full day. During the tour, Japanese and Rapa Nui participants participated in the lively, song-filled unearthing ceremony of the Umu before sharing the meal together. The Umu feast was not only delicious, but also acted as a window into an exotic culture for Japanese participants, and broke the ice for an afternoon of activities. |
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| Face painting with this red clay has been a Rapa Nui tradition for countless generations |
People enjoyed activities like Japanese calligraphy, singing songs, trying on Japanese yukata, and having their faces painted in traditional Rapa Nui style. Modern social, economic and political structures threaten the important traditions, knowledge, histories and language of Rapa Nui, but customs like the preparation of an Umu feast and retelling of oral histories through song help to maintain the valuable traditions of Rapa Nui from cultural extinction. |
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A Moai stands at the entrance of Tongariki, while Ranoraraku, the mountain that supplied the volcanic tuff used to create nearly all of the Moai, looms in the background |
Rapa Nui, despite being 3700 kilometers west of the South American continent, has been a special territory of Chile since its annexation in 1888. The Chilean government manages the expansive Rapa Nui National Park, which stretches over much of the island and contains the world famous stone Moai statues. Sadly, though, a lack of funding prevents further conservation efforts to preserve the Moai statues, which rest in various states of disarray throughout the island, toppled by earthquakes or tribal warfare, not yet excavated from the quarry, or in mid-transport from the quarry to their final destination. A local tour guide explained the economic problem, saying that a full 60 percent of the park admission fees are sent back to the mainland, while the remaining 40 percent are just enough to pay the wages of the park rangers and basic park upkeep. |
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| Rapa Nui youth from the tour performed a lively Rapa Nui dance onboard |
Autonomy for Rapa Nui, or at least improved management of Rapa Nui’s cultural heritage seems critical for the preservation of not only the Moai statues, but for the less tangible treasures that the youth of Rapa Nui have inherited. After a day on Rapa Nui spent visiting the awe-inspiring Moai, participating in the Umu ceremony, and then returning to the ship with painted faces of red clay, tour participants couldn’t help but hope that cultural preservation efforts on Rapa Nui gain support in the future. |
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