Rapa Nui: Star of the Pacific Quiz

Answer: Walked them upright using ropes and coordination

Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is famous for its colossal stone statues called moai, which were carved between the 13th and 16th centuries by the island's Polynesian inhabitants. These statues, some weighing more than 80 tons, were erected to honour ancestors and project power and authority.

For centuries, scholars debated how such massive figures were transported across the island without wheels, draft animals, or advanced machinery. Oral traditions on the island suggested that the moai 'walked' to their platforms, a description that puzzled researchers until experimental archaeology began testing the idea.

In recent decades, teams of archaeologists and engineers demonstrated that the moai could indeed have been moved upright using ropes, coordination, and rhythm. By attaching ropes to the head and base of a statue replica, groups on either side could rock it forward in a controlled, side-to-side motion, much like moving a refrigerator. This technique allowed the statues to 'walk' across the landscape without being dragged.

Answer: A contest to catch the first seabird egg from a nearby islet

The Birdman, or Tangata manu, competition was a ritual held on Rapa Nui after the era of statue building had ended. Each year, different clans competed to see who could obtain the first egg of the sooty tern, a seabird that nested on the small islets just off the island's coast. A chosen champion, often a young and fit man, represented his clan by climbing down steep cliffs, swimming through rough ocean waters, and braving sharks to reach the islet of Motu Nui. There, he had to wait patiently until the first tern laid an egg, secure it carefully, and then make the dangerous journey back.

The champion who returned with the first intact egg allowed his sponsor, usually a powerful chief or leader, to be declared the Birdman for that year. This title gave the winner and his clan great prestige, spiritual authority, and influence over the island's political and religious life. The competition replaced the earlier focus on building moai statues and became the central ritual of Rapa Nui society until the late 19th century.

Answer: Sweet potatoes

After Rapa Nui's forests were heavily depleted, the people of the island had to rely on crops that could thrive in the exposed, rocky environment. Sweet potatoes became especially important for survival because they were hardy, could grow in poor soil, and provided a reliable source of calories and nutrients. Unlike other plants that required more fertile land or protection from wind, sweet potatoes adapted well to the island's changing landscape and became the foundation of the diet.

Depending so heavily on sweet potatoes also shaped the rhythms of daily life on Rapa Nui. Planting, tending, and harvesting required cooperation, and families organised their work around the cycles of the crop. Sweet potatoes were not only a source of sustenance but also a key part of cultural traditions, reinforcing the connection between the community's survival and the land that sustained them.

Answer: Stone-walled gardens to protect crops

On Easter Island, manavai were special stone-walled gardens built to protect crops in the island's harsh environment. The walls created a circular enclosure that sheltered plants from strong winds, helped retain soil, and trapped moisture, making it easier for crops to grow in otherwise challenging conditions. These gardens were especially useful after deforestation, when the land became more exposed and vulnerable to erosion.

Inside the manavai, people grew important foods like bananas, taro, and especially sweet potatoes, which were vital for survival. The design of these gardens shows how resourceful the Rapa Nui were, using their knowledge of the land to adapt to difficult changes. Manavai became an essential part of farming on the island, helping to sustain the population despite limited natural resources.

Answer: A red stone hat or topknot

A pukao is the large, rounded structure made of red volcanic stone that sits on top of some moai statues on Easter Island. Shaped like a hat or topknot, the pukao was carved from a different quarry than the main statues, using the island's red scoria rock. These additions made the moai appear even taller and more impressive, emphasising the power and status of the people or clans they represented.

The pukao may have symbolised hairstyles worn by important Rapa Nui leaders, showing authority and distinction. Placing them on top of the massive statues required skill, coordination, and ingenuity, as the stones themselves were very heavy. By adding the pukao, the Rapa Nui gave the moai an extra layer of meaning, turning them into even stronger symbols of respect for ancestors and community identity.

Answer: It survived suppression during colonisation and is still spoken today

The Rapa Nui language survived despite centuries of challenges, including colonisation, missionary influence, and outside control of the island. For a long time, it was discouraged or suppressed, with Spanish becoming the dominant language in schools and public life. Many traditions tied to the language were also weakened during this time, making survival difficult.

Even so, Rapa Nui families continued passing the language down through daily life and oral traditions. In recent years, there has been a strong movement to revive and protect it, with efforts in schools, cultural programs, and local media. Today, Rapa Nui is still spoken alongside Spanish, serving as a vital link to the island's heritage and identity.

Answer: Deliberately laid down during clan conflicts or religious changes

Some moai on Easter Island were deliberately toppled during times of conflict between clans or shifts in religious beliefs. As rival groups competed for power, they sometimes destroyed or pushed over the statues of their enemies to weaken their influence and show dominance. This act was not just physical but also symbolic, as the moai represented ancestors and spiritual protection.

Later, as the Birdman (Tangata manu) religion replaced the older statue-centred traditions, many moai were no longer maintained and were left to fall or were purposely pulled down. These changes reflected the island's evolving society and the struggles that came with limited resources and shifting leadership. Today, most moai remain toppled, serving as reminders of both the island's achievements and its turbulent history.

Answer: It maintained cultural connections across Polynesia

Easter Island is remarkable because, despite being one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth, it maintained connections with the wider Polynesian world. The islanders shared traditions, navigation skills, and cultural practices with other Polynesian societies thousands of kilometres away. Their language, art, and oral histories all show clear ties to the broader Polynesian culture, proving that even extreme distance could not cut them off completely.

There is also evidence that the Rapa Nui may have had contact with South America before Europeans arrived. Traces of South American crops, like the sweet potato, suggest some form of exchange across the Pacific. These connections highlight the remarkable seafaring abilities of the Rapa Nui and their ancestors, who managed to sustain links across vast stretches of ocean while building a unique culture in one of the world's most remote locations.

Answer: To watch over the villagers and protect the clans

The moai on Easter Island were positioned to face inland rather than toward the ocean because they were meant to watch over the villages and protect the clans that built them. Each statue represented an important ancestor or leader and was believed to hold spiritual power, known as mana, which could provide guidance, protection, and blessings to the living community. By facing the settlements, the moai symbolically oversaw daily life and reinforced the authority and influence of the clan that erected them.

This inland orientation also reflects the social and religious priorities of the Rapa Nui people. Instead of serving as markers for navigation or decoration, the statues acted as guardians, ensuring that the spirits of ancestors remained connected to their descendants. Their placement highlights the islanders' focus on family, clan identity, and the spiritual wellbeing of the community, showing how their beliefs were integrated into both art and landscape planning.

Answer: Through UNESCO recognition, festivals and tourism

Rapa Nui culture is preserved today through a combination of international recognition, local traditions, and community efforts. UNESCO has designated parts of the island as a World Heritage Site, helping protect the moai, archaeological sites, and natural environment. Festivals, ceremonies, and cultural events also celebrate traditional music, dance, and crafts, keeping the island's heritage alive for both residents and visitors.

Tourism plays an important role as well, allowing people from around the world to learn about Rapa Nui's history and support local initiatives. Schools and community programmes teach the Rapa Nui language and customs to younger generations, ensuring that the island's unique culture continues to thrive despite modern challenges.