Lā 5: Pōʻakolu, Malaki 1 Hanga Roa Town & Honoring Kūpuna
Aloha! Or should we say Iorana!
Today marks day five of our Tahiti/Rapa Nui adventure – and our first full day in Rapa Nui. The temperature is much cooler and less humid than Tahiti. The main language that is spoken is Spanish because Rapa Nui is a governed by Chile. It’s a very country-like environment with an economy that generates much of its income through tourism. It is so exciting and uplifting to hear that the Hokule’a had arrived a bit earlier than expected, and to our relief, safe and sound. We were also able honor Uncle Pinky Thomson’s “leap year” birthday—February 29 -- with the Hokule’a crew in song and dance. The schedule for today included the following: Meet up with the Hokule’a crew at Tupa Hotel with a Rapa Nui history lecture by former Governor Sergio Rapu Haoa, performance for the Kupuna at Hare O Kua, and finally a visit to the Moai statues at Tahai just outside of town.
Our first stop, the lecture with Uncle Sergio Rapu Haoa was such an inspiring experience. Uncle Sergio is filled with knowledge of his culture that reflects just how deep his love is for Rapa Nui. He also shared own hypothesis on how the massive stone Moai images came to be. He believes that beetles destroyed the forests, thus reducing the availability of timber for the tangata (human) population. He spoke on how life in Rapa Nui was very strict and kind of a dictator-run society. One thing that really stood out to us was his own story of how he found the ari oko (white eyes) of the Moai thinking initially that it may have been an ‘ulu maika.
At our second stop we drove about five minutes from the Tupa Hotel to Hare O Kua which was the elderly care home. We performed for the kupuna and it was absolutely rivariva (amazing/good). The sharing of our culture really touched the kupuna there, especially when we danced and sang songs of their land. The idea that really stood out to us was the importance of our ancestors. Like our Hawaiian culture, we highly revere and respect our kupuna and here in Rapa Nui they do the same. The main reason behind the Moai is to honor their ancestors they believed that the Gods were up high, but their ancestors were always with them.
Our final stop took us to our first encounter with the Moai. Some were broken, some were still there, and some were gone completely, only leaving the platform upon which they stood. These monuments were massive in size and beautifully crafted. Capturing the essence of this land we were so blessed to set foot upon.
Today we were able to make connections to home which helps us see just how similar Hawaii and Rapa Nui really is. After all, we are cousins! The spirit of Aloha spreads across Polynesia connecting us with our brothers and sisters and providing evidence that we did sail and navigate these waters. From the Tupa Hotel, to visiting the Rapa Nui Kupuna, and finally making our way to the Moai, today was filled with so many new memories never to be forgotten.
Today marks day five of our Tahiti/Rapa Nui adventure – and our first full day in Rapa Nui. The temperature is much cooler and less humid than Tahiti. The main language that is spoken is Spanish because Rapa Nui is a governed by Chile. It’s a very country-like environment with an economy that generates much of its income through tourism. It is so exciting and uplifting to hear that the Hokule’a had arrived a bit earlier than expected, and to our relief, safe and sound. We were also able honor Uncle Pinky Thomson’s “leap year” birthday—February 29 -- with the Hokule’a crew in song and dance. The schedule for today included the following: Meet up with the Hokule’a crew at Tupa Hotel with a Rapa Nui history lecture by former Governor Sergio Rapu Haoa, performance for the Kupuna at Hare O Kua, and finally a visit to the Moai statues at Tahai just outside of town.
Our first stop, the lecture with Uncle Sergio Rapu Haoa was such an inspiring experience. Uncle Sergio is filled with knowledge of his culture that reflects just how deep his love is for Rapa Nui. He also shared own hypothesis on how the massive stone Moai images came to be. He believes that beetles destroyed the forests, thus reducing the availability of timber for the tangata (human) population. He spoke on how life in Rapa Nui was very strict and kind of a dictator-run society. One thing that really stood out to us was his own story of how he found the ari oko (white eyes) of the Moai thinking initially that it may have been an ‘ulu maika.
At our second stop we drove about five minutes from the Tupa Hotel to Hare O Kua which was the elderly care home. We performed for the kupuna and it was absolutely rivariva (amazing/good). The sharing of our culture really touched the kupuna there, especially when we danced and sang songs of their land. The idea that really stood out to us was the importance of our ancestors. Like our Hawaiian culture, we highly revere and respect our kupuna and here in Rapa Nui they do the same. The main reason behind the Moai is to honor their ancestors they believed that the Gods were up high, but their ancestors were always with them.
Our final stop took us to our first encounter with the Moai. Some were broken, some were still there, and some were gone completely, only leaving the platform upon which they stood. These monuments were massive in size and beautifully crafted. Capturing the essence of this land we were so blessed to set foot upon.
Today we were able to make connections to home which helps us see just how similar Hawaii and Rapa Nui really is. After all, we are cousins! The spirit of Aloha spreads across Polynesia connecting us with our brothers and sisters and providing evidence that we did sail and navigate these waters. From the Tupa Hotel, to visiting the Rapa Nui Kupuna, and finally making our way to the Moai, today was filled with so many new memories never to be forgotten.