The people of Rapa Nui, famous for the large stone Moai statues they carved, have a somewhat obscure history, largely due to the fact that much of it was passed along via oral tradition.

The islanders call them "moai," and they have puzzled ethnographers, archaeologists, and visitors to the island since the first European explorers arrived here in 1722. In their isolation ...

Under the same moon and stars Tuki sat on the sand and gazed directly before him at the colossal human statues—the moai. Carved centuries ago from volcanic tuff, they’re believed to embody the ...

According to a survey by archeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg, the Easter Islanders successfully transported 288 moai statues to various ahu platforms around the island. We're only proposing that you ...

Paul Trachtman Local artists are reviving the island's traditions. Tattooist Andreas "Panda" Pakarati displays a wooden moai he's just carved. Paul Trachtman Local artists are reviving the island ...

"On a crisp September morning, I rushed out to Ahu Tongariki near Rano Raraku in order to see the sun rise over the 15 moai." Jon Canfield Easter Island Moai. Courtesy of Flickr user Ndecam.