The Rapa Nui carved hundreds of moai between the 13th–16th centuries, moving many from the Rano Raraku quarry to ahu platforms ringed by the Pacific. Embodying deified ancestors, the statues once bore coral eyes and some topped with red pukao. Today, erosion control, path design, and community stewardship balance heritage with a fragile island ecology.
Rano Raraku’s tuff provided workable stone; carvers roughed figures in situ, detaching and finishing them upright. Proportions emphasize the head and elongated body; sockets once held coral‑inlaid eyes.
Ethnography and experiment suggest rocking or sledging teams moved moai over kilometers to coastal ahu. There statues were raised, some crowned with scoria pukao and aligned inland to watch over communities.
Moai manifest mana (spiritual power) of ancestors; societal shifts and contact‑era disruptions toppled many. Recent restorations re‑erect selected statues while respecting cultural protocols.
Salt spray, wind erosion, and visitor pressure degrade tuff; conservation uses sacrificial coatings, drainage, and restricted access. The Rapa Nui community co‑manages the park, framing tourism within cultural revival.
