One of our favorite moais is the Ahu Tongariki (below), which has the largest funeral platform in Rapa Nui. This ahu dates back to 900-1000 AD, so that makes it about 1000 years old. It is 200m long with 15 statues erected on the platform. When we saw these majestic 1000+ year-old ceremonial relics, we couldn’t help the oohs and the aahs. Most of the moai were destroyed in 1960 by a tsunami that scattered them up to 100 meters inland. Thanks to Japan’s contributions, they were reconstructed using complex computational models. If this wasn’t known to us, we wouldn’t have noticed they had been restored. We liked Ahu Tongariki so much that we drove past it several times to look at it and take pictures from different angles.

Ahu Tongariki with 15 Moai

Moai with their backs against the ocean

 

 

 

Scattered hats of the moai

 

Only they know the ancient history and culture of Rapa Nui

Just us and the magnificent archaeological site

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Imagine another place, another time

 

Keeping our distance away from the ahu and some ruins

A fallen moai at Ahu Tongariki - Note the sign that indicates we are not allowed to touch or step or climb onto any of these historical structures.

 

The fallen moai

 

 

The “Traveling Moai” at Ahu Tongariki - It was taken to the International Osaka fair in Japan for exhibition in exchange for Japan’s financing of the restoration project.

 

Ahu Tongariki and Traveling Moai

 

Volcano near Ahu Tongariki

 

Another volcanic hill

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