Rapa Nui

Today

Tapati Rapa Nui, the island's main cultural festival, filled two weeks of February 2026 with ancestral competitions, arts and celebrations of Rapa Nui identity, language and traditions.

As of 2026 · Source: Ministerio de las Culturas, las Artes y el Patrimonio (Chile), Ministra de las Culturas participa en inauguración de la Tapati Rapanui y desarrolla agenda de trabajo en la isla (opens in a new tab) · Checked 8 Oct 2026 · Suggest a correction to this fact

Governance

In 2017, 642 votes were cast in a formal consultation with the Rapa Nui people on a marine protected area for their island, and yes won all three questions.

As of 2017 · Source: Ministerio del Medio Ambiente, Gobierno de Chile, Informe del Proceso de Consulta al pueblo Rapa Nui sobre creación, administración y regulación de usos de un Área Marina Costera Protegida de Múltiples Usos para Rapa Nui (opens in a new tab) · Checked 8 Oct 2026 · Suggest a correction to this fact

Land

In 2017 Chile handed administration of Rapa Nui National Park to the Rapa Nui people, through the Ma'u Henua indigenous community, for 50 renewable years.

As of 2017 · Source: Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, Gobierno de Chile, Presidenta Bachelet entrega administración del Parque Nacional Rapa Nui a la comunidad de Isla de Pascua (opens in a new tab) · Checked 8 Oct 2026 · Suggest a correction to this fact

Culture

In the Tapati's Takona contest, competitors paint their faces and bodies with natural pigments and explain the meaning of their designs to the community.

Source: Memoria Chilena, Biblioteca Nacional de Chile, Rapa Nui (opens in a new tab) · Checked 8 Oct 2026 · Suggest a correction to this fact

History

Rapa Nui is the Indigenous name of Easter Island, whose Polynesian society built shrines and raised the stone figures called moai from the 10th to the 16th century.

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Rapa Nui National Park (opens in a new tab) · Checked 8 Oct 2026 · Suggest a correction to this fact