The Tapati Rapa Nui Festival at Nayara Hangaroa

On the enchanting island of Rapa Nui, internationally known as Easter Island, February ushers in the Tapati Rapa Nui—a two-week celebration showcasing the vibrant culture, art, sports, and music of the Rapa Nui people.

Taking place during the peak of the Polynesian summer, the Tapati is a living tribute to ancient traditions and a joyous celebration of a rich cultural heritage. Visitors are invited to step into a timeless world, experiencing millennia-old customs while basking in the island's captivating beauty. This article delves into the history and significance of the Tapati festival and offers insights on how to make it part of your unforgettable stay at Nayara Hangaroa.

The Tapati Rapa Nui | An International Festival Honoring Ancient Tradition

The roots of the Tapati Rapa Nui, sometimes called just the Tapati, trace back to the ancient customs of Easter Island. 

In fact, researchers suggest that the towering Moai statues — which represent the ancestors of the island — have been watching over similar celebrations since their creation hundreds and even thousands of years ago, tracing back to the earliest competitions of the birdman cult, or Tangata manu.

However, the modern Tapati has a much younger origin. Historians place the first iteration of this festival on Easter Island somewhere in the late 1960s, mirroring folk festivals common throughout Chile (which, by then, claimed Easter Island as a territory). 

Over the ensuing half a century, residents and descendants of Easter Island infused the Tapati with the cultural history and traditions of the Rapa Nui people, transforming the festival into a two-week-long celebration of the rich Rapa Nui culture and traditions. 

Through the Eyes of the Hito Family, Rapa Nui Descendants

At Nayara Hangaroa, we proudly collaborate with the Hito family, whose lineage can be traced back to the original settlers of Rapa Nui. For generations, the Hito family has played a pivotal role in nurturing the Tapati Festival, a vibrant celebration of their ancestral heritage that attracts visitors from around the globe.

As some of the last remaining descendants of this rich and resilient culture, the Hito family views the festival as a cornerstone for preserving their traditions while shaping the island’s future.

“Rapa Nui culture is alive and evolving,” shares Marisol Hito. “We must embrace the winds of change while standing proud of our heritage. The Rapa Nui culture and soul are not just ours to cherish—they belong to the world!”

Song, Sport, Culture, Queens, and Kings | Inside the Tapati Rapa Nui

Preparations for the Tapati take place year-round, culminating in the two-week festival centered around both athletic and artistic competitions, along with cultural showcases of traditional art, body painting, cuisine, and storytelling. 

Residents from the local community, returning descendants from abroad, and others may be invited to compete in these various events, with the overarching goal of crowning the year’s King and Queen of the Tapati Rapa Nui. 

Mirroring the traditions of old, two candidates each emerge throughout the year for Queen and King of the Tapati, who then seek the favor of supporting families and build both support and alliances leading into the week of the competition. 

When the festival arrives, each of these candidates will compete in various events both as individuals and pairs, culminating in the selection and coronation of the King and Queen at the end of the festival. 

The Many Events of the Tapati Rapa Nui

Over the course of the two-week celebration, competitors — including the royal candidates and a field of numerous others — take part in a number of different competitions, including: 

The Tau’a Rapa Nui | A Triathlon comprised of a 3km paddle in a traditional canoe (Vaka Ama), a run while balancing 20kg of bananas (Aka Venga), and swimming assisted by a small traditional float called a pora (Kau Pora)

The Haka Pei | A high-energy, dangerous competition where participants slide down the slope of Maunga Pu’i (200m high and with ~45degree slope) at breakneck speeds on the trunk of a banana tree, competing for distance

A’ati Hoi | 500m and 1000m sprints on horseback, exclusively featuring horses born and raised on the Island 

Vaka Ama | 3-5km race around the island featuring teams of 6 rowers in a Polynesian outrigger, called the Vaka Ama

Haka Honu and Haka Ngaru | Competing to catch waves at Pea Beach and reach the closest to shore, with competitions both for body surfing and surfing using a traditional pora float

Hi Ika and Here Koreha | Fishing competitions measured by weight. The Hi Ika is focused on bony fish, and has divisions for both hand fishing and spearfishing, while the Here Koreha is focused on catching moray eels

Tingi-tingi Mahute and Paru Mahute | A two-part craftsmanship competition first measured by the competitor's use of the bark of the mahute to create the largest and finest traditional fabric, and then judged based on their decoration using traditional paints

Tarai | A stone and wood-carving competition honoring traditional methods, judged by mastery of traditional techniques, along with skill and detail

Crafting of Ceremonial Attire | Candidates use mahute, along with island flowers, shells, and other materials to craft and model traditional ceremonial attire

Culinary Skill | Preparation of traditional meals, including Umu Tahu (meals cooked using heated stones underground), Tunu Ahi (fish cooked on a hot stone), and Po’e (a type of cake made from banana, sweet potato, or pumpkin

Ori Rapa Nui | One of the most lasting images of the Tapati Rapa Nui comes from the Ori Rapa Nui, a tradition of dance and music performed in ancestral dress. Displaying grace, power, and skill, this is both a competitive event and a collaborative celebration

In addition to the various competitions, there are also a number of collaborative and cultural exhibitions that take place during the week of the Tapati. 

Agriculture | A celebration of local produce, including bananas, watermelon, pineapple, taro, kuma (sweet potato), and other crops, which are judged by size and quality

Takona | This ancestral display combines body painting and performance, in which body art is woven into storytelling about both individual and Rapa Nui heritage

Kai Kai | Another ancestral form of performance art, where participants perform a Pata’uta’u’ using both their voice and intricate displays with a handwoven string to share stories

Riu | The sharing of stories through song, in which both individuals and groups recount the history, legends, and values of the Rapa Nui people

Koro Haka Opo | A captivating form of musical competition, in which two choirs put the beauty, power, and complexity of their voices to the test accompanied by dancers. 

Nari-Nari | One of the biggest events of the Tapati celebration, this parade through the central street of Hanga Roa features music, artwork, floats, dancing, and other performances, and invites all who visit to celebrate the culture of Rapa Nui

All of this competition and celebration culminates in the Coronation at the end of the Tapati Rapa Nui, where the victorious King and Queen are selected and honored by past Kings and Queens at the festival’s main stage, accompanied by fireworks and festivities. 

Experience the Tapati Rapa Nui Festival at Nayara Hangaroa

If you’re fortunate enough to join us at Nayara Hangaroa during the days of the Tapati, our concierge team is here to help you weave this incredible cultural event into your stay. 

Throughout the weeks of the festival, there are always activities taking place at either the main festival grounds or across the island, guests are invited to witness (and in some cases, even participate in) the various traditions, competitions, and displays of Rapa Nui culture. 

To learn more about the Tapati, and how you can shape the trip of a lifetime around this one-of-a-kind cultural heritage festival, we invite you to reach out to us at reservations@nayararesorts.com or chat with us at www.nayarahangaroa.com.