Picking sweet potatoes, collecting sea urchins, learning to shore fish with a simple fishing line, and hearing the stories of the people who call this island home are just some of the many reasons this island and the friends I have made here have captured my heart. I was honored to be part of one of the first outside groups to work with Ma'u Henua and the Chilean government to document some of the ahu, or stone platforms, that are located dangerously close to steep cliffs.
Rano Kau crater on Rapa Nui
View of Ahu Tongariki, one of the restored ceremonial platform sites on the island.
Documenting the quarry area of Rano Raraku where the majority of the islands statues were carved from volcanic tuff.
Saint figure at the beach near Hanga Roa, the only settlement on the island
The cemetery at Hanga Roa
Ponchi from Ma’u Henua taught us how to fish from the shore with a simple line and bait.
Shore fishing with Ponchi as he gets drenched with a wave
Moai at the Tongariki site
Working at the lone moai site of Ahu Ature Huki
Crematorio Ovahe is one of the sites most affected by rising sea levels.
Using drones to document Ahu Ature Huki, one of the first moai to be raised in the late 1950’s.
On all the platform sites Ma’u Henua staff captured the sacred areas with photogrammetry.
Reviewing data collected from work at Anakena beach
The Poike peninsula is one of the least visited parts of the island and getting to work out here was a real treat.
Walking through a historic garden in Rapa Nui. Stones were used in agriculture as they helped retain soil moisture.
Documenting the cave paintings at Ana Kai Tangata
Cave paintings from Birdman cult at Ana Kai Tangata.