All About the People of Easter Island / Rapa Nui (JUMP 196 Part 2)

What does it mean to truly belong to Rapa Nui? In this second and final part of Jackie’s immersive Easter Island experience, she sits down with local guide Tokerau to uncover the living culture behind the island’s iconic statues. From ancestry and family stories to the protected laws that keep multinational corporations off the island, this episode reveals how Rapa Nui’s people continue to preserve their identity in one of the most remote communities on Earth.

Tokerau shares personal reflections on what it means to be Rapa Nui—how bloodline defines belonging, how Chilean colonization reshaped life here, and how local efforts continue to protect land, language, and autonomy. Along the way, listeners will hear about the island’s volcanic origins, the ancient Rongorongo script, and the deep linguistic connections between Polynesian cultures like Hawai‘i and Aotearoa.

Through humor, humility, and heartfelt pride, Tokerau reminds us that while the Moai statues may be what bring people to the island, it’s the living culture—the songs, the stories, the language, and the people—that keep its spirit alive.

If Part 1 (Episode 195) explored the Moai and the mysteries of the island’s past, Part 2 celebrates the resilience, respect, and pride of the Rapa Nui people today.

Resources:

• EcoChile Travel – Custom trip operator for Chile & Argentina (includes Easter Island itineraries). Mention “Traveling Jackie” or “JUMP” for 5% off your trip.
• Rapa Nui National Park – Official visitor site and conservation info.
• Rano Raraku Quarry – Learn about the birthplace of the moai.
• Ahu Akivi – See the seven moai aligned with the stars.
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Produced by NOVA 

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