Fascinating Easter Island—one of the most remote places on earth—is famous for its gigantic stone figures that date back many centuries.

Today, over 600 enigmatic sculptures, called moai, remain on the island which is situated in the middle of the South Pacific. The tallest moai erected, called Paro, was almost 33 ft high and weighed 82 tons. The monolithic statues were carved in the male form from volcanic stone between the years 1250 and 1500 C.E. The sculptures reveal their creators to be master craftsmen and engineers who achieved remarkable creative and physical feats. Their accomplishments are especially intriguing given that Easter Island, known as Rapa Nui to locals, is so isolated. Following the oral traditions of the indigenous language, the moais “walked” to where they settled. How did the Rapa Nui people create these statues with massive heads? How did they move them? And what else can we learn about Rapa Nui? 

Our guide, Lee Rubinstein, visited Easter Island recently. She holds dual degrees in English and History with a minor in Art History. She has been leading tours at The Getty since 2012 and has given many virtual tours to FHNN, LFV and to PCV.  Additionally, she runs a year-long volunteer art program at a public school with disadvantaged pupils.