Tāpati
Tāpati Rapa Nui is a unique ancestral celebration in the world, with international renown. In 1967, the community decided to change the concept of the Spring Festival to an event based on ancestral competitions. The first week of celebrations and carnival focused on culture was organized, which came to be called Tāpati Rapa Nui - "week" in Rapa Nui language - alluding to this being the week of the Rapa Nui people, a week where the island is filled with festivities, paying tribute to the ancestral legacy.
Festival Ka ‘Ori te ‘Ori
The festival commemorating International Dance Day has been held for 5 years at the Koro Paina Kori Gymnasium in Haŋa Roa. This event is a meeting of different dances present in Rapa Nui and around the world, such as ꞌori rapa nui, tamure, Arabic dance, K-pop, ballet, cueca, among others.
This is a free activity for the entire community and tourists visiting us, bringing families together around the language of dance and aiming to highlight this artistic expression.
Mahana O Te Reꞌo
The celebration of Language Day or Mahana o te Reꞌo, held the first week of November each year, is an initiative that seeks to promote the rescue of the language through activities carried out by children from different grades and schools. Transmitting the legacy of the language is important for the community, as it is part of the intangible heritage of Rapa Nui culture.
Language Day was created in 1991 by two Rapa Nui language teachers, Hilaria Tuki and Virginia Haoa, to raise awareness in the community about the importance of the language and that Rapa Nui education should focus on culture and language. At that time, its name was Mahana o te ꞌArero, which was modified to Mahana o te Reꞌo.
Koro Nui Tupuna
Koro Nui Tupuna, or "grand feast of the ancestors" in Rapa Nui language, is another school event held during the month of November, following Mahana o Te Reꞌo or Language Day. Students from the island's 3 schools participate in 4 categories: "Take Manu" for women and "Poki Manu" for men aged 15 to 16, and "Neru" for women and "Hopu Manu" for men aged 17 to 18.
The objective of the activity held in the Motu Raiŋa Rere sector, located behind the Ahu Kihi-Kihi Rau Mea, is the revitalization of culture through different sports and artistic competitions where participating students can transmit to the school community the importance of Rapa Nui people's cultural heritage, highlighting the oral transmission of their ancestors.
Ka Ma’u Te Re’o
The Ka Ma’u Te Re’o festival was established in 2012 to celebrate "Music Day" on November 22 each year. The event, organized by the Municipal Corporation of Art and Culture, lasts two days and brings together different musicians and bands from Rapa Nui. Through artistic expression, the goal is to rescue contemporary music from Rapa Nui, so artists often sing in Rapa Nui language to keep alive the legacy of our ancestors.
