One structure that typically gets overshadowed by the grandeur of Easter Island’s famed stone heads is the Mo’ai Kavakava. These ancient crafts were tiny figures made from wood depicting lanky men. The bizarre structures also hail from Easter Island.
The word Kavakava directly means “ribs” in Rapa Nui, which is logical due to the skinny form of the man portrayed by the wooden figures. Many historians and archaeologists believe that the Mo’ai Kavakava symbolized hungry evil spirits and were worn by priests and other spiritual men when they performed ritualistic dances. These men would carry the emblems around their necks like a necklace in special gatherings and events of the community.
Long Hair Don't Care
You might be surprised to learn that the Moai actually sported hats. The headgear, called pukao in the Rapa Nui language, apparently signified human hair. Easter Island Natives used to wrap their hair securely around their heads similar to the shape of the ball. It’s the same rationale why tribal chiefs would refuse to shorten their hair because of this common practice.
Ancient islanders believed that mystical powers called “mana” were linked to a person’s hair which meant cultivating a long, healthy hair would give you good fortune. Because of this belief, men would carry stones, mount them up against the Moai and then move the pukao above the head.
Spiritual Awakening
In the course of Jacob Roggeveen's voyage to Easter Island in 1722, the Dutch explorer shared his thoughts on the Rapa Nui people’s strong affinity toward the spiritual and supernatural. Roggeveen shared, “they relied in case of need on their gods or idols which stand erected all along the seashore in great numbers, before which they fall down and invoke them.”
The first European to discover Easter Island further revealed his thoughts, remarking his observations on priests, who demonstrated far greater devotion to the Moa more than anything else. He also noticed that the religious men looked dramatically sincere compared to the typical islander.
The Legend of Akivi
The sacred grounds of Ahu Akivi play an especially important role in the rich history of both the island and the people of Rapa Nui. Seven identically built Moai erect upright from the ground, aligned straight together side by side, with their heads facing the sunset in the arrival of the Spring Equinox. With the advent of the Autumn Equinox, they would then shift their gaze away from the sunrise.
The seven aligned statues symbolize the seven guardians who were visited by the King’s astral form during a dream. The spirit of the King gave the seven protectors direct orders to wait for him and his scouts to come back from their journey over the Pacific Ocean. And wait for an eternity they did in the form of statues…
Misconceptions
The director of the Easter Island Statue Project, Van Tilburg, believed in the importance of debunking misconceptions that surrounded the Moai. Tilburg made a strong point by exclaiming that “the reason people think they are [only] heads is there are about 150 statues buried up to the shoulders on the slope of a volcano, and these are the most famous, most beautiful and most photographed of all the Easter Island statues. This suggested to people who had not seen photos of [other unearthed statues] that they are heads only.”
Indeed, if people only took the time to do a bit of study and research on the latest discoveries of the Moai, they would know exactly what Tilburg was talking about. They would also change their perceptions about the Moai; that they are more than just strange heads popping out from the ground and making for good photographs, but living relics left by people who roamed the vast Pacific Ocean long before the time of European explorers. Most importantly, these bizarre stone figures may hold the key to finally unlocking the mysterious past of these once-great island people.