What’s it like to be on Easter Island?

"Easter Island lies in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean – the most remote island in the world. No other inhabited land is as far from a continent. I still vividly remember my first visit. The flight felt endless; I just wanted to be there already. During the final approach, I pressed my face to the window, impatient and excited, and spotted the first moai – the island’s iconic stone statues – as well as the volcanic craters that give the landscape its raw, dramatic beauty. The oversized runway was originally built by the Americans, intended as an emergency landing strip for the Space Shuttle. Where once dusty sand tracks meandered across the island, there are now paved roads that make exploring much easier. There’s no mass tourism here – everything is low-key, regulated, and there aren’t many hotels to begin with. What fascinates me most is the island’s mystery – and all the unanswered questions: What really happened here? What caused the downfall of this once-flourishing culture? There’s a stillness in nature that touches me deeply, especially on hikes or mountain bike rides across the open landscape. Though the island is more barren than other Polynesian destinations, you stumble across magical places everywhere: once-inhabited caves, moai statues resting on stone platforms – the ahu – and other spiritual sites. They feel like places of power, where energy flows between this world and the next. Mana is the spiritual force, tapu the sacred law – and the ahu are the ceremonial spaces of Rapa Nui. The island’s only town, Hanga Roa, has a small harbor, a few shops, a school, a church, a cemetery, restaurants, ice cream stands, cafés – all very manageable in size, lush with greenery, and infused with a subtle flower-power flair. The Rapa Nui people, as the locals call themselves, are incredibly proud of their island, its rich heritage and global recognition. They take great care to protect it, and in doing so, they’ve preserved a strong sense of unity and community. What also struck me: so many young, athletic people live here – and many of them are actively engaged in sustainability. It’s inspiring to see that level of commitment. And another thing: almost everyone seems to be tattooed. This, too, is part of living Polynesian culture – a tradition shared across the entire triangle of islands, from New Zealand to Hawaii, the Marquesas, and Easter Island."