The Rapanui Families Organize
The Honui Rapa Nui is the organization in which each Rapanui family name elects its own representative to speak and decide on the future of the Island. (sentence added) 2016 was the 50th anniversary of the government of Chile establishing civil administration on Rapa Nui, after leasing it for 47 years to a British multi-national livestock firm, followed by 13 years under the administration and jurisdiction of the Chilean Navy.
This decision was taken in 1966 by the then President Eduardo Frei-Montalva, after the Islanders had risen up in a resistance movement led by the young schoolteacher, Alfonso Rapu. Their demands were to end the naval administration and be considered Chilean citizens with full civil and political rights with the same possibilities for development as people in continental Chile.
Today, all of the 34 public services on the Island, with the exceptions of the military and the police, have directors and employees of Rapanui origin. However, the strategic decisions are still made on the continent, 3,700 kilometers (2,300 miles) away. This centralism delays decisions, many of which are not shared by local authorities. For years, and particularly in the last consultations among the Rapanui people, the Islanders have been promoting a growing need and will for self-administration. Last October, following a visit by President Bachelet, they began an initiative to organize themselves in Honui (tribal or familial) groups, one for each of the 36 Rapanui family names, with democratically elected representatives, to be able to keep themselves informed and come to agreement on projects of local interest for the future.
Who the Tangata Honui Are
Edith and Rubelinda Pakarati-Araki, the latter serving as the representative of the Pakarati family, explain that, in the past, the Tangata Honui were the councilors of the king, selected among the elders and the respected leaders of each family.
“Since today the existing Council of Elders is no longer representative of the Rapanui families, we have formed a new structure of Honui which is composed of a representative of each family name, either paternal or maternal, but not both. The foreign family names, like Edmunds, Pont and Cardinali, although accepted as Rapanui families, are not permitted to become Honui, and can only be represented by their maternal Rapanui family name. Mixed blood doesn’t matter; the important thing is the Rapanui name. Each family group meets to select their Tangata Honui and an alternate. For example, we have 6 branches of the Pakaratis, each one choosing their representative and then holding a vote to define which of the six will be the Tangata Honui and which the alternate for all of the Pakaratis. We don’t have a board of directors. For the moment, all 35 representatives vote.”
In 1888, it was the representatives of the twelve families then existing who voted for the Agreement of Wills for the annexation of the Island to Chile, signed with Policarpo Toro.
The Technical Group and Assemblies of the Honui Rapa Nui
The Honui have created a technical working group to determine the representation of the families that still haven’t been defined and to establish internal regulations to settle conflictive or delicate situations and to propose topics for development. The basic requirements are: be a minimum of 18 years of age, speak both Spanish and Rapanui, have a clean personal reputation and never have sold nor bought land. Once finalized, they will work on the three most important topics: 1.- Administration of Rapa Nui National Park; 2.- Law of Residence; and 3.- Special Statute for Rapa Nui.
Ema Tuki, a member of the technical working group made up of 4 people, reports: “To date we have organized 35 of the 36 existing families and have set up two regular weekly assemblies at the Tongariki Cultural Center: 1) Regular Meetings on Tuesday to inform and explain various topics of local interest; and 2) Technical Meetings on Thursday to explain technical topics among the institutions or public organizations and among the Honui themselves. This allows the Honui representatives to get the needed information to their families in order to make decisions on the important topics for the community.
“Not all Rapanui families have a Honui, since there are some which only have 6 members left. Others have 6 or more branches, like the Pakaratis, the Tukis, the Tepanos. Some have already organized their own technical teams, thanks to the participation of young professionals. That way we were able to call a vote and create the corporation, Ma’u Henua, to co-administer the National Park with CONAF (Chilean National Forestry Service). Now we are working on the Special Statute which would give us greater autonomy to take decisions here on the Island, which, to date, has not been accepted by the Chilean government.”
Autonomy and a Special Statute for Rapa Nui
“We want to change this colonial mentality with which the Chilean government has administered our lives through all these years. Instead of the history of Chile, we want to learn our own history and strengthen our culture. Instead of making us dependent on a system of government assistance, we want autonomy in administering our resources, our territory and our heritage. We need to develop in a productive and communal manner, as it was in the past and, as I think, could be rescued for the future. What Chile doesn’t give us politically, that is to say, autonomy, they replace with money and benefits, but administered by them. Many decisions are made on the continent. This takes us away from our roots. Historically, we have had a communal social system, not individualistic as in the European system. But selfishness is now permeating the Rapanui character.”
President Bachelet visited the Island a year ago to sign the initial project for a law that will limit the residence of continentals and foreigners on the Island and, in addition, promised that, before the end of her term, the administration of the Rapa Nui National Park would be placed in the hands of a representative ethnic organization. The Honui expect those promises to be kept.
Keep reading: Rapa Nui under a Tahitian ruler (1878-1888), the background to the 1888 annexation, and Rapa Nui between 1979 and 1989. (line added)
Frequently Asked Questions About the Honui Rapa Nui
What is the Honui Rapa Nui?
It is an organization created after a visit by President Bachelet, in which each of the 36 Rapanui family names has democratically elected representatives. Its purpose is to keep the Islanders informed and reach agreement on projects of local interest, given their growing will for self-administration.
Who are the Tangata Honui?
In the past they were the councilors of the king, selected among the elders and the respected leaders of each family. Today each Rapanui family name, paternal or maternal but not both, has one representative. Foreign family names like Edmunds, Pont and Cardinali can only be represented by their maternal Rapanui family name.
How is a Honui representative chosen?
Each family group meets to select its Tangata Honui and an alternate. The Pakaratis, for example, have 6 branches: each chose a representative and then voted on who would be the Tangata Honui and who the alternate. The basic requirements are to be at least 18 years old, speak both Spanish and Rapanui, have a clean personal reputation and never have sold nor bought land.
When and where does the Honui meet?
According to the report, it holds two regular weekly assemblies at the Tongariki Cultural Center: regular meetings on Tuesday, to inform and explain topics of local interest, and technical meetings on Thursday, where public institutions and the Honui themselves present technical topics. At that time 35 of the 36 families had been organized.
What priority topics does the Honui work on?
Three: the administration of Rapa Nui National Park, the Law of Residence and the Special Statute for Rapa Nui. In parallel, the Honui voted to create the corporation Ma’u Henua to co-administer the National Park with CONAF.
