For many years, during the first half of February, the Tapati Rapa Nui cultural festival has been held, to commemorate the history of this people and to strengthen the cultural, artistic and sporting legacy of their ancestors. The Rapanui families unite in support of their candidates and competitors, participating actively in the hard collective labor of making creative outfits, carving artworks in stone and wood and collecting stories, songs and traditions to honor the ancestors and pass the legacy on to a new generation. This year, the theatrical scenery recalled the guardian and defender of the environment within the culture of her Maori ancestors, the late Ida Luz Hucke-Atan, locally known as “Mama Piru”.

The opening of each Tapati Rapa Nui festival is with a Umu Tahu in honor of the Tupuna, a ceremonial shared meal asking the ancestors for their blessing for a good result. The closing ceremony is crowned by a Umu Hatu, another meal in gratitude for a job well done. To this great final meal, the newly elected queen invites the entire Rapanui community and the tourists who have come to share in this important cultural festival of Eastern Polynesia. This year the elected representative was Hineva Pakarati-Paoa. This year the queen is Hineva Pakarati Paoa.

The beginning of each Tapati Rapa Nui is a Umu Tahu to the Tupuna, a ceremonial curanto to entrust a good result to the ancestors, and the closing of the event is crowned by the Umu Hatu in gratitude for the success of the work. To this great final curanto the chosen queen invites the entire Rapanui community and the tourists who decided to visit us and share with us this important cultural festival of Eastern Polynesia. This year the chosen one was Hineva Pakarati Paoa.