by Captain, Chilean Navy, IM Arnt Ernesto Arentsen Pettersen — Governor of Easter Island on three occasions (1960-1961, 1965-1966 and 1975-1978)
In February 1960, when I arrived on Rapa Nui as the new Governor of the island, Anakena beach was a sandy desert with not a single palm tree. What today is the most photographed Polynesian park on the island did not exist. This is the story of how 2,000 coconut seeds arrived and changed everything.
Anakena in 1960: A Sandy Desert Without Palm Trees
In the month of February of 1960, my family and I arrived on the Chilean naval transport AKA ‘Pinto’ to take the position of Governor of Easter Island. During my excursions to get to know the Island, I arrived at the beach of Anakena, which I must recognize, at that time, was a sandy desert with a shepherd’s hut on the southeastern side surrounded by a bit of green and some bushes which made it look like an oasis.
On the northern side there was the Ahu Ature Huke, restored in 1955 by Thor Heyerdahl and his team of archaeologists, under the direction of Mayor Petero Atán, who with Lázaro Hotus and other islanders raised the lone Moai by a system of eucalyptus levers. I stayed for a while admiring the restored Ahu and imagining a tropical-style beach surrounded by a lovely park of palm trees. What I saw was the same Anakena beach that today welcomes visitors with its ahu and moai — but without a single palm.
The Esmeralda and the Seeds from Tahiti
Three months later (May 10, 1960) the Naval Training Ship ‘Esmeralda’ appeared off Hanga Roa, under the command of Captain Patricio Carvajal-Prado. As we were chatting, I mentioned that it seemed incredible that on a subtropical island there were no palm trees neither in Hanga Roa nor at the beaches, especially at Anakena. Taking advantage that the ‘Esmeralda’ was heading to Tahiti, I ended up requesting that he bring coconut seeds to plant at Anakena in order to convert it into an attractive Polynesian park, vital for future international tourism.
At the end of June, the ‘Esmeralda’ returned. Commander Carvajal declared that he had come through for the Island. In Tahiti, they had embarked 2,000 coconut seeds, all with their respective health certificates, to be planted on the Island. In addition, in the stern were more than forty coffee, breadfruit, grapefruit and other trees to enrich the variety of vegetation on our legendary Rapa Nui.
How the 2,000 Coconuts Were Distributed and Planted
I met with the most notable representatives of the Rapanui community: Mayor Jorge Tepano-Ika, Leonardo Pakarati-Languitopa, Ricardo Tuki, Sebastián Pakarati, Urbano Hey, the overseers of the Mataveri and Vaitea farms, and others. In the beginning, the Islanders wanted to distribute the coconuts equally among the 200 registered families. I proposed that 50% be given to the families to plant on their own properties, and the other 50% be used to create a Polynesian park at Anakena beach.
For the planting technique, Leonardo Pakarati-Languitopa — who had lived several years in Tahiti — knew the procedure: dig a 30×30 cm square hole to a depth of 45 cm, fill with layers of topsoil, manure and sand to 25 cm, then lay the coconut half-buried in the sand. We also consulted archaeologist Gonzalo Figueroa (Universidad de Chile) and anthropologist William Mulloy to determine exactly where on the Anakena beach the coconuts could be planted without damaging the archaeological heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Anakena Palm Trees
When were the palm trees at Anakena planted?
The palm trees at Anakena were planted in 1960, under Governor Arnt Ernesto Arentsen Pettersen. Before that date, Anakena beach was, in his own words, ‘a sandy desert’ without a single palm. The 2,000 coconut seeds arrived from Tahiti aboard the Naval Training Ship Esmeralda in May 1960.
Where did the palm trees of Anakena come from?
The 2,000 coconut seeds that gave rise to the Anakena park came from Tahiti, carried by the Chilean Navy training ship Esmeralda in 1960, at Governor Arentsen’s request to Commander Patricio Carvajal-Prado.
Are the Anakena palm trees native to Rapa Nui?
No. The coconut palms at Anakena are introduced, not endemic. Before 1960, the only coconut palm on the entire island was at the so-called ‘Ahu of the Little Palm’ in the Hanga La Perouse area. The 1960 planting was a deliberate decision by Governor Arentsen to create a Polynesian park to attract international tourism.
Who planted the palm trees at Anakena?
The project was conceived by Governor Arentsen. The planting technique was taught by islander Leonardo Pakarati-Languitopa, who had lived in Tahiti for several years. The exact locations within the beach were determined with help from archaeologist Gonzalo Figueroa and anthropologist William Mulloy to avoid damaging the archaeological heritage.
