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<\/a><\/p>\nWe also passed a single decapitated moai on an ahu.\u00a0 There would have been several here originally.\u00a0 This moai is older than others, as they were built larger and larger as time progressed.<\/p>\n
The first sign of the caves was this tree growing right out of one of them.\u00a0 I honestly don’t know how the tree got started as the sunlight would have hit the floor of the cave for maybe an hour a day, but life finds a way.<\/p>\n The main entrance to the caves is almost completely obscured by vegetation, including these banana trees.<\/p>\n Here we are just inside the cave entrance.\u00a0 The helmets were a very good idea, as there were spots where we actually needed them.\u00a0 Some of the natives lived in these caves, and they built up rock piles that they would sleep on during rainy weather when the caves would flood.<\/p>\n We’ve been in lava tube caves before, and they lack the formations you see in limestone caverns, so it’s interesting but not really all that beautiful.<\/p>\n It is unique however to see trees growing right out of them!<\/p>\n This is the view looking back towards the entrance.\u00a0 We exited from a different opening maybe 50 yards later.<\/p>\n We jumped into the van and drove maybe a mile to the next spot, Ahu Akivi, another set of moai on an ahu.\u00a0 These 7 moai actually face towards the ocean, aligned to face the setting sun during the Spring Equinox.\u00a0 One thing our guide pointed out regarding these moai that sit on an ahu is they all have an odd number of statues.<\/p>\n Here is a view of the moai from the rear.\u00a0 You can clearly see where the decapitated heads were reattached to the bodies with cement.\u00a0 It’s interesting to me that they didn’t decapitate all of the statues.<\/p>\n One last stop on this excursion that was directly adjacent to the main town on Rapa Nui, Hanga Roa.\u00a0 This site is called Ahu Tahai, and sits right on the waters edge.<\/p>\n This moai is the only one on the island with the eyes restored.\u00a0 The eyes were made of cement versus the originals which were made of coral.<\/p>\n This site has 3 distinct ahu’s as seen in the below photo.<\/p>\n The moai here aren’t in the best shape, but this spot is quite popular at sunset as the sun sets directly behind them.\u00a0 It’s also just a few hundred yards from the most populated part of the island.<\/p>\n After lunch back at the resort we had another excursion to the volcanic quarry where all of the moai came from, known as Rano a Raraku.\u00a0 Half of the islands moai are located here, including hundreds in various states of completion.<\/p>\n This Chimango Caracara was posing in front of a fallen moai.<\/p>\n This moai was in progress when the carving suddenly stopped.\u00a0 There are several theories as to why the natives stopped carving moai, but the most likely answer is the very foundation of their culture, the belief that erecting statues brought prosperity and spiritual goodwill,\u00a0 was challenged as the Rapa Nui suffered hardship and internal strife.<\/p>\n The largest moai on the island is here at the quarry, known as “El Gigante”.\u00a0 This moai would have stood 72′ tall if it was completed and erected.<\/p>\n These moai on the slope of the quarry are actually complete, they have just been partially buried.<\/p>\n These are said to be a showroom of sorts, showing the potential suitors who may want a moai made in their honor the options available to them.\u00a0 These two are my favorite moai, almost comical with their expressions.<\/p>\n The style differences here might have been showing off one carving artist’s skills versus another.<\/p>\n One last shot of the “moai showroom”.<\/p>\n From this site you can see the 15 moai we visited the day prior, and this view shows how close they are to the ocean.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n