Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation Volume 16 Article 9 Issue 2 October

2002 News and Notes

Follow this and additional works at: https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj Part of the History of the Pacific slI ands Commons, and the Pacific slI ands Languages and Societies Commons

Recommended Citation (2002) "News and Notes," Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation: Vol. 16 : Iss. 2 , Article 9. Available at: https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol16/iss2/9

This Commentary or Dialogue is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Hawai`i Press at Kahualike. It has been accepted for inclusion in Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation by an authorized editor of Kahualike. For more information, please contact [email protected]. et al.: News and Notes MOAt ~U:~HTtN6.~ WHAT'~ N£W tN TH£ VAC-tHe,

WE HAVE AN ODDITY POHNPEI to report, in regard to moai ightings. For year a fake moai sat out in front of a restau­ rant in Cambridge, MA with the name Aku-Aku, and which erved er atz Polyne­ ian food. Well, the re taurant is now a eafood place, called "Summer Shack"- but what to do about the moai out front? They added a hat, beard, pipe and fisherman's jacket, tran forming the moai into a Maine fisherman! (photo by Wil­ liam Liller).

THE ISLAND OF POHNPEI, Federated States of Microne ia har­ bors the remains of four victims of the U.S. Civil War, dating OTHER MOAl ighting to 135 year ago. These are the wrecks of four whaler - three from EI Lay ha been re­ are of U.S. registry and one of Hawaiian regi try. They were ported by Rapanuiphile unk by the Confederate raider Shenandoah in April 1865. The Suzanne Williams who Shenandoah attacked and burned the whaler during its flf t ubmitted photo of North top in the Pacific. At this time, Gen. Robert E. Lee had already Hollywood' "Tonga Hut' urrendered at Appomattox, but the hip's captain didn't hear where a large wood moai about the end of the war until several months later. Evidence of tand in front to welcome the three ve sels wa found during an underwater archaeologi­ customer. The Tonga Hut cal survey over the pa t month. is sandwiched between a Leading the team were Suzanne Finney, doctoral tudent bridal salon and a gift at the University of Hawaii-Manoa Department of Anthropol­ shop. ogy, and Frank Cantelas, Eastern Carolina Univer ity taff ar­ chaeologist. Anthropology professor Michael W. Grave is the project's principal investigator. Ms Finney plans to return to Pohnpei next ummer, and hope to find a fourth wreck in Pohnahtik Harbor, Mado­ lenihmw Province. She believes that the team found two of three U.S. whalers and the Hawaiian whaler, Harvest. Accord­ ing to accounts, three whalers burned together, drifted onto the reef and sank, and the Hawaiian vessel burned la t. The re­ main of the other two ships are "almost end-to-end "she aid. 'We were hand- ifting and realized we had material from two wrecks - not one." A tip came from a local fi hermen who asked what they were doing and then aid he knew where there wa another wreck, a few hundred feet away. The scuba divers found the three wrecks in about 25 to 30 feet of water despite poor visibility from silt washing into the harbor from rivers. Finney aid they recovered large sections of keel and some pieces of copper sheathing, which may help UNNERSITY OF HAWAl'I PROFESSOR Terry Hunt was startled to them date the wrecks. The Shenandoah was sent to the Pacific di covers a new moai (sand sculpture) on the beach at during the final months of the Civil War in 1865 to de troy the •Anakena. The eyes were Styrofoam, not coral (photo by Scott American whaling fleet. In 18 months, it captured more than 30 Nicolay). whaling ships, including the four at Pohnpei.

Rapa Nui Journal 113 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 Published by Kahualike, 2002 1 Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation, Vol. 16 [2002], Iss. 2, Art. 9

Looking at the wrecks and the Civil War episode is a first when faced with cheap imitations from non-Maori entrepre- step toward a management plan for Micronesia's underwater neurs. resources. Specialists from the Pohnpei State Historic Preserva­ Tok Blong Pasifik. 2002. Vol. 56(1). tion Office participated in the project, funded by the National COOK IsLANDS Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program A CONTROVERSIAL TREATMENT for diabetes has been proposed Honolulu Star-Bulletin 8 September 2002 to the Cook Islands by a New Zealand biotechnology company. Fm The government of the Cooks is deciding whether to accept the THE PHYSICS DEPARTMENT at the University of the South Pa­ proposal that involves inserting live animal cells into humans. cific (Suva, Fiji) has received F$61,308 as part of the French The New Zealand government rejected the experiment as too Embassy funding to the School of Pure and Applied Sciences. risky. But some Cook Islands volunteers who suffer from diabe­ The money will help establish collaborative research in environ­ tes are willing to try the experiment. mental physics and climate change, and expand research links Tok Blong Pasifik 2002. Vol. 56(1). in marine physics. RA'IVAVAE USP Beat, Vol. 2(6), 2002

STIJDENTS AND PROFESSORS OF ARCHITECTURE and anthropol­ ogy from Vienna, Austria, visited Fiji and Samoa to study tradi­ tional architecture. The teams will return next year to visit Vanuatu and New Caledonia with the results to be published. They found that traditional Pacific architecture is disappearing due to the high co t of building and maintaining traditional structures. The International Student Visits' program began in the 1980s and hosts around five or six groups a year, mainly ­ from Europe and North America. Under the program, USP or­ AN AIRPORT RUNWAY is being built in the lovely lagoon at Ra'ivavae, ganizes lectures, visits to important sites in Fiji, and~ome stays. surely an ill-advised project. The photo shows the runway under con­ USP Beat, Vol. 2(3), March 2002 struction. A piece of the main island can be seem on the left. The run­ way will be long enough to accommodate small jets. There goes the PROFESSOR JOHN MORRISO of the Oceans & Cultural Re­ neighborhood. Thanks to Pandora Nash Karner for the photograph. search Center, University of Wollongong, Australia, spoke at the Laucala Campu , Suva (Fiji) on the subject of waste man­ PITCAlRN agement. His lecture described the environmental problems that AFTER SOME 200 YEARS, Britain's colonial history officially result in polluted streams, litter-strewn streets, and eye ores on ended when more than 200,000 island residents around the the edges of towns where rubbish is dumped. One mechanism to world were granted full citizenship. One of those islands is little reduce sources of waste i to examine the imports profIle to de­ Pitcairn Island. The new order means that islanders, who for­ termine which materials are likely to lead to considerable quan­ merly had British Dependent Territories passports (with limited tities of waste and impose a tariff or prohibit their importation. rights of access to Britain), now have full citizenship. This will This is a serious problem on small i lands that lack the infra­ allow them to live, train and work in Britain or anywhere el e in structure to recycle. the EU. However, Briti h citizens do not have the reciprocal USP Beat, Vol. 2(7), May 2000 right to live overseas. The Guardian Weekly Vol. 166(21):8, 22 May 2002 A FIJ1AN-LANGUAGE HANDBOOK concerning the cultural, politi­ cal and botanical aspects of kava has been produced. Sales of BUT ALL IS NOT ROSY ON PITCAIRN. Wide pread sex abuse has kava have dropped following news of the product as causing been charged by New Zealand and British police who say that liver disease. Kava merchants say that the kava in the west is as many as twenty men from the island may be charged. A trial not the same as the raw material grown in the Pacific, but has likely would be held in New Zealand where many of the alleged chemicals added to it by pharmaceutical companies. offenders now live. The police began investigating an alleged Tok Blong Pasifik Vol. 56(1) 2002 December 1999 rape on Pitcairn. Since then, the New Zealand media reports a large number of complaints, with about twenty FInAN POLITICS HAS COST the sugar indu try millions of dollars. present or former Pitcairners accused of sexually abusing girl Between the di placement of people, indu trial boycotts, and as young as 12 years. If charges are made and a trial is held on resistance to change, the sugar industry now finds itself on the the island, it would be only the second one for the small terri­ verge of collapse. The chairman of the Sugar Commission of tory. In 1897, Harry A. Christian, a descendant of Fletcher Fiji declared it a "human tragedy". Christian, was hanged in Fiji after being convicted on Pitcairn USP Beat, Vol. 2(10), July 2000 of killing his wife and child. AOTEAROA CNN News, July 17, 2002 A LABEL OF AUTHENTICITY for items of Maori manufacture has IIAWAI'I been created. ''roi iho maori" trademarks will benefit the sale ADDING TO AN IMPRESSIVE LIST of other honors, Dr Yosihiko and production and provide an increased awareness of Maori art Sinoto, senior anthropologist for the Bishop Museum, wa hon­ and culture. In the past, native artists have found it hard to find ored by the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai'i as a part of markets for their work, and they have been at a di advantage their Annual Living Treasure of Hawai 'i program.

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THE NONl PLANT, used in traditional healing throughout Polyne­ Api, a political party in opposition to French Polynesia Territo­ sia, has become one of the most popular complementary treat­ rial President, Gaston Flosse: Boris Uontieff, Arsen Tuairau, ments worldwide for all kinds of di ea es. Yet, there is no evi­ and Ferfine Besseyre. Despite continued searches, a of mid­ dence that the plant is useful medically, says Dr. Brian Issell, August, there has been no sign of the plane or its passengers. clinical sciences program director at the Cancer Research Cen­ Kimitete had been mayor of Nuku Hiva since 1991 and ter of Hawai'i. He has received a National Institutes of Health delegate to the Territorial Assembly ince 1996. His political grant to conduct the [lIst cientific tudy of the use of noni in and personal agenda has always had, as its sole aim, the preser­ human . Noni, extracted from the Indian mulberry plant, has vation of Marquesan identity and culture, both within the Mar­ been u ed for more than 1,000 year in traditional healing prac­ quesa and vis-a-vis Tahitian political domination within French tices of native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders and Asian Polynesia. He was considered unique as a omewhat reluctant populations. Noni emerged as "a prominent phenomenon" in the politician, as much poet and bard. As a cultural leader, he was early 1990s in Hawaii. It wa used in traditional Hawaiian among the founders of Motu Haka 0 Te Henua Enana, the Mar­ medicine, but now it is very popular worldwide. Its reputation quesan cultural a ociation founded in 1978. He was the heart preceded demon trated scientific merit. Issell said he was and soul of the 5th Festival of Marquesan Arts, which took place prompted to look at noni because many people say it i helping December 27-31, 1999, on Nuku Hiva as part of the world's them. Studies have shown it ha orne effect on cancer cells. Year 2000 ceremonies. Mo t recently, he worked to establish a "We want to ee if it works or not, and how good the com­ Marquesan Academy to teach and conserve the Marquesan lan­ pounds are," Issell said. He plans to begin research when the guage, history and culture. noni capsules arrive; a mainland company is producing them Kirnitete, 48 years old, leaves his wife, Debora, who is with freeze-dried extract from Hawaii-grown plants. Cancer committed to finding Lucien and to continuing his Marquesan patients for whom standard treatments haven't worked will be cultural program, and four children. The people of all the Mar­ recruited to take the cap ules. The first phase is to figure out quesas Islands, not just Nuku Hiva, are devastated at hi disap­ what doses can be tolerated and if there is any evidence that pearance, but hold out a fading hope that he and the others may noni causes the cancer to shrink. Patients will be eval~ated still be found. regularly, with measurements of the tumors and other things Carol Ivory, Fine Arts Center such as fatigue and general quality of life, he said. The next Washington State University stage will be to identify ingredients in noni that are anti-cancer agents. Issell ha been involved in developing other anti-cancer Note: Tahiti Pacifique magazine, No. 136:40-41 for August drug from plants. 2002, contains a moving tribute to Kimitete. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 19 July 2002

MARQUESAS IsLANDS

Lucien Kimitete at Kamuihei Ceremonial Center, Day 1 of the Fifth Marquesan Festival of Arts, Hatiheu, Nuku Hiva, December 28, 1999 (photo by Carol Ivory).

A TRAGIC Loss FOR THE MARQUESAS. On May 23, 2002, a twin engine Piper PA34 airplane carrying Lucien Ro'o Kirnitete, cultural and political leader of the Marquesas Islands, Lucien Kimitete speaking at the opening ceremony of the Fifth disappeared omewhere between Fakarava and Katiu atolls in Marquesan Festival of Arts, Taioha'e, Nuku Hiva, December 27, the Tuamotus. With Kimitete were three other leaders of Fetia 1999 (photo by Carol Ivory).

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LAST YEAR, THE "SURVIVOR" TV eries was filmed on Nuku NORFOLK Hiva. Some 230 fllrn crew personnel came to construct build­ NORFOLK ISLAND HAS HAD ITS FIRST HOM1CIDE in ISO year , ings, road, and a "tribal council" (a fake Polynesian tructure and nearly all re ident plus tourists are being asked to submit with a palm frond root). The French Polynesian Council of to fingerprinting in order to help fmd the killer. Federal police Ministers declared four of the island's valleys "off-limits" and from Australia have notified 1000 of the island's 1500 resi­ filming began on November 12. There were problems. The dents, age 15-70, to voluntarily submit to fingerprinting plus Marque ans wanted a "Tahiti Mystic Island" logo and website 680 Australians and New Zealanders who were on holiday at address to be added a part of the program's credits in the hope the time that a young Australian woman wa murdered. was that publicity would reinvigorate tourism in French Poly­ Centerfor Pacific Island Studies. August 9. 2002 nesia. However, indigenou i landers were invisible in the film; the jungle-shrouded peak were digitally re-mastered to ob­ WHA,''i> N£W IN HAN(;,.A ll-OA scure all ign of habitation; and the island's animal and pro­ duce seemed available for ea y trapping and plucking. The NEWS FROM LANCHlLE AlRLINES in June brought a collective most that was seen of "the people" were a few quick shot of gasp from both islanders and visitor. It was announced (on the tatue que, tattooed warrior during the commercial breaks. web site for Pacific Magazine and in newspaper in Chile) that Traditional chants for background music were synthesized into LanChile intended to drop Tahiti from its trans-Pacific itinerary 'world music'. Crafts were worked into the "challenges" the in July. The announcement involved a change in route to San~­ "tribes" engaged in, such as the contestants struggling to ingest ago-Auckland-Sydney, without the twice-weekly topover ill fafaru, a fermented raw fish dish considered inedible by West- . French Polynesia's largest island. The reason given was co t­ emers. When voting each other out, the players wrote names on cutting, following a code haring agreement between LanChile tapa and put them in a carved umete (the "immunity trophy" and Australia's Qanta . The announced cancellation of flight was the type of wooden tiki sculpted for the tourist trade). Dif­ connecting Rapa Nui with Tahiti and the rest of the Pacific ficulties between the producer and the locals were ~en to the would have cut islanders off from visiting relatives in Tahiti, to local court: one plaintiff requested and was granted a cash set­ ay nothing of 10 ing touri ts coming to Rap~ Nui from ~at tlement of $23,000. For another case, the owner of the land direction. It was then di covered that LanChile wa playlDg where the "tribal council" was built "won" - but he only won 'chicken' in an effort to get a reduction in landing charge iro­ the right to have the structure di mantled after filming. The 74­ po ed by Tahiti. Tahiti blinked, reduced the co t of the charges, year-old caretaker of Hakatea village had his house, dock a.nd and LanChile then changed its mind. Whew. plumbing system bulldozed so the valley would appear unm­ habited. A prefab wa put up for him elsewhere, but he was not THE ISLAND'S BANK on Tu'u Maheke has an ATM machine happy: ''The Americans are quick and rich.... We didn't want in ide the bank. That i the good news. The bad news: it is only to move, but there wa trong pre ure acce sible during banking hour and for cash advances against Some islanders were won over, mostly by the thought that a MasterCard. For a Visa cash advance, you have to go to the tourists would be attracted to the islands and that nearly 400 counter. Take your passport. local would be hired. Some were hired to guard the valleys from security breaches or to act as drivers and other assistants. A HOLL¥WOOD TV SERlES is on "hold" because of its use of Wages were high (by local standards). But there was discontent moai replicas! Rapanui's mayor, Petero Edmund, "made hi when fishermen were unable to fi h and prices went up. Those move" and Chilenos and Rapanui living in the United States employed by the production were happy to get money for the protested again t Paramount Studios in Hollywood where u e of their vehicles, but were frustrated by having to wait all "Laverne and Shirley Survivors", a atire on realistic programs, day at the producers' beck and call. One said, ''They pay me for wa being filmed. The moai figure were in use as cenery and doing nothing. They are crazy...." were rented from "CP Three", a rental tore for items for movie After the production ended the air-conditioned cruise ship sets. CP Three rents the moai for US$380 each or will sell them on which half of the production crew had been housed was de­ for US$7800 each. The TV film how four moai (called "tiki tained by customs in Tahiti because the producers had not heads") surrounded by vegetation that gives the impres ion of a made correct arrangements with the government for u ing the tropical island. The plot of the film program is said to make fun ship in such manner. A tax of $444,000 was levied. of the statues. Paramount was told to cease immediately or risk The end re ult: the expected tidal wave of American tour­ having to pay US$150,000 for "cultural insult". Mayor Ed­ ists probably will not happen, for not only is the nona (the bit­ munds also want a letter of apology. Alerted by El Mercurio, ing fly that causes itchy, infected welts) ''bad press", but the Mayor Edmunds sent a communication to the Rapa-Nui Foun­ average tourist find the difficulties and co t of visiting these dation, a denouncement to the Director of UNESCO, and al 0 islands to be insurmountable. The film production left the Mar­ commissioned his brother, Rene Edmunds Paoa, who live in que an i landers little in the way of economic benefit, but did California, to coordinate activities of protest and negotiation leave them with some indignation that 'Enana once more 10 t a with Paramount Studios and all the rest of the companies pro­ chance to repre ent their own culture to the world. ducing movies, commercials or TV or movie pecial .A group [After Kathleen C. Riley, Anthropology News, May 2002] of 50 Chilenos from Los Angeles prote ted in front of the stu­ dios, demanding that the series, which is "trampling on the cul­ ture" of Rapa Nui, cease immediately. Because about a half million dollars has 0 far been invested, the producer ran the

Rapa Nui Journal 116 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol16/iss2/9 4 et al.: News and Notes risk of having to cancel the program. Paramount repre entative gion, an increase of 38.8% over the 1992 figure of 2,764. The explained that this is the fust time that they have had problems cen u results were of great intere t amongst the Rapanui popu­ of this sort with the Easter I landers, and no Chilean con ulate lation, which complains that it eem like ten Chileans arrive or diplomat ever expressed any intere t previou ly. Generally (to ettle there) with every incoming airplane. when a studio uses insignia, emblems, apparel, colors of war, or sacred images, they pay a "cultural fine." In the case of Rapa THE DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC is officially over for thi year, Nui, this i the first time that a formal protest has been made. now that winter ha arrived to the island. No new cases were Another item subsequently appeared in El Mercurio de reported on Rapa Nui for a 10 day period in June. A total of Valparaiso (April 6), continuing Mayor Edmunds' reactions to 500 cases were officially confumed but there were no deaths the abuses of Hollywood. Edmunds stated that he also objects reported. Spraying with pesticide continues. (See Letters to to the use of moai image on Smirnoff and Pi co bottles and in the Editor for more about the dengue fever problem). advertisement that exploit the patrimony of Easter Island. The Hollywood rental store (CP Three) declared that their A FULL-LE GTH ANIMATED FILM made in Chile called moai figure are in much demand. They have a long list of rent­ "Mampato y Ogu en Rapa Nui" with voices from several well­ ers including the producer of a Triple XXX porn flick (adults known Chilean actors was shown in the gym on Easter Island only) and al 0 for a film titled "Making Love Hawaiian Style". to a crowd of around 2000 (the i land has no movie theater). A The statues were recently u ed in a commercial showing a pack special screen, projector, and sound system were sent along and of dogs stopping by the side of moai to urinate on them. CP et up for the film showing. It cost more than US$2100 to bring Three's owner said that originally he had ix "Tiki head" that the more than one ton of equipment and four experts to set it were left abandoned in the patio of a studio after Kevin Co tner up. The film was free so the whole island came to see it. The and his crew finished filming interior locations for the film children benefited mo t. At 4 pm they were let out of school (2 Rapa Nui. Ten years ago a Chilean businessman in LA, wanted Y2 hours earlier than usual). The how tarted at 8: 15 after the to re cue the ersatz statues and offered US$10,000 for the four military band from the visiting ship Esmeralda played some but the offer wa refused. I music. The musicians, however, were not allowed to ee the Officially, Paramount Studio explained that using the movie because all seats were reserved for islander . tatues wa without bad intention , but it wa not known if the The film wa well received. The plot involves some chil­ scenes using the moai are to be modified in the TV special. The dren and a moai kavakava. The father of Mampato arrives Executive Director of Paramount Televi ion Media Relations home with this carving, awakening the curiosity of the red­ told El Mercurio de Valparaiso that there was no problem in headed kid-created in 1968 by Eduardo Armstrong and providing an apology in writing to the Rapanui people and the Themo Lobos-who, thanks to a pace-time belt, i able to mayor. However, the demand for $150,000 as a "cultural fine" move across history. Of course he decides to go to Rapa Nui would have to be con idered by Paramount's legal department. where he looks for Ogl1, his gola-gola friend who, we are told, Some year ago when Kevin Co tner was filming on steals the show. Marama is an island girl who introduces the Ea ter I land, i lander were offered $25 to be extras, but $36 visitor to the conflict going on in Rapa Nui between the "long wa offered to any woman who would go topless. Resident ears" and the "short ear " Chilean took thi offer as a per onal affront. In the Lo Ange­ In technical term, the movie i impeccable, and the tell­ les prote t, Co tner was denounced as the author of the worst ing of the history is well done. Not being timid about expre ­ insults against Chilean women, especially the Rapanui. This ing their views, islanders compared the film to "Rapa Nut', the brings up the comments of the movie reviewer, Roger Ebert, Costner production that was, despite all the Hollywood para­ who, when reviewing the Costner movie "Rapa Nui", declared phernalia, a tremendous flop. Maria !ka, 32, carne with her two that only the bare breasts prevented him from calling it the kid and thought Mampato y Ogu was spectacular. "It was a worst film ever made. thousand percent better than the Co tner film. Here we learned In the mid t of all this controversy over the use of moai things and were entertained. The mu ic was an A-plus and I image , we were introduced to The Book of Tiki, by Sven A. hope the movie wins an 0 car." Claudio Fernandez aid it did­ Kirsten (Taschen 2000, published in Koln, Germany). This n't matter that some of the characters had blue eyes. 'The brightly colored, hardcover slick production is basically every­ movie was made in a style more for children and so that others thing you ever wanted to know about the "tiki craze" that got in other part will know more about us. For me the be t part is rolling in the US in the 1940 and 1950's. For tho e who are that now some aspects of hi tory are clearer to me." "It re­ old enough to remember the old Trader Vic' joint in Oakland, spected our history and helped u to know more about our­ California or Don the Beachcomber's in Los Angeles, both of selves," said Dorka Tuki. "It is good, simpatica and respects which date from around 1934, this is a walk down memory our history. There are details like the pronunciation of the word lane. Apparently in a misguided case of deja vu, the vogue for hache for it was dubbed in Mexico with the clear intention of things "tiki" is making a comeback. Readers of Rapa Nui Jour­ avoiding our form of speaking (Ca tellafio), and for me, seeing nal are well aware of thi a our ''Moai Sightings" ju t keep the blue eyes wa not important." (In Chile, the word mampato rolling along. mean "a fat animal with short leg ").

RAPANUl POPULATION: The preliminary results of the April 23, THE BISHOP OF VALPARAfso, Mon. Gonzalo Duarte Garda de 2002 censu cite the population of Rapa Nui as 3,837. Thi Cortazar, announced plans to open a high school on Easter Is­ makes it one of the faster growing communities in the V Re- land. He stated that Rapa Nui belongs to the diocese of

Rapa Nui Journal 117 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 Published by Kahualike, 2002 5 Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation, Vol. 16 [2002], Iss. 2, Art. 9

Valparaiso and one of its activities is to construct and operate a A NEW HOSPITAL COMMITTEE is being formed for the island. It subsidized high school ("colegio") on the island. The newspa­ is called Consejo para el Hospital and its function is "to a sure pers stated that Rapanui residents enthusiastically endorsed the a real access to the [Chilean] system of health and to establi h plan. Duarte declared that the school would be open to all on the policies related to the community." The committee will include island and he hoped also for some government support. Con­ the local assistant Secretary of Health plus hospital staff and the struction is expected to begin in September with an opening mayor, the governor, the Consejo de Ancianos, and a represen­ date of March 2004. tative of CONDADI, the Nacional Corporation for Indigenous El Mercurio de ValparaiSo, 7 July 2002 Development. One can only hope the level of health care on the i land will improve. THE NEW CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL will start with junior high (7, 8 and 9th grades) and will be constructed near the church, on RUMORS ON THE ISLAND indicate that plans for a five-star hotel Simon Paoa (the road that runs pa t the church and toward the with golf course to be built at Vaitea (in the center of the i land) hospital). It has been agreed that the chool's name should be have been reactivated. A consortium from Canada appears to be in Rapanui, as uggested by Fr. Franci co Nahoe, who hopes to behind this ill-advised scheme. Islanders who have hotels and call it Hare Hapi Katorika 0 Rapa Nui. businesses in the village of Hangaroa are outraged by the plans We were informed that meeting are being held with the because not only would such a hotel take customers away from island's prie t so that parents can give their opinions, what val­ the village hotels, but a golf cour e would uck all the water ues to teach, etc. It has been announced that children of unmar­ from the island's aquifer. Several islander have contacted us, ried parents would be accepted, and they would keep pupils asking for help. Those who are willing to write in protest can who become pregnant. Catechism will be part of the curriculum. send email to Sr Ricardo Lagos, Presidente de Chile (www. Unclear is the matter of tuition. Many islanders say they cannot presidencia.cl) with copy to Sr. Raul Allard, Intendente de la V afford the anticipated cost. Regi6n ([email protected]). Not everyone is thrilled by the prospect of a Catholfc cole­ gio. The mayor, Petero Edmunds, is against it because he fears the school will create some kind of "elite" and a gap between social clas es will result However, a private grammar school already has sprung up The South Pacific in the village and many islanders are sending their children Ron Crocombe, 2001. there because it is less crowded and they claim the in truction is University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. better. But that school costs around $100 per month, beyond the means of many who live on the island. Review by Frank Morin

A COMPANY CALLED AMBAR recently completed a study on Hard cover, b/w photographs, 713 pages plus bibliography and Easter Island dealing with the que tion of how many people the index, ISBN 982-02-0154-3. island can support, how many tourists the i land can handle per year, and what to do about the proliferation of animals, and lack As STATED IN THE PREFACE, this book outline main trend in of fresh water, etc. The study was financed by the Corporaci6n the past and present of ocieties in the Pacific. It starts out with Forestal (CORFO) and the Corporaci6n Nacional for Indige­ a chronology, a word about pelling, and notes on the geogra­ nous Development (CONADI). It appears, however, that AM­ phy of the region. Then the author move into Part I, Parame­ BAR was working with some erroneous number and they are ters. This section includes Chapters 1-3 on Place (Environment now conferring with islanders associated with the Association Deterioration and Enhancement); People (Moving and Mixing); of Guides who are providing more realistic numbers. and Health. Part 2 is titled Patterns, and include Chapters 4-6 on Lan­ A ROTARY PEACE SCHOLARSHlP has been awarded to Sergio guage, Society, and Culture. Part 3, Perceptions, includes Chap­ Rapu Haoa, former governor of Rapa NuL Sponsored by a Ro­ ters 7-10, on Creativity, Belief, Education, and Information. In tary District in Chile, Rapu will spend two years, beginning in Part 4, Property, Chapter 12-14, Crocombe di cus e Tenures, September, at the Rotary Center for International Studies at the Production, Trade, and Restructuring. University of California at Berkeley, focusing on a comprehen­ Part 5, Power, includes Chapters 15-21, covering topics on sive plan for the development of Easter Island. The Rotary Government, Independence, Identity, Birthright, Corruption. Scholarship program provides promising leaders with experi­ Governance, Coercion, Regionalism, and Globali m. ences and tools to help prevent conflicts. In his cholarship ap­ Part 6, Prospects, i Chapter 24 and it de cribes Futures: plication, Rapu pointed out that ethnic minority groups around the choices facing the people of the Pacific today. the world are facing similar problems, and all too often these Finally, Part 7, Further Information, includes three appen­ erupt into conflicts. Rapu wrote, "I hope to spend the rest of my dices, Facts; Pacific Organizations and Service, and Journals. career helping to foster the mission of the Rotary Foundation by The book is an updated and rewritten ver ion of Crocombe's promoting world peace between indigenous groups and the na­ earlier books: The New South Pacific (1973), and three editions tions which encompass them." Congratulations to Sergio! of The South Pacific: An Introduction (1983, 1987, 1989). For RotaryWorld, July 2002 anyone interested in current problems on the islands of the Pa­ cific, what the future holds for them, or what option they may have, this book contains a staggering amount of information.

Rapa Nui Journal 118 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol16/iss2/9 6