History of Easter Island in Timeline

Easter Island, a Chilean territory in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, is famous for its nearly 1,000 moai statues created by the Rapa Nui people. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, much of the island is protected as Rapa Nui National Park. The island's remote location and unique cultural heritage make it a significant site for archaeological and anthropological study.

1903: Williamson Balfor company buys the island

In 1903, the English sheep-farming company Williamson Balfor bought Easter Island from the Merlet company, forcing the natives to work on the ranches in order to buy food.

1912: William Churchill inquires about "Te pito o te henua"

In 1912, William Churchill inquired about the phrase "Te pito o te henua", and was told that there were three "te pito o te henua", these being the three capes (land's ends) of the island.

1914: Native uprising inspired by María Angata Veri Veri

In 1914, an uprising of the natives of Easter Island occurred, inspired by the elderly catechist María Angata Veri Veri and led by Daniel Maria Teave, with the aim of getting the State to take charge of the situation generated by the Williamson Balfor company.

1914: Indigenous Population Rejects Cannibalism Allegations

In 1914, the first scientific exploration of Easter Island recorded that the indigenous population strongly rejected allegations that they or their ancestors had been cannibals.

1916: Easter Island declared a subdelegation

In 1916, Easter Island was declared a subdelegation of the Department of Valparaíso. Also in 1916, Archbishop Rafael Edwards Salas visited the island and became the main spokesman for the natives' complaints and demands.

1919: Katherine Routledge collects island traditions

Katherine Routledge systematically collected the traditions of Easter Island in her 1919 expedition, documenting that the competitions for Bird Man (Rapa Nui: tangata manu) started around 1760, after the arrival of the first Europeans, and ended in 1878.

1926: Additional lands distributed to natives

As of 1926, the Chilean State distributed additional lands to the natives of Easter Island, allocating 5 ha per marriage, under the figure of the so-called "Provisional Temperament".

1933: State Defense Council requires registration of the island

In 1933, the Chilean State Defense Council required the registration of Easter Island in the name of the State in order to protect it from private individuals who wanted to register it in their own name.

1936: Regulation established for natives leaving Hanga Roa

In 1936, a regulation was established by the Navy on Easter Island, according to which, with prior permission, the natives could leave Hanga Roa to fish or provide themselves with fuel.

1953: Contract with Williamson-Balfour Company cancelled

In 1953, President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo cancelled the Williamson-Balfour Company's contract for non-compliance on Easter Island and then assigned the entire administration of the island to the Chilean Navy.

1956: Moai Re-Erection at Anakena Beach

In 1956, one of the first moai was re-erected on Ahu Ature Huke in Anakena beach using traditional methods during a Heyerdahl expedition.

1960: Restoration of Ahu Akivi

In 1960, Ahu Akivi was restored by William Mulloy.

1965: Construction of Mataveri International Airport

In 1965, construction of the Mataveri International Airport on Easter Island was completed by the Longhi construction company.

1965: United States Air Force settles on Easter Island

In 1965, the United States Air Force (USAF) settled on Easter Island, which impacted the way of life of the Rapa Nui.

1966: Rapa Nui granted Chilean citizenship

In 1966, the Rapa Nui people were granted Chilean citizenship, marking a significant change in their legal status.

1966: Rapanui given Chilean citizenship and Pascua Law enacted

In 1966, the Rapanui were given Chilean citizenship with the Pascua Law enacted during the government of Eduardo Frei Montalva, and the island was reopened in its entirety.

1966: Lower Sentences for Crimes in Easter Island

Since 1966 rape, sexual abuse and crimes against property in Easter Island had lower sentences than corresponding offences in mainland Chile.

April 1967: LAN Chile flights begin landing

In April 1967, LAN Chile flights began to land on Easter Island, and the island began to be oriented towards cultural tourism.

1970: United States Air Force influence ends on Easter Island

By 1970, the United States Air Force (USAF) presence on Easter Island ended. The Rapa Nui had become acquainted with the customs of the consumer societies of the developed world.

1973: Easter Island placed under martial law

Following the 1973 Chilean coup d'état that brought Augusto Pinochet to power, Easter Island was placed under martial law.

1974: Barthel discusses oral tradition of island names

In 1974, Barthel discussed the oral tradition that the island was first named "Te pito o te kainga a Hau Maka", meaning "The little piece of land of Hau Maka".

January 24, 1975: Television arrives on Easter Island

On January 24, 1975, television arrived on Easter Island, with the inauguration of a station of Televisión Nacional de Chile.

1975: NASA tracking station ceases operations

In 1975, the NASA tracking station on Easter Island ceased operations.

1975: Tapati Festival Established

Since 1975, the Rapanui have sponsored an annual festival, the Tapati, held around the beginning of February to celebrate Rapa Nui culture.

1976: Isla de Pascua Province created

In 1976 the Isla de Pascua Province was created with Arnt Arentsen Pettersen appointed as the first governor between 1976 and 1979.

1979: Arnt Arentsen Pettersen term as governor ends

In 1979 Arnt Arentsen Pettersen's term as governor of Isla de Pascua ends

1979: Decree Law No. 2885 enacted

In 1979, Decree Law No. 2885 was enacted to grant individual land titles to regular holders on Easter Island.

1982: Population Census

In 1982, the population of Easter Island was 1,936. Around 70% of the population were natives. The increase in population was partly caused by the arrival of people of European or mixed European and Native American descent from the Chilean mainland.

1984: Sergio Rapu Haoa becomes governor

In 1984 Sergio Rapu Haoa becomes governor of Isla de Pascua

April 1, 1986: Special Fuel Subsidy Enacted

On April 1, 1986, Law No. 18,502 was enacted establishing a special fuel subsidy for Easter Island. The law stated that the subsidy "may not exceed in each product 3.5 monthly tax units per cubic meter", payable directly or through tax imputation.

1987: Mataveri International Airport Re-opened

In 1987, the runway at Mataveri International Airport was re-opened after being extended by 423 metres (1,388 ft), reaching a total of 3,353 metres (11,001 ft). This extension was part of an agreement between Chile and the United States from 1985. Pinochet reportedly refused to attend the 1987 opening ceremony due to pressures from the United States regarding human rights cases.

1990: All governors are Rapanui since

Since 1990 all governors of Isla de Pascua have been Rapanui.

1994: Owsley study asserts little archaeological evidence of societal collapse

In 1994, a study headed by Douglas Owsley asserted that there is little archaeological evidence of pre-European societal collapse on Easter Island.

1995: UNESCO names Easter Island a World Heritage Site

In 1995, UNESCO designated Easter Island as a World Heritage Site. A significant portion of the island was protected within Rapa Nui National Park in 1995.

1996: Live satellite transmissions begin

In 1996, live satellite transmissions to Easter Island began, replacing delayed programming broadcasts.

1999: Voyage reaches Easter Island from Mangareva

In 1999, a voyage with reconstructed Polynesian boats was able to reach Easter Island from Mangareva after a seventeen-and-a-half-day voyage, supporting the theory that early Polynesian colonization of Easter Island was from Mangareva.

2000: Decline of Tuna near Easter Island

Around the year 2000, fishers of Rapa Nui noticed a decline in the tuna population near the island, which Pakarati stated was "the basis of the fishing on the island". Due to this decline, fishers started to take fish from the shore to feed families, but it was depleted in less than two years after 2000.

2002: 2002 Census Population

In 2002, the population was 3,791. 60% of the population were persons of indigenous Rapa Nui origin, 39% were mainland Chileans (or their Easter Island-born descendants) of European (mostly Spanish) or mestizo origin, and the remaining 1% were indigenous mainland Chilean Amerindians (or their Easter Island-born descendants).

July 2007: Easter Island Granted "Special Territory" Status

On 30 July 2007, a constitutional reform granted Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Islands the status of "special territories" of Chile. This change was pending the enactment of a special charter. The island continued to be governed as a province of the V Region of Valparaíso in July 2007.

2007: Easter Island gains "special territory" status

In 2007, Easter Island gained the constitutional status of "special territory" (territorio especial) within Chile.

2007: Study suggests later arrival of Polynesian inhabitants

In 2007, a study provided evidence suggesting that the arrival of Polynesian inhabitants to Easter Island was closer to the year 1200, differing from earlier research that cited an arrival around the year 800.

August 2010: Hitorangi Clan Occupies Hangaroa Eco Village and Spa

Starting in August 2010, members of the indigenous Hitorangi clan occupied the Hangaroa Eco Village and Spa, alleging that the hotel was bought from the Pinochet government in violation of a Chilean agreement with the indigenous Rapa Nui in the 1990s.

December 2010: Clash at Hangaroa Eco Village and Spa

On December 3, 2010, at least 25 people were injured when Chilean police attempted to evict a group of Rapa Nui from the Hangaroa Eco Village and Spa using pellet guns. The Rapa Nui had claimed that the land the buildings stood on had been illegally taken from their ancestors.

2010: Metastudy concludes no conclusive evidence for precontact collapse

In a 2010 metastudy by Mulrooney et al., it was concluded that "To date, there is no conclusive evidence for the proposed precontact collapse of Rapa Nui society".

January 2011: UN Expresses Concern Over Treatment of Rapa Nui

In January 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous People, James Anaya, expressed concern about the treatment of the indigenous Rapa Nui by the Chilean government, urging Chile to engage in good faith dialogue to solve underlying problems.

February 2011: Police Remove Occupiers from Hotel

In February 2011, up to 50 armed police broke into a hotel to remove the final five occupiers. They were arrested by the government, and no injuries were reported.

2011: Special Charter Under Discussion

As of 2011 a special charter for Easter Island was under discussion in the Chilean Congress.

2011: Discovery of Dorsal Petroglyphs on Moai

In 2011, during an excavation program, some larger moai were found to have complex dorsal petroglyphs, revealed by deep excavation of the torso. During the same excavation, a large moai statue was also excavated from the ground.

2012: 2012 Census Population

The population at the 2012 census was 5,761, an increase from 3,791 in 2002. As of 2012, the population density on Easter Island was 35/km (91/sq mi).

2013: Pitcairn Island has around 50 residents

In 2013, the nearest inhabited land to Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, had around 50 residents.

2017: Chilean census records population of Easter Island

The 2017 Chilean census registered 7,750 people on Easter Island, with 3,512 (45%) identifying as Rapa Nui.

August 2018: Law Limits Stay for Non-Residents

In August 2018, a law took effect prohibiting non-residents from staying on Easter Island for more than 30 days.

2018: Tourist Stay Period Limited

In 2018, the government decided to limit the stay period for tourists from 90 to 30 days due to social and environmental issues on the Island, in order to preserve its historical importance.

March 17, 2020: Easter Island Closed to Tourists

On March 17, 2020, Easter Island was closed to tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Moai Statue Destroyed in Truck Accident

In 2020, a pickup truck crashed into and destroyed a moai statue due to brake failure. No one was injured in the incident.

2020: Hitorangi Clan Land Dispute Settled

In 2020, the conflict over the Hangaroa Eco Village and Spa was settled. The property rights were transferred to the Hitorangi clan, while the owners retained the exploitation of the hotel for 15 years.

2021: Repeal of Law on Lower Sentences

In 2021 the law providing rape, sexual abuse and crimes against property in Easter Island with lower sentences than corresponding offences in mainland Chile, was repealed by a Constitutional Court decree.

2021: Research suggests steady population growth until European contact

Research by Binghamton University anthropologists Robert DiNapoli and Carl Lipo in 2021 suggests that Easter Island experienced steady population growth from its initial settlement until European contact in 1722.

August 4, 2022: Easter Island Reopened to Tourists

On August 4, 2022, Easter Island reopened to tourists after being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

October 2022: Forest Fire Damages Moai

In early October 2022, just two months after Easter Island reopened to tourists, a forest fire burned nearly 148 acres (60 hectares) of the island. The fire caused irreparable damage to some of the moai. Arson is suspected as the cause of the fire.