Kings of Easter Island - Historical Period

Historical Period

With the arrival of the Europeans, the traditional social organization underwent many changes. In 1862-63 the island was subject to numerous Peruvian slave raids, and many chiefs and religious leaders were kidnapped and sold as slaves in Peru. Later 15 islanders were returned, but they were infected with smallpox and tuberculosis which spread across the island decimating its population. This was allegedly the fate of the son of Nga‘ara II, called Kai Mako‘i ‘Iti, who was Easter Island's "ariki mau" or paramount chief at the time, and of his son Maurata. In 1872 the total population was of only 11 individuals, and the Paramount chief and their priests had perished, thus facilitating their conversion to Christianity.

In 1887, when Chile wanted to annex Easter Island, it became necessary to appoint new local authorities to be able to sign the treaty and accept the sovereignty of Chile, so the Bishop of Tahiti decided to appoint a very pios Islander as King, a title that did not exist before on Easter Island. This title befell on Tekena, who was baptized as "Atamu" Tekena or "Adam" Tekena and his wife as "Eve". He was not a traditional chief, and could not trace his descent from the Paramount chief's lineage, so upon his death, the islanders decided to chose by popular election the new heir between the Hereveri, Ika and Riroroko families, as all of which could trace descent from the last Paramount chiefly line. Simeon Riro Kainga won the election and was appointed king in 1890. The situation of the islanders deteriorated in the following years, becoming slaves on their own land, once the island was rented out to a private party. The new exploiters converted all the island into a sheep and cattle ranch, and enclosed the population by force in a small land in front of the bay of Hangaroa, surrounded by a high stone wall. They were forbidden to leave it, plant or fish, and their cattle and their ancestral lands were stolen.King Simeon Riro Kainga decided then to travel to mainland Chile in the company of two of his ministers, to present their complaints to the Government and ask Chile to comply with the agreement signed in the document of Annexation in 1888. At the time the only means to travel to mainland Chile was on board the Company ships that visited the island regularly, and upon arriving to Valparaiso the owner of the company who rented the island decided to murder King Riro Kainga to avoid his contact with the Chilean authorities. King Riro Kainga was poisoned upon arrival, and died a day later in a Hospital in Valparaiso. From then onwards the islanders were forbidden to appoint an heir as King. During the presidency of Michel Bachelet, the mortal remains of King Riro Kainga were returned to Easter Island (which is known today as Rapa Nui), and a monument was erected to his memory in the plaza in front of the Governors Office.

In 2011, his grandson Valentino Riroroko Tuki, a much loved islander and intrepid navigator was appointed King, in 1956 in the company of three of his brothers and a relative, King Valentino escaped the island in a small open row boat with an added sail, measuring only 6 meters in length, to oblige the Chilean authorities to grant them the freedom to leave the island at will. This was not the first boat to escape, and in several earlier intents about 17 islanders lost their lives at sea. King Valentino in his boat after 56 days made it safely to Atiu in the Cook Islands, a nearly 3.000 mile open sea voyage. After all the publicity this trip engendered, Chilean authorities were obliged to allow the islanders to travel off the island at will. His title so far does not carry any real power in the actual Government of the island, or the way Chile manages the island today. Nevertheless, he is looked upon with respect and a large number of islanders are petitioning the Government to obtain more autonomy, recognition and empowerment of their traditional authorities, as agreed upon in the treaty celebrated in 1888 when they accepted the sovereignty of Chile and in accordance with the Resolution subscribed by Chile with the United Nations that regulates the Rights of Indigenous People. These petitions are subscribed by a local Political movement known as the Parlamento Rapa Nui, and its lawyers. In the mean time KIng Valentino is loved and respected by everyone and his followers increase daily. Each year a celebration is carried out to remember and honor his grandfather King Riro, who gave his life for the islanders, and who has now become a culture hero. This year (2012) over 600 islanders attended the lunch offered by the King, and a Chilean folkloric dance group from mainland Chile danced at the event.