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Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, is geographically the furthest east of the Polynesian islands. It is believed to have been settled between 300 & 1200. Moai probably commemorate elevated ancestors. These were placed on elevated stone platforms called ahu, and had hat-like pukao on top of their heads. After the moai were no longer being carved and erected, the Birdman Cult achieved ascendancy. The moai kavakava may represent deceased ancestors or demons, and may have been hung around the neck or from the rafters of the home. Male and female figures, called moai tangata and moai papa, were also sculpted.
Rapa Nui, Moai on ahu platform and Ahu Nau Nau (photo By Bjørn Christian Tørrissenderivative work: George Tsiagalakis – original work by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36590098 and By TravelingOtter – Ahu Nau Nau – Easter Island, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28473627)
Rapa Nui, Petroglyph related to the Birdman Cult, the Make Make god and Moai kavakava (photo CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=681929 and By WereSpielChequers – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7788990)