Easter Island ( Rapa Nui) is the world's most remote inhabited island - the nearest inhabited island is Pitcairn Island, over 1200 miles away. Santiago/Chile is about 2300 miles, and Tahitii is 2500 miles away. It seem like a miracle how the first polynesian settlers made it to this remote place some 1500 years ago. When they arrived they found a fertile island, where 70% of the landscape was covered with dense palm tree forest. Overpopulation and overexploitation of the natural resources, along with centuries of civil war made this paradise the barren place the first european explorers discovered on Easter sunday of 1722. Through slavery and diseases the population declined to 111 in the 19th century. Unfortunately a lot of the old historical knowledge - kept by the priests - disappeared with their death in peruvian mines.
The old polynesian culture believed in a spritual power ( mana), which was focused in the great chief ( Ariki Mau). When he died this power went into enormous statues ( Moai), which stood on shrines ( Ahu), guarding and protecting the villages.
When environmental conditions degraded, the spiritual power of the great chiefs declined, and a new powerful warrior class emerged. Ceremonial shrines were desecrated and statues were toppled. A new religion was established - the Birdman cult. A contest decided which of the rival groups would be leading for the next year.
Easter Island became part of Chile in the late 19th century.