Notes on the Name
Henua, Easter Island, Rapa Nui-- so many names for such a small country! What name should I use for this marvelous island and its charming inhabitants?
The official name is Te Pito O Te Henua. It means "Navel of the World" or "Navel of the Land." Most people, both on and off the island, shorten the name to Henua - "Land" - an appropriate name as it's the only land for thousands of miles around. The people call themselves Tañata Henua (people of the land) and their language Arero Henua (Tongue of the Land). Foreigners typically use Henua to mean the island, the people, and the language.
Properly speaking, the emphasis should be on the second syllable so that it rhymes with the Mejican liqueur "Kahlua". Most English speakers, however, emphasize the first syllable, and can get away with it. You won't, however, get away with using the adjective "Henuan," which is sometimes encountered but is cautioned against in most style manuals.
In the rest of Polynesia, Henua is known as Rapa Nui. This name comes from Rapa (or Rapa Iti), an island south of Tahiti whose name means "Extremity". As Henua is both larger and more remote than Rapa, it is Rapa Nui, the "Great Extremity". Polynesians tend not to use the name Henua because it resembles self-applied names used by many other people throughout the Pacific. (The Maori of Aotearoa, for example, call themselves "Tangata Whenua".)
Easter Island and its related names come from Dutch explorers. Since they found the island on Easter Sunday in 1722, they called it Paaseiland. As the world becomes more enlightened, the native name of Henua is gradually overtaking the "Easter" names in many circles. In academia and international diplomacy, calling Henua "Easter Island" marks you as someone not at all familiar with the culture.
Officially, the nation does not use any describing words in its name, but foreigners sometimes speak of the Kingdom or State of Easter Island, or even the "Kingdom of the Easter Islands," refering to Henua, its offshore islets, and its small colonies.
The official name is Te Pito O Te Henua. It means "Navel of the World" or "Navel of the Land." Most people, both on and off the island, shorten the name to Henua - "Land" - an appropriate name as it's the only land for thousands of miles around. The people call themselves Tañata Henua (people of the land) and their language Arero Henua (Tongue of the Land). Foreigners typically use Henua to mean the island, the people, and the language.
Properly speaking, the emphasis should be on the second syllable so that it rhymes with the Mejican liqueur "Kahlua". Most English speakers, however, emphasize the first syllable, and can get away with it. You won't, however, get away with using the adjective "Henuan," which is sometimes encountered but is cautioned against in most style manuals.
In the rest of Polynesia, Henua is known as Rapa Nui. This name comes from Rapa (or Rapa Iti), an island south of Tahiti whose name means "Extremity". As Henua is both larger and more remote than Rapa, it is Rapa Nui, the "Great Extremity". Polynesians tend not to use the name Henua because it resembles self-applied names used by many other people throughout the Pacific. (The Maori of Aotearoa, for example, call themselves "Tangata Whenua".)
Easter Island and its related names come from Dutch explorers. Since they found the island on Easter Sunday in 1722, they called it Paaseiland. As the world becomes more enlightened, the native name of Henua is gradually overtaking the "Easter" names in many circles. In academia and international diplomacy, calling Henua "Easter Island" marks you as someone not at all familiar with the culture.
Officially, the nation does not use any describing words in its name, but foreigners sometimes speak of the Kingdom or State of Easter Island, or even the "Kingdom of the Easter Islands," refering to Henua, its offshore islets, and its small colonies.