British Museum collection record for Hoa Hakananaiʻa

Reported location: British Museum, Room 24

Description: Found/Acquired: Orongo, ceremonial centre

Catalogue number: british-museum: Oc1869,1005.1

Reported holder: British Museum

Made at: Rano Kao (likely)

Reported location: London

Catalogue number: british-museum-aoa: 1869,10-5.1

Name: Hoa Hakananaiʻa

Classification: figure

Classification: Moai (ancestor figure)

Name: Hoa Hakananaiʻa ('lost, hidden or stolen friend')

Made during: 1000 -1200 (approx)

Material: basalt (ma'ea pupura)

Material: coral (missing (eyes sockets))

Material: stone (missing (eyes sockets))

Description: Ancestor figure 'moai', called Hoa Hakananaiʻa (lost, hidden or stolen friend) made of basalt. The back of the figure features intricate petroglyphs associated with the bird man religion (tangata manu): birds, vulvas, dance paddles in the form of stylised human figures, a ring and a girdle design.

Description: Height: 2.42 metres

Description: Width: 96 centimetres

Description: Diameter: 47 centimetres

Description: Removed from original location during the HMS Topaze expedition to Rapa Nui (captained by Powell) in 1868 and presented to Queen Victoria by the Lords of the Admiralty. She then gifted it to the British Museum in 1869.

Description: It is understood that large stone sculptures or moai were made on Rapa Nui between AD 1100 and 1600. The size and complexity of the moai increased over time, and it is believed that Hoa Hakananai'a dates to around AD 1200.