Kings of Easter Island

This list of kings of Easter Island is conceptual, based on three different versions of original traditions of the island. It has been published by Z.A. Simon (1984: 168-169), in Atlantis, the Seven Seals. All dates are approximate only. The date around A.D. 400 has been confirmed by some archaeological and historical publications as the earliest date of human activity on the island. The names are marked by serial numbers. None of the sources have this complete list but they are obviously different abbreviated and incomplete versions of the same original.

1 Hotu (A Matua), son of Matua (c.400)

2 Vakai, his wife

3 Tuu ma Heke

4 Nuku (Inukura?)

5 Miru a Tumaheke

6 Hata a Miru

7 Miru o Hata

8 Hiuariru (Hiu a Miru?)

9 Aturaugi. The first obsidian spearheds were used.

10 Raa

11 Atahega a Miru (descendant of Miru?), around 600

......Hakapuna?

17 Ihu a Aturanga (Oihu?)

......Ruhoi?

20 Tuu Ka(u)nga te Mamaru

21 Takahita

22 Ouaraa, around 800

23 Koroharua

24 Mahuta Ariiki (The first stone images were made in his son's time)

25 Atua Ure Rangi

26 Atuamata

27 Uremata

28 Te Riri Tuu Kura

29 Korua Rongo

30 Tiki Te Hatu

31 Tiki Tena

32 Uru Kenu, around 1000

33 Te Rurua Tiki Te Hatu

34 Nau Ta Mahiki

35 Te Rika Tea

36 Te Teratera

37 Te Ria Kautahito (Hirakau-Tehito?)

38 Ko Te Pu I Te Toki

39 Kuratahogo

40 Ko Te Hiti Rua Nea

41 Te Uruaki Kena

42 Tu Te Rei Manana, around 1200

43 Ko Te Kura Tahonga

44 Taoraha Kaihahanga

45 Tukuma(kuma)

46 Te Kahui Tuhunga

47 Te Tuhunga Hanui

48 Te Tuhunga Haroa

49 Te Tuhunga "Mare Kapeau"

50 Toati Rangi Hahe

51 Tangaroa Tatarara (Maybe Tangaiia of Mangaia Island?)

52 Havini(vini) Koro (or Hariui Koro), about 1400

53 Puna Hako

54 Puna Ate Tuu

55 Puna Kai Te Vana

56 Te Riri Katea (?-1485)

57-

59 HAUMOANA, TARATAKI and TUPA ARIKI (from Peru), from 1485

60 Mahaki Tapu Vae Iti (Mahiki Tapuakiti)

61 Ngau-ka Te Mahaki or Tuu Koiho (Ko-Tuu-ihu?)

62 Anakena

63 Hanga Rau

64 Marama Ariki, around 1600

65 Riu Tupa Hotu (Nui Tupa Hotu?)

66 Toko Te Rangi. (Perhaps the "god" Rongo of Mangaia Island?)

67 Kao Aroaro (Re Kauu?)

68 Mataivi

69 Kao Hoto

70 Te Ravarava (Terava Rara)

71 Tehitehuke

72 Te Rahai or Terahai

(The alternative rulers after Terahai: Koroharua, Riki-ka-atea, whose son was Hotu Matua, then Kaimakoi, Tehetu-tara-Kura, Huero, Kaimakoi (or Raimokaky), finally Gaara who is Ngaara on the main list below.)

73 Te Huke

74 Tuu, from Mata Nui (Ko Tuu?), around 1770

75 Hotu Iti (born from Mata Iti). War around 1773.

76 Honga

77 Te Kena

78 Te Tite Anga Henua

79 Ngaara or Gobara

80 Kai Makoi Iti (=Small Kaimakoi)

81 Maurata (1859-1862)

82 Tepito

83 Gregorio = Rokoroko He Tau

84 Rukunga

Notes: Hotu (A Matua) and his followers came from a group of islands towards the rising sun, and the name of the land meant "the burial place" (Paracas?) where the climate was intensely hot. Their boat trip took two months. The sinking Marae Renga may have been a sinking island in Central America. Thor Heyerdahl thought that the eastern shore of South America was the home of these emigrants.

Sarmiento de Gamboa tells that Tupac Inca led a victorious transpacific expedition with 20,000 soldiers and balsa rafts from South America. Chiefs Guaman and Antarqui went with him. Montesinos adds that Huaman Achachi was Tupac Inca's brother. The king lists of Mangareva and Easter Island agree on these. They remember the kings Haumoana, Taratahi, and Tupac Ariki. Tupa built temples, introduced breadfruit and coconut, then returned to his country. Otorongo Achache was a brother of Tupac Inca. His clan's name also appears on Easter Island in pre-Inca times, as Ataranga or Aturanga. The long ears have originated from Peru, where they were called orejones (=long ears) in the old Spanish records. (Higher class Chimú were allowed to continue the tradition of wearing large ear-rings to show their high status under the Inca and Spanish.)

Agüera and Felipe Gonzáles de Haedo recorded in 1770 that the king of Easter island was called Teque-Teque. Captain James Cook tells that the king's name was Tohi-Tai in 1774. These could mean that king Tuu a He Tuke ruled during this period.

The imported and enslaved short ears lived in peace for 200 years (from 1485 to c.1680) with the ruling long ears. Then a victorious uprising broke out around 1680 which ended in a fratricidal war around 1773. The nation of the long ears was slain. Only one of them survived, and the chief during Heyerdahl's visit was one of his descendants.