Making a Difference

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Rapa Nui Heritage Society - Easter Island, Chile


Sergio Rapu is a man of amazing energy. A former governor of Easter Island, a Rotary International Peace Scholar, an archaeologist, businessman and entrepreneur, he has started various companies, researched the origins of the famed Moai statues that have come to symbolize Easter Island and operated tourist services. What do all these activities have in common? They are all focused on making things better for the people of the most remote, inhabited island on earth. More than two and a half thousand miles from Chile and about the same distance from Tahiti, this "navel of the earth" is truly "away from it all."

I have been fortunate in getting to know Sergio and working together with him on a number of projects. Together, we've established the Rapa Nui Heritage Foundation (http://rapanuiheritage.org/pages/1/index.htm) as a vehicle to help preserve the cultural heritage of this unique place.