Rapa Nui Recognized as a Hope Spot for Culture, Conservation, and Ocean Stewardship

May 4, 2026

[RAPA NUI ISLAND] — In the vast blue expanse of the southeastern Pacific—more than 3,500 kilometres from continental Chile—lies Rapa Nui, known to many as Easter Island. Remote yet globally significant, its surrounding ocean has long sustained both extraordinary biodiversity and a vibrant cultural legacy rooted in deep respect for the sea.

Today, that ocean—Te Moana Tapu a Hotu Matu’a, the Sacred Sea of the Rapa Nui people—has been officially recognized as a Mission Blue Hope Spot®, joining a growing global network of places critical to the health of the ocean.

This recognition celebrates not only the ecological importance of Rapa Nui’s waters, but also a powerful model of conservation led by Indigenous knowledge, community governance, and science working together.

“Hope Spots are special places that give us reason for optimism about the future of the ocean,” said Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue. “Rapa Nui stands out as a powerful example of what can happen when protection is guided by both science and the wisdom of the people who have long depended on the sea. Safeguarding this remarkable region is not only vital for biodiversity—it is essential for our shared future.”

A globally significant ocean ecosystem

The Rapa Nui Marine Protected Area spans the entire Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding Rapa Nui and Motu Motiro Hiva, forming one of the largest protected seascapes on Earth. Within this vast ocean space lies a remarkably intact and isolated ecosystem—home to coral reefs at the farthest reaches of the Pacific, deep-sea vents, and seamounts that connect life across ocean basins.

Isolation has shaped a unique web of life here. Many species found in these waters exist nowhere else, creating one of the highest levels of marine endemism in the world. From reef fish and crustaceans to seabirds, sharks, and migratory whales, Rapa Nui’s ocean is both a refuge and a crossroads in the Pacific.

A sacred relationship with the sea

For the Rapa Nui people, the ocean is far more than a resource—it is identity, heritage, and responsibility.

For generations, traditional knowledge has guided how the community interacts with the sea, from navigation to fishing practices and seasonal rhythms. Cultural principles such as tapu, or sacred protection, have long functioned as a form of conservation—safeguarding species, places, and balance.

This worldview is embedded in the concept of Te Moana Tapu a Hotu Matu’a—a sacred ocean that must be respected, not exploited. It reflects a relationship built on reciprocity, where human well-being and ocean health are inseparable.

A new model for ocean protection

The designation of Rapa Nui as a Hope Spot highlights a pioneering approach to conservation—one grounded in co-management and community leadership.

Central to this effort is the Hope Spot Champion, Koro Nui o Te Vaikava—the Rapa Nui Ocean Council. Composed of six elected Rapa Nui representatives, the council has been formally recognized since 2018 and works in co-administration with the Chilean government through a joint management body. Together, they oversee one of the most ambitious marine protection systems in the world.

Through an Indigenous-led process, Koro Nui o Te Vaikava helped shape and validate the Integrated Management Plan for Rapa Nui’s marine protected areas, covering approximately 729,000 square kilometres—effectively the entire Exclusive Economic Zone. Their leadership ensures that conservation is rooted in cultural values, community priorities, and long-term sustainability.

Their work extends far beyond Rapa Nui’s waters. The Council’s exceptional leadership has also been instrumental in advancing protections for the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges—an ecologically significant high seas region stretching from Rapa Nui toward the coast of Chile. Known to the community as Honga’a o te Moana, this vast ocean corridor represents a critical frontier for conservation. Progress toward protecting this area would not have been possible without the vision, advocacy, and persistence of the Council.

Even in one of the world’s most remote marine regions, pressures are growing. Illegal fishing, plastic pollution carried by ocean currents, and the looming threat of deep-sea mining all pose risks to this fragile ecosystem.

At the same time, gaps in long-term data and monitoring highlight the need for continued investment in science, education, and community-led stewardship.

Local initiatives are already rising to meet this moment. Through collaborative monitoring programs, education efforts, and the implementation of an integrated management plan shaped by the community itself, Rapa Nui is strengthening its capacity to protect what matters most.

A Hope Spot for the future of the ocean

The recognition of Rapa Nui as a Hope Spot is more than a milestone—it is a catalyst.

A catalyst for elevating Indigenous-led conservation on the global stage. A catalyst for strengthening protection across one of the Pacific’s most extraordinary ecosystems. And a catalyst for inspiring other island communities to chart their own paths toward ocean stewardship.

From coral reefs to deep-sea ridges, from ancestral knowledge to modern science, Rapa Nui offers a powerful reminder: when the ocean is treated as sacred, its future—and ours—can still be protected.

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About Mission Blue

Founded by legendary oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue mobilises science, leadership, and public will to secure strong, lasting protection for the ocean. Through its global network of Hope Spots, Mission Blue works with scientists, Champions, and partners to advance marine protected areas where protection can deliver the greatest impact—supporting the goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.