The traditional name given to this island corresponds to Rapa Nui , meaning "Big Rapa" in the language of sailors Tahitians who visited the island in the nineteenth century. The name would be associated with the similarity found by the Tahitians with the island of Rapa in present French Polynesia , and which is also known as Rapa Iti ("small Rapa"). Despite being of foreign origin, the name of Rapa Nui is commonly considered the name given by the natives of the island. 4 The Spanish pronunciation is the standard for writing, [ra.pa 'nwi], while in Rapanui sounds [?a.pa 'nu.i], as always the r is pronounced with a soft sound (as in mask ) and each syllable can only have a vowel.
In their native language , the island formerly known as Te Pito o Te Henua , meaning "The Navel of the World" and Mata ki te rangi , "Eyes looking at the sky." The name of Rapa Nui was subsequently extended in other languages to refer to Aboriginal people and their language , but as a single word, "Rapa Nui".
The name of Easter Island was given by the navigator Dutch Jakob Roggeveen , on a long journey that started in Texel and after navigating through the Chilean coast, discovered on April 5 of 1722 , dated for the day of Easter . Received and the name of Paasch-Eyland in Dutch at the time, 8which was then translated into Spanish as "Easter Island." With this name, and translations, the island is known internationally. The inhabitants of the island, regardless of ethnicity, are the gentile pascuense.
The island also was named San Carlos Island by Spanish navigator Ahedo Felipe Gonzalez , who named it in honor of King Carlos III of Spain .However, this name fell into disuse.
History
Slopes of Rano Raraku with a number ofmoai statues created by the original inhabitants of the island.
According to oral tradition, the people Rapanui have come to this island from a mythical island called Hiva , being guided by Hotu Matu'a, his first ariki , or
