A new study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage warns that rising sea levels will impact Chile’s Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, by 2080. Coastal flooding threatens at least 51 culturally significant artifacts, including the iconic Moai statues—nearly 1,000 volcanic tuff figures created by a native Polynesian tribe over 500 years ago, some weighing up to 80 tons. Researchers from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa used advanced computer models to simulate wave patterns and map projected flooding, overlaying this data with the locations of cultural assets provided by local partners.
The study provides urgent, specific data that could spur community planning and mitigation efforts to safeguard the statues and the island’s living culture. Lead author Noah Paoa emphasized that the Moai are essential to Rapa Nui identity and the island’s tourism economy, and failure to address the threat could endanger the site’s UNESCO status. The research also highlights broader global challenges of sea level rise threatening coastal heritage, with Paoa now examining similar risks to cultural assets in Hawai’i.