**Work in Progress - Spelling of Rapanui words must be checked**

Rapanui Star Catalogue and

Astronomy-Related Terms

Alexandra Edwards, The Rapanui Planetarium

Author's Note:

Rapa Nui is harbours a trove of sites that are of interest in archaeoastronomy and much work
has been carried out recording those places, as well as in collecting the names of the months,
nights of the moon, times of the day, etc., both by the author in collaboration with
the archaeoastronomer Edmundo Edwards, as well as by many other professionals, locals,
and interested parties over time, however these works extend beyond the scope of this article
and are already documented in previous publications (Edwards and Edwards 2013: 181-232).
The present document is the re-appraisal and consolidation of the terms known for celestial
bodies in the Rapanui language and other concepts related exclusively to the cultural
astronomy of the Rapanui people. A discussion and analysis of terms is in preparation at this
time.

Alexandra Edwards
Hanga Roa, November 16, 2021
2 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

NOTES ON THE PRIMARY SOURCES1

in chronological order

This is only a partial list as in past times many sources were not recorded.
Informants’ biographical information taken from Edwards and Edwards 2013; 506-510.

Regarding Churchill and his sources (period ca. 1870s-1890s)

Churchill who was a philologist for the Carnegie Institution of Washington, had been Consul General to Samoa and Tonga
in the late 1800s, writing 4 books dedicated to the languages of different areas in Oceania. He mentions using documents
collected by German lieutenant-captain Wilhelm Geiseler (the first to reach Easter Island with specific instructions for
ethnological collecting), William Thomson (with a similar mission for the Smithsonian Institution), and most importantly
dictionaries written by the Catholic priests who had lived with and brought a total of 409 Rapanui migrants to French
Polynesia starting 1871 (Muñoz 2015: 6).2 Churchill’s dictionary is useful in that the terms he collected are concurrent
with the earliest Rapanui star records, including terms that may have fallen out of use or whose meanings may have
changed in subsequent years. Of his sources, Churchill writes: “For the language which forms the principal theme of the
present volume we have ‘Vocabulaire de la Langue de I'lle-de-Paques ou Rapanui, par le R. P. Hippolyte Roussel, de la
Congregation des Sacres- Coeurs de Picpus, missionnaire a l’Île de Pâques.’ In ‘Le Museon,’ published at Louvain in 1908,
this occupies 95 pages, of which 80 are given to a French-Rapanui dictionary. The fullest credit must be given to this work
as the basis of the present volume in the fundamental material […]. With this I have incorporated two brief vocabularies
earlier printed and such material as was of my own acquisition from trustworthy sources in the South Sea. The two added
vocabularies (they are really mere word-lists) are to be found in [Wilhelm] Geiseler (84 entries) and in [William] Thomson
(467 entries). […] It is quite clear that they derive, in 1882 and 1886 respectively, fromsucceeding stages of a single
prototype; what that may have been is merely inferential, each visitor records his vocabulary without credit to source.”
- William Churchill (Churchill 1912: 7-8)

Regarding Katherine Routeledge’s pertinent sources (1914-15):

Routledge who is regarded as the first ethnologist to carry out truly scientific work on Rapanui had many informants, but
the material she collected about the Rapanui stars was mainly supplied to her by Gabriel “Kapiera” Revahiva Maherenga,
born ca. 1846. He was a member of the Ure o Hei clan from his father’s side and the Hamea Clan from his mother’s side.
His grandfather Kure a Kio had participated in the wars that ravaged the island following the arrival of the first Europeans
in 1722. He lived between Hanga Ho’onu and Tongariki in his youth, occasionally visiting the territories of opponent clans.
He had been a competitor or hopu manu in the Birdman Cult competitions and had also been to Tahiti but had returned
and married Verónica Renga Rite who died before the 1886 census. He fell victim to the "Spanish Flu” on October 15th
1918. Routeledge called him “the most intelligent informant” on Easter Island (Fischer 2005: 161).

Alfred Métraux (1934-35):

Métraux shared several of Routledge’s informants, his main one being Juan Tepano Rano a Veriamo who had been
Routledge’s most trusted friend, collaborator, and interpreter, having introduced her to her most valuable ethnographic
sources. Tepano was a natural-born leader and Routledge shared her extensive collection of Rapanui publications,
photographs, and ethnographic data with him, feeding his thirst for knowledge. He was considered a Rapanui culture
expert and an authority on native lore, serving as a valuable informant to the future generation of scholars of which
Métraux was part. Tepano was probably born circa 1872 and was a member of the Ure o Hei clan from his mother’s side
and of the Tupahotu clan from his father’s side. Juan accompanied King Riro to Valparaíso in 1891 where the latter was
murdered soon after their arrival. Juan served in the Chilean military and was appointed Chief by the Chilean Government,
returning to Rapa Nui in 1901. Other principal informants were Nicolás Pakarati Ure Potahi a Te Pihi, of the Tupahotu
clan, born in Mahatua ca. 1855. He was taken to Tahiti and Mo’orea by the missionaries in the 1870s, returning to Rapa
Nui in 1888 where he became a community leader. He too had been an informant to Routledge.

1
Much has been written regarding the Rapanui stars, but only the most reliable sources have been considered here.
2
The population on Rapa Nui in the subsequent years dropped to less than 200 inhabitants, so that in the 1880s there were
more than twice as many Rapanui off the island than on it (Muñoz 2015: 6; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 89).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 3
Sebastian Englert (period 1935-1968):
Englert had many informants over his many years on Rapa Nui, many of which were the same ones shared with his
predecessors. A few of Englert’s other prominent informants were Nicolas Pakarati Ure Potahi, Mateo Hereveri, and
Isaías Fati Rongo Pua. Hereveri descended from the royal Honga lineage of the Miru clan and was regarded as an
authority on Rapanui history, having gathered most of his knowledge while working with elders confined at the local
asylum for people with Hansen’s disease, namely from Gabriel Hereveri. Fati Rongo Pua was the grandson of Kekepu
a Marama o Hiva, a rongorongo expert from the Ngaure clan, and the son of José Fati (Hati) Rongo Pua Tea (a.k.a.
Hati Renga) who had been an informant to William Thompson in 1886.Having learned much from his father and
other elders including Juan Tepano, Fati became one of the main informants of Englert and later E. Edwards, having
previously worked with Métraux. Both M. and G. Hereveri were the main informants of Barthel regarding star lore,
while the former was also an informant to E. Edwards.

Thomas Barthel (1957-1958):

“A knowledge has been preserved in the leprosarium of Easter Island which can be traced back to a group of old
men who lived there during the first decades of our century. The valuable traditional goods were passed on by the
lepers Arturo Teao and Gabriel Hereveri; Mateo Hereveri wrote down these oral traditions in Hangaroa in 1957 and
kindly made it available to the author. With the help of a star map of the southern sky and additional informants, it
was possible to localize some of these names, while others could be determined from nature. For this as well as for
the indeterminable rest of the list, comparative data from the rest of Polynesia are also given. The spelling of the
velar nasal (‘ng’) is represented by the letter ‘g’.”
- Thomas Barthel (Barthel 1962: 1)

Edmundo Edwards (period ca. 1960 to Present):

“As I remember those were notes that I had from 1960, of information obtained while we were living in a cave called
Ana Tu'ū Hata with a lot of fishermen, who took turns fishing day and night to supply their families in Hanga Roa.
(My regular informants) Santiago Pakarati, his wife Amelia Tepano, and Mateo Hereveri, were not among them,
(but) when we returned to town at the weekend, I remember I showed my notes to these people who in most cases
endorsed the information. However, I later corroborated some of (the names) with information from people who
worked with us during the survey, such as Felipe Teao, Juan Haoa, as well as in conversations with Juan Niare
Manutomatoma and María Engracia Pate, his wife, but I do not currently remember who said what specifically, only
that in some cases there were discussions regarding which star this or that name corresponded to. For this, I used a
star map and suddenly they told me that a name corresponded to a star that had disappeared, that was no longer
there, which left me perplexed, because I could not conceive that a star had suddenly disappeared, without
explanation, but this probably corresponds to the fact that that star was no longer visible during that time of year
and as I was ignorant in this matter it amazed me.”
- Edmundo Edwards in personal email, April 2021 - translated from the Spanish)3

* * * * *

3
E. Edwards original note in Spanish: “Según recuerdo esas eran notas que yo tenía de 1960 de informaciones
obtenidas durante un tiempo que estuvimos viviendo en la cueva de Ana Tu’u Hata con un montón de pescadores,
que se turnaban en pescar día y noche para abastecer a sus familias en Hanga Roa. Entre ellos no se encontraba
Santiago Pakarati o su esposa Amelia Tepano ni tampoco Mateo Hereveri, Recuerdo que yo les mostraba mis notas
cuando regresábamos durante los fin de semana al pueblo a estas personas quienes las refrendaban en la mayoría
de los casos, no obstante volví a coraborar posteriormente algunas de ellas con información de Personas que
trabajaron con nosotros durante la prospección como Felipe Teao, Juan Haoa, como igualmente en conversaciones
con Juan Niare Manutomatoma y María Engracia Pate , su esposa, pero no recuerdo actualmente quién dijo qué en
forma específica solo que en algunos casos habían discusiones respecto a que estrella correspondía ese nombre.
Para ello yo utilizaba un mapa estelar y de repente me decían que un nombre correspondía a una estrella que había
desaparecido, que ya no estaba, lo cual me dejaba perplejo, porque no podía concebir que una estrella hubiese
desaparecido de repente, sin explicación, pero ello probablemente corresponda a que esa estrella ya no era visible
durante esa época del año y como yo era ignorante en esta materia me asombraba.”
4 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

RAPANUI STAR CATALOGUE AND ASTRONOMY-RELATED TERMS

‘Api te Mahina e te Ra’ā. A lunar eclipse, likely partial, lit. The Sun presses the Moon (‘api is also
a narrow, constricted place (Métraux 1934-35, Notebook 1a: 45 in PDF; Churchill 1912: 2; Edwards
2022). See Kai te Mahina e te Ra’ā.

E Tūi.
1. Six stars, probably Orion’s Belt and Sword (ι, θ, and c Ori) (Routledge 1914–15; Edwards et al.
2018: 145). Lit. “the Exiled” said to represent the explorers that found Rapa Nui, but were
later sent back to their homeland by the legendary Hotu Matu’a (Churchill 1912: 263;
Routledge 1914–15, Cruchet 2013: XX).4 See Tautorū. See Figures 1a, 1b and 1c.
2. Orion’s Sword (ι, θ, and c Ori) (Englert 1948: 309; Barthel 1962: 2). Routledge lists it as a 6-
star asterism, but draws it as three, with Orion’s sword seemingly placed on the wrong side,
perhaps reflecting how Polynesians conceptualized the heavens (see Figure 2, next page) or
maybe an inversion arising from the fact that Polynesian skywatchers sometimes observed
the sky from reflections in pools of water (Routledge 1914–15; Eckstein & Schwartz 2019:
27-36, 91; Edwards 2022).

Rei a Tanga He Mata te Tautorū

(Betelgeuse or (Bellatrix or inv. Betelgeuse?)
inv. Bellatrix?)

Vari Koreha
(Rigel or inv. Saiph?)
Orion’s
Sword
Po’o Roroa
(Saiph or inv. Rigel?)

Figures 1a and 1b. Orion and Routledge’s seemingly inverted diagram* of it (Routledge 1914-1915).
Figure 1c. E Tūi listed as consisting of 6 stars in Routledge’s Star List, probably incorporating Orion’s Belt. (Ibid.)
*Routledge’s original drawing has been digitally altered to remove undesirable ink marks

He Kauhanga. Undetermined star (Barthel 1962: 2). He is the particle “an” or “some” while
kauhanga is 1. the space between the thighs, 2. swimming, 3. the name for the third front “toe”
of a chicken, from left to right, and 4. the name of a hill at the center of Rapa Nui—Kauhanga o
Varū—which is mentioned in an oral tradition that recounts how the gods Haūa and Makemake
brought the migratory birds to Rapa Nui and that was the first place they settled, living there for
three years (Englert 1948: 437, 459; Churchill 1912: 201, 214; Wilhelm 1957: 133). 5
4
This identification is somewhat unusual as the number of explorers is generally regarded as seven and there is already a name
recorded for Orion’s Belt (Barthel 1980: 54; Routledge 1914–15; Englert 1948: 309; Barthel 1962: 2; Edwards and Belmonte 2004:
425; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 183)
5
For the Maori, Te Kauhanga is the basket where the mythical Kewa carried the Moon; Kewa is said to have “carried the astronomical
bodies in sacred baskets, planting them in the heavens. The basket holding the sun was named Rauru-rangi, the basket carrying the
Moon was Te Kauhanga, and the basket containing the stars was Te Ikaroa (the Milky Way)” (Taonui). In addition, in maori,
kauhangaroa is a type of flax used only for baskets and matting (roa=long), while Kauhanganui is a political assembly (nui=large).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

’
Figure 2. Tupaia s chart of the Pacific islands. Tupaia was a master wayfinder from Ra´iatea who traveled in the company of Captain James Cook in the

’
years 1769-70. Tupaia s spatial conceptualization differs from any Western system, apparently with North situated at the centre of the chart; Tupaia supplied
Cook with the names of nearly 130 islands, placing 74 on the chart, which covers 5,869 km from Pitcairn to Rotuma and 5,414 km from the Hawaiian islands
to Rapa Iti (Eckstein y Schwarz 2019: 9, 14, 27-36; Edwards 2022).
5
6 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

He Kete. An asterism comprising four stars, probably Aldebaran (α Tau) and three of the
Hyades (θ, δ and ε Tau); lit. “the basket” (Routledge 1914-15: “He Ketū” (sic); Edwards and
Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 183).6

He Kope Riva. Undetermined star or asterism (Barthel 1962: 2). Lit. "the good boy." (Barthel
1962: 1). May or may not be related to He Repa Riva. See He Repa Riva.

He Mata te Tautorū. Bellatrix (γ Ori) or Betelgeuse (α Ori), if drawn inverted, either alone
or together with the cluster of Meissa (λ Ori) and ȹ Ori 1 and 2 (Routledge 1914–15; Edwards
et al. 2018: 145). Routledge was evidently confused by the identification of this term and
Matamea (Mars) as well as the similarly-sounding terms He Mataā and Tautorū (both Crux).
Routledge draws it as a single star in the Orion constellation in one section of her notes,
erroneously entering it as Matamea, but corrects herself in her Stars List where it appears
listed together with other stars in Orion, namely Tautorū and Rei a Tanga, while Matamea
and Tataurō appear separately on the list, indicating that these are different terms for
individual celestial objects (see Figures 3a and 3b). In her Stars List Routledge notes that
He Mata te Tautorū is composed of “two stars”, suggesting the identification of either
Betelgeuse or Bellatrix with their near cluster, yet it is also possible to consider that she
marked it as two by error either by 1. assuming that it refers to a pair of eyes (less likely),
or 2. as a result of her informant trying to clear the confusion between the different star
names (Routledge 1914-15; Edwards 2022).7 Lit. “the eyes of the handsome/beautiful
three”. See E Tūi, Pō’o Roroa, Tautorū, and Vari Koreha, in Orion, and He Mataā and
Tataurō, for Crux.

Figure 3a. and 3b. Mars

or Matamea (in red)
listed and drawn in
error as part of Orion
(green) in Routledge’s
unpublished notes;
Routledge corrects this
later, listing He Mata te
Tautorū (2 stars),
appearing after Tautorū
and before Rei a Tana
(sic), all in Orion (in
green), while Matamea
(red) and Ta Taūra (sic,
Crux, in blue) are listed
separately (Routeledge
1914-15).

6
Rectification be E. Edwards who had previously noted it as possibly Pegasus.
7
As mentioned previously, there is some uncertainty regarding Routeledge’s drawing of the Orion constellation, with
at least Orion’s Sword appearing reversed. This may or may not be due to the pan-Polynesian custom of sometimes
observing the stars via their reflection in pools of water. Routledge draws, lists, and labels the other main stars in
Orion separately. Mata, meaning “eye,” is a common convention in Polynesian star names, as many stars were
believed to be the guarding eyes of their deceased ancestors, specifically the single left eye (Edwards 2022).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 7

He Mataā. Arch. Crux, consisting of 4-5 stars, identified by some Easter Islanders
with Crux “on the south side,” according to Englert. Tataurō (Routledge 1914-15;
Englert 1948: 309; Barthel 1962: 3). Not to be confused with the similarly-sounding
“He Mata Te Tautorū” in Orion. lit. Mataā is an obsidian point (Barthel 1962: 3).
See Tataurō, variant [Kō] Peka.

He Repa Riva. Undetermined star or asterism; lit. "The good young boy." (Barthel
1962: 1). May or may not be related to He Kope Riva. See He Kope Riva.

Hetū’ū. Generic term for star (Churchill 1912: 203; Métraux 1940: 52).

Hetū’ū ‘Ahiahi. The planet Venus as evening star (lit.) (Englert 1948: 438; Barthel
1962: 2; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425). Venus is the heavenly body with the
most variants in the Rapanui language: Kō Taūrū ‘Ahiahi (also as evening star), as
well as Hetū’ū Pōpōhanga and Kō Taūrū Pōpōhanga (Venus as morning star), Hetū’ū
Tea, and Tauhorū or Hetū’ū Tauhorū (Barthel 1962: 1, 3; Edwards et al. 2018: 145;
Métraux 1934-35, Notebook 1a: 93, 47 in PDF).8

Hetū’ū Ao. Undetermined star, “not to be confused with Venus, but rather a star
that rose before it, indicating to the fisherman that it is time to return home”
(Barthel 1962: 2). 9 The word ao has several meanings: 1., dominion, rule, power,
2., nightfall and 3, the first dawn (Englert 1948: 423; Barthel 1962: 3).

Hetū’ū ‘Ave. Generic term for a comet with a “tail” that fans out (Englert 1948:
309; Edwards 2022). Hetū’ū (star) + ‘ave = soft ray on the fin of a fish (Métraux
1940: 52; Englert 1948: 309, 426; Churchill 1912: 203).

Hetū’ū Hūero (sic). See Hetū’ū Ūero.

Hetū’ū Ūero. Generic term for comet trailing a bight line; ūero = a ray of light;
same as Hetū’ū Hūero (sic) (Métraux 1940: 52; Churchill 1912: 265; Barthel 1962: 2;
Edwards 2022). See the similar-sounding term Te Ha’u Vaero.

Hetū’ū Kōkiri. Shooting star (Churchill 1912: 203).

Hetū’ū Pōpōhanga. The planet Venus as morning star (lit.) (Englert 1948: 438;
Barthel 1962: 2; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425). Variants: Kō Taūrū Pōpōhanga
(sic? – no transl. for taūrū). See Hetū’ū ‘Ahiahi.

Hetū’ū Pūpūra. A bright star (generic term), also applied to planets with pūra and
pūpūra meaning “radiant” or “bright” in the Rapanui language; lit. bright star
(Churchill 1912: 203; Métraux 1940: 52; Edwards et al. 2018: 145).10

8
Barthel surmises that taūru may refer the Tahitian term taurua (PPN *takuiua) meaning "bright star" (Barthel 1962: 1).
9
Barthel notes that the same name with a similarly vague allocation is known from the Marquesas (Barthel 1962: 1).
10
Like other Polynesians, the Rapanui probably had names for the 5 visible planets and differentiated them from the
stars, but the names were lost over time (Edwards et al. 2018: 145; Edwards 2022).
8 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

Hetū’ū Rere. Generic term for meteor when it is seen moving horizontally (Churchill 1912:
203; Métraux 1940; Métraux 1940: 52; Edwards 2022). Lit. “flying star” (Churchill 1912: 203,
249). See Hetū’ū Viri, Hetū’ū Ūero, Te Ha’u Vaero, and Waierou.

Hetū’ū Tauhorū. Venus as morning star (Churchill 1912: 257: Barthel 1962: 1). Horu—no
translation—may be a deformation of horau (1. in haste, 2. on the verge of, used in the terms
horau hitihiti and horau marama, both meaning daybreak, and horau mai = to run to, to bring,
to appear) + tau (1. Beautiful, 2. year or season [ta’u], 3. perch, or 4. young warrior) (Churchill
1912: 206, 257; Englert 1948: 501). See Hetū’ū ‘Ahiahi.

Hetū’ū Tea. Many variants, see Hetū’ū ‘Ahiahi.

Hetū’ū Viri. Generic term for a meteor moving vertically (Englert 1948: 309, 438; Edwards 2022).
See Hetū’ū Rere, Ūero, Waierou, and Te Ha’u Vaero. Lit. “falling star” (Englert 1948: 438, 513).

Hiti. To rise (regarding the light of the Moon, Sun, and stars) (Englert 1948: 441).

Homo. Hole made by lightning or meteoroid(?)—question mark by Englert (Englert 1948: 441).

Hūmū Kōreva. The "Coalsack” (Barthel 1962: 1). Hūmū: a tattoo pattern on the calves +
Kōreva: the Rapanui common name for 4 out of the 5 existing filefish species (Monocanthidae):
Aluterus monoceros, Cantherhines dumerilii, Cantherhines Rapanui, Thamnaconus paschalis
(Barthel 1962: 1; Englert 1948: 443, 464; Randall and Cea 2010: 128, 130-1; Edwards 2022).
According to Barthel, He Ngo’e and Hūmū Kōreva were two dangerous mythical fish that ate
people and were therefore lifted to the sky to be rid of them (Barthel 1962: 1).11

Kai te Mahina e te Ra’ā. A lunar eclipse, likely total. Lit. “the Sun eats the Moon” (Métraux 1934-
35). See Api te Mahina e te Ra’ā. Variants Kū kai a te Mahina (Métraux 1940; 52).

Kai te Ra’ā e te Mahina. A solar eclipse. Lit. “the Moon eats the Sun” (Métraux 1934-35). Variants
Kū kai a te Ra’ā and KohuRa’ā (Métraux 1940; 52).

Kete. See He Kete.

Ki’i. Moonlight (Churchill 1912: 210). See Kihi Ra’ā and Kihi Mahina.

Kihi Ra’ā. Ray of sunlight, lit. (Métraux 1934-35, Notebook 3: 32 in PDF).

Kihi Mahina. Moonbeam , lit. (Ibid.).

Kohu Ra’ā. A solar eclipse; lit. the covered Sun (Churchill 1912: 218, 281). Variants Kū kai a te
Ra’ā and Kai te Ra’ā e te Mahina.

Kō Para Tahiri. Arcturus (α Boo) (Edwards 1960; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425). Kō para = 1. a short
club, 2. a ripened or decayed, or 3. a spleen) + tahiri—no translation (Churchil 1912: 239).

11
Humu has correlative terms in Hawai’i and Samoa (sumu), where they respectively are a star and a cluster, both
related to fish, meanwhile in Tonga it is “The Coalsack” the same as on Rapa Nui. (Barthel 1962:1)
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 9

Kō Peu Renga. Capella (α Aur) (Barthel 1962: 2). See Kō Toe and Kō Toe Kō Peu Renga (as
a composite term with Menkalinan (β Aur) (Ibid.). Depending on the context, peu can mean
pickaxe/adze, energy, or custom (Churchil 1912: 240; Englert 1948: 503). Taken literally,
renga is to apply paint made from turmeric, which depending on the process ranges from
yellow to red in colour (meamea12), thus in many Polynesian languages both ginger and
turmeric are called “pūa” and/or some form of “renga” or “pūa renga” depending on the
colour of the final preparation (Churchill 1912 243, 273).13

Kō Pō/Pū Tui. Antares (α Sco) (Edwards 1960).14 Antares is one of the brightest stars to pass over
the celestial zenith of Rapa Nui, thus it was most likely used to mark the latitude position of Rapa
Nui in traditional Polynesian navigation in much the same as it was used for locating parts of New
Zealand (Aotearoa) (dec.–26.5° now, –24.3° in 1200; lat. of Rapa Nui –27.1° (Edwards 2022). The
complete term is composed of the following words: the article kō + 1. Pō/pō (the Spiritworld,
darkness, or deep night) or 2. pū (hole or trumpet) + tui (banished) (Englert 1948: 437; Edwards
and Edwards 2013: 98-99; Churchill 1912: 243, 263). See Kō Tau Erūa Ehū.

Kō Tau Ehū.
1. Another name for Sirius together with Te Pou and Te Rangi (α CMa) (Routledge 1914-15;
Churchill 1912: 194, 217; Edwards et al. 2018: 145).15 Lit. “this beautiful firebrand.” Although
there is no spelling change to mark plural nouns in the Rapanui language, Routledge lists it as
a single star in her notes (Routledge 1914-15) different from the similar-sounding Kō Tau Erūa
Ehū, which refers to a different asterism consisting of a pair of stars as suggested by the
Rapanui term erūa (see Figures 4a and 4b, next page) (Ibid.). Considering the characteristics
of a “firebrand,” it is not surprising to find more than one star name with the word “Ehū”. See
Kō Tau Erūa Ehū, Taūra Ehū, and variants Te Pou and Te Pou o te Rangi.
2. Rigel, by error (Métraux 1940; Métraux 1940: 53-54). Métraux believed that the Rapanui oral
tradition Routledge collected about Orion was actually a deformation of a Tahitian myth about
Scorpio, creating much confusion as to the identification of several star terms, this one
included. Métraux was understandably unaware of the contents of Routledge’s unpublished
notes where Sirius is clearly listed as Tau Ehū and unrelated to Orion (with the stars in Orion
drawn and labelled on the same page). The similarities between the Rapanui and Tahitian
traditions suggest a link, but as is the case with other pan-Polynesian myths, it is not unusual
for these to undergo local adaptations, and as stars were used in calendrics, the tradition may
have been altered to correspond with those that best fit whatever event they were supposed
to mark in the new latitudes. Routledge’s version seems more accurate as there are
differences that suggest adaptation, but more precisely because of her labelled drawing and
the reliability of her informants, in this case Kapiera Maherenga (Figure 4c, next page). See
Tautorū, Pipiri, and Rei a Tanga.

12
Meamea is the Rapanui word for red/orange/yellow tones. Deep red was considered the color of sacredness, but
in that form it is termed kūra (Churchill 1912: 227; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 246; Craig 1934: 127: Edwards 2022).
13
Marae Renga is the place where the legendary founders of Rapanui lived (Englert 1948: 22; Métraux 1940: 236;
Routledge 1920: 274).
14
Previously removed from the catalogue by A. Edwards as a duplicate of Kō Te Mata Pū/Po Nui, now considered a
separate entry identified as Antares as originally recorded by E. Edwards ca. 1960; A. Edwards et al. had also
previously identified Antares as Te/He Ha’u Vaero (Waierou [sic]) by error.
15
Rectification by Edwards et al. preferring Sirius over Rigel as the more likely identification of this term after
considering new information (Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards et al. 2018: 145; A. Edwards 2022).
10 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

Figures 4a and 4b. [Kō]

Tau Ehū labelled as
Sirius, in Routledge’s
notes, and later
appearing as a single star
in her Stars List, different
from Kō Tau Erūa Ehū
(Kō Tai o? Ru Ehū, sic),
which consists of two
stars as indicated by the
number in parenthesis
(Routledge 1914-15).

Figure 4c. Routledge’s diagram of Orion, with Rigel marked as

either Po’o Roroa (5) or Vari Koreha (6), depending on whether
her drawing is inverted or not (all in green). Sirius is listed as Tau
Ehū, a separate entry (red). The word “Kap” at the top indicates
that her informant for this section was Gabriel “Kapiera” Revahiva
Maherenga, born ca. 1846 and who had competed in the Rapanui
Bird-man cult competitions. Maherenga was a member of the Ure
o Hei clan via paternal descent and the Hamea Clan from his
maternal side. Routeledge called him “the most intelligent
informant” on Easter Island (Fischer 2005: 161).

Kō Tau Erūa Ehū. Two stars near Canis Major (Edwards 1960, possibly Wezen and
Adhara (δ and ε CMa).16 Together with Antares (α Sco; Kō Pō/Pū Tui), these are the
brightest stars to pass over the celestial zenith of the island and may have been
useful to mark Rapa Nui in traditional Polynesian navigation (Edwards et al. 2018:
144-145; dec. of Wezen –26.4° now, –25.4°in 1200; dec. of Adhara –29.0° now, –
28.1° in 1200; lat. of Rapa Nui –27.1°). Lit. “these two beautiful firebrands”
(Englert 1948: 501; Churchill 1912: 257).17 See Kō Tau Ehū.

16
Rectification be E. Edwards who had previously considered it as referring to Castor and Pollux (α and β Gem).
17
The foremost meaning of tau nowadays is “beautiful”, but its other meanings are: 1., year, season (spelled ta’u), 2.,
worthy, opportune, 3., to perch 4., to hang, 5., anchor, and 6., to train for fighting and young fighters (with a more
pronounced accent on the “a”, as in “táu,” thus, the meaning of the word can be quite layered and from the spelling
provided by non-local sources it is impossible to determine the exact intended original meaning (Churchill 1912: 257;
Englert 1948: 501).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 11

Kō Taū’a Kikira. The "Small Magellanic Cloud"; written as Taūrū/Taūa Kikira by Barthel
who also translates the term as "The blurry warrior", indicating Taū’a (warrior) as the
correct spelling, while the interpretation of kikira remains uncorroborated today
(Barthel 1962: 1; Edwards 2022). Also recorded as Taūra Ehū by Barthel, although
this seems incorrect as it is possible to consider the term a deformation of one of the
two unrelated Rapanui stars located in Canis Major: Kō Tau Erūa Ehū (possibly Wezen
and Adhara) and/or Kō Tau Ehū (Sirius a.k.a. Te Pou o Te Rangi) (Ibid. Churchill 1912:
194, 258; Routledge 1914-15; Edwards 1960; Edwards 2022). As is the case with other
Rapanui stars, these terms may have been inter-connected in former times via forgotten
oral traditions.18 See variant Taūra Kikira, as well as associated terms Taūra Ehū, Kō
Tau Erūa Ehū, Kō Tau Ehū.

Kō Taū’a Nūkūnūkū. The "Large Magellanic Cloud" (Barthel 1962: 1). The same as, or
associated in former times with, the similarly-sounding Taūra / Taūru Nūkūnūkū
(Procyon and Gomeissa [α and β CMi]), the two brightest stars in the Canis Minor
constellation (Figures 5a and 54b - Barthel 1962: 1; Routledge 1914-15).19 Barthel
translates the term as "the curly-haired warrior” indicating he meant to write taū’a
(young warrior) rather than taūa (to come, to board), nūkūnūkū meaning“curly-haired”
although one might consider “tightly-plaited” within the context (Barthel 1962: 1;
Churchill 1912: 257, 258; Englert 1948: 501; Edwards 2022). See Taūra Nūkūnūkū.
Figure 5a. In her notes, Routledge
identifies Taūru Nūkūnūkū as
Procyon (red), one of only a few
stars that she translates by name
(Routeledge 1914-15)
Figure 5b. Routeledge later
writes that it consists of two
stars, the other pair usually being
Gomeisa (Ibid.). If one had to
choose the more accurate version
it would be Routledge, not only
because of her research precedes
Barthel’s by many years, but also
because a star has a function and
is more useful with regards to
calendrics and wayfinding.

Kō Taūrū ‘Ahiahi. See Hetū’ū ‘Ahiahi.

Kō Taūrū Pōpōhanga. See Hetū’ū Pōpōhanga.

18
The Small Magellanic Cloud is a galaxy visible as a small blurry spot in the sky, located about 20 degrees from The Southern
Celestial Pole, in the southeast corner of the constellation Tucana, and about 20 degrees east of the Large Magellanic Clouds, which
are located almost 22 degrees from the Southern Celestial Pole, in a region of faint stars on the border between the constellations
Dorado and Mensa. A line from Sirius to past Canopus is used to “starhop” to the Large Magellanic Cloud and these may have been
linked in former times for Barthel to asscociate the terms all together. Archenar ithe closest bright nearby star.
19
Barthel surmises that taūru may refer the Tahitian term taurua (PPN *takuiua) meaning "bright star" (Barthel 1962: 1).
12 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

Kō Te Mata Pō/Pū Nui. Spica (α Vir) (Edwards 1960; Edwards and Belmonte 2004:
425). It may be translated as “the eye with the big opening”, but if written Te Mata
Pō Nui, then it means “the eye of the great darkness / night / Underworld Pō”
(Edwards 2022).

Kō Toe. Menkalinan (β Aur) (Barthel 1962: 2). See Kō Peu Renga and Kō Toe Kō Peu
Renga as a composite term with Capella (α Aur) (Ibid.).

Kō Toe Kō Peu Renga. Menkalinan and Capella (β and α Aur) (Routledge 1914–15;
Englert 1948: 309; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425). According to Barthel, the term
is a composite of two star names Kō Toe (Menkalinan) and Kō Peu Renga (Capella).
See Kō Toe and Kō Peu Renga.

Kū Kai a te Mahina. See Kai te Mahina e te Ra’ā.

Kū Kai a te Ra’ā. See Kai te Ra’ā e te Mahina.

Mahina.
1. The Moon (Churchill 1912: 222). There are several names for the Moon depending
on its phase and the way it looks, in addition to and different from the names for
each night in a complete lunation (not included here). For example, Mahina
takataka (Edwards 1960; Churchill 1912: 255) refers to the disc of the Moon when
it is full, while Omotohi refers to the full Moon phase itself (Thomson 1891 546;
Englert 1948 311). 20
2. Generic term for a lunar month, also called marama (Churchill 1912: 222, 224).21

Matamea. The planet Mars (Routledge 1914–15: “He Matamea”; Métraux 1940: 53;
Englert 1948: 309; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425). Announced the start of the
biennial Koro festival, as well as an egg hunt that took place in the lunar month
corresponding to December when observed together with Matariki (The Pleiades),
Te Pou o te Rangi (Sirius), and Tautorū (Orion’s Belt) (Métraux 1940: 53, 133;
Edwards 1960). Observed from Poike; it was considered ominous when observed with
an undetermined star called Pau and Tautorū appearing in the lunar month
corresponding to Oct/Nov (Métraux 1940: 53, 133). Lit. “red eye.”

20
Throughout Polynesia, there used to be festivities and dancing on the of the full moon to harness its powers of
fertility for humankind and nature; the Paina and Koro festivities were celebrated shortly before the full Moon
and culminated on that night with singing and dancing (Edwards and Edwards 2013: 215; Edwards 1960).
21
Because the months in Polynesia were calculated by complete lunations, in some places going from full Moon to
full Moon, and in others from new Moon to new Moon, they don’t actually coincide with the 12 months in our solar
calendars, thus a Polynesian month will not be June, or July, or August, but rather May/June, June/July,
August/September, etc; the same thing happens with the Polynesian names for the nights of the Moon, which
refer to the activities to be carried out and sometimes fall on different days on different islands although the
name of a specific group of nights and their associated order and activities often remain the same (Edwards and
Edwards 2013: 205, 207-208).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 13

Matariki. The Pleiades, the most important calendar stars, marking the new year throughout
Polynesia.22 On Rapa Nui, the asterism consisted of 6 stars marking the start of the new year on
the first full Moon after the heliacal rising (HR) of the Pleiades near the solstice in late June
followed by the heliacal setting (HS) of Orion about a week later; Matariki also announced the
opening of the Bird-man Cult competitions on the first full Moon after the new year, as well as
the ceremonies and festivities related to the first harvests and the start of the bountiful season
(after its acronychal rise—AR) shortly after sunset in late November, and finally an egg hunt that
took place in the lunar month corresponding to December when observed together with Matamea
(Mars), Te Pou o te Rangi (Sirius), and Tautorū (Orion’s Belt) (Routledge 1914–15; Métraux 1940:
53, 133; Edwards 1960; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 183).
Combination of mata (eyes) + 1. ariki (chief) or 2. rikiriki (small) (Churchill 1912: 189, 225, 250).23

Me’e Nui Te Hetū’ū. Many stars (Métraux 1934-35, Notebook 2: 8 in PDF).

Nga Rau Hiva or Nga Rauhiva. The Hyades (Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425). Nga means “the,”
while rauhiva can mean 1. twin adolescents/adults or 2. weak (Englert 1948: 429, 492, Barthel
1958: 326; Edwards et al. 1920; Churchill 1912: 247, 307). As nga+rau+Hiva the terms could mean
the+sprouts+from Hiva, Hiva being the ancestral land of the Rapanui (Englert 1948: 19, 22).24
Métraux mentions Nga Rau Hiva as an early Rapanui place name, but also as partly the name of one
of the sons of a Tupahotu chief called Kainga (Métraux 1940: 56, 58).25 Englert notes that it is also
the name of a ceremonial platform: Ahu Nga Rauhiva a Kara (Englert 1948: 429, 492, 525).

Nga Toa Rere. An asterism comprising stars in Ursa Major, the exact number being uncertain
(Edwards 1960; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425). Lit. “the flying sugarcane.”

Nga Vaka. The Pointers (α and β centauri) Routledge 1914-15; Englert 1948: 309; Barthel 1962: 3;
Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 182, 183; Barthel 1962: 3). Lit. “the
canoes.” Cruchet published that the Rapanui saw these as the canoes of the founders of Rapa Nui,
however Cruchet does not mention his sources and it remains uncorroborated by the present-day
Rapanui (Cruchet 2013: XX; Edwards 2022).26

22
Calendar stars, were observed when they first appeared at their rising and setting positions at dusk and dawn, about 45o
above the horizon or less (Heliacal rising, Heliacal setting, Achronical rising, Achronical descent), marking whatever activities and
seasonal periods coincided with these astronomical events (Edwards and Edwards 2013: 203; Edwards 2022). Almost everyone in
Polynesia used the Pleiades to mark 1. the new year and other events such as 2. the opening of the deep-sea fishing season or 3.
the rainy season, however, all of these occur at different times of the year depending on geographic location and the seasons
(Ibid.). Thus, the new year, rainy season, etc… occurred at different times of the year on the different islands, sometimes even
coinciding with one another, other times not, despite being marked by the same star.
23
The Pleiades were not always seen as a positive influence. Métraux mentions that cultural hero chief Tu’u Koihu placed six boulders
symbolizing the Pleiades at Ahu Hihina Tangi Kotea, to remind humankind that Matariki not only brought abundance, but also
hunger and death (Metraux 1940: 53). Another archaeological site representing the Pleiades is found at Papa U’i Hetū’ū (lit. “the
stone to view the stars”) at Poike peninsula (Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 421, 428-429; Edwards et al 2018: 142-145).
24
In Rapanui myth, Hiva is said to be the name of the Rapanui homeland, which today is used to refer to a faraway place, oftentimes
South America—this is a newism—it is not to say the original population came from the Americas (Englert 1948: 22-23, 440; Métraux
1940: 236; Routledge 1920: 274).
25
Métraux notes that Kainga’s son was called Rauhiva-Aringa-Erūa, which literally means the twin with two faces, thus some people
have proposed that the individual that the story is about may have been a conjoined twin of sorts; in Rapanui myth he is a very
successful warrior that can fight better as he can see more (Métraux 1940: 85; 1920: 282-284).
26
The oldest manuscripts recounting how the island was settled mention one voyaging canoe with two names that was split into two
before making their way to land at Anakena, with Hotu Matua taking one half and Avareipua (Hotu Matua’s sister, in some versions)
taking the other (Barthel 1980: 156).
14 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

Pau. A star that appears in October or November (Métraux 1940: 53). Métraux, stated that when this
star appeared shining red in October/November together with Tautorū (Orion’s Belt) and Mars
(Matamea) it foretold death and evil; he also noted that about a month later, skywatchers studied
its change in position from observatories (tupa) near Ahu OkaKū in Poike, announcing that the “alert”
had ceased (Ibid). According to Churchill, on Rapa Nui and the Tuamotu Islands pau is a piercing
wound, also something that is consumed (on Rapa Nui, Samoa, and Mangareva), while in the
Marquesas and on Tahiti it is a gum-resin and also “to moisten” (Churchill 1912: 239). A. Edwards
searched for conspicuous red Polynesian calendar stars rising in October/November, but none were
immediately apparent (Edwards 2022). 27

Peka. The Southern Cross; lit. 1. cross, 2. 100,000; the earliest term for Crux according to Barthel, but
He Mataā is more likely. (Barthel 1962: 3; Churchill 1912: 240). See variants Te Tataurō and He Mataā.

Piere. The totality of nameless stars (Barthel 1962: 3). Lit. thousand, a great number (Ibid.; Churchill
1912: 240).

Pipiri. Shaula and Lesath (λ and υ Sco) on the tail-end of Scorpius in Tahiti, and possibly other stars in
Scorpius for the Rapanui or perhaps a newism for the same (Métraux 1940: 53-54, 312-13; Barthel 1962:
2).28 There are many versions of a pan-Polynesian tradition about two children fleeing their uncaring
parents and becoming stars, either Castor and Pollux (α and β Gem), Shaula and Lesath (λ and υ Sco),
ζ and θ Sco, and µ1 and µ2 Sco (Makemson 1941: 243–244 #482; Calderon 1921: 173-74). A similar oral
tradition is recorded for Rapa Nui by Routledge, Englert, and Barthel, where the protagonists are a
battered woman, her jealous husband and their two children, but on Rapa Nui the stars are represented
by Orion’s Belt and either Betelgeuse [α Ori] or Bellatrix [γ Ori]) as Rei a Tanga, the wife (see Figure 6a
and 6b); Métraux, who is noted as being wrong in his assumptions by Englert and Barthel (in agreement
with Routledge), wrote “Orion” next to “Pipiri” in his notes (see Figure 7a and 7b), but in his published
work he “corrects” it to Scorpio, adding that the story must have arrived from Tahiti possibly via Salmon
Brander and his 20 or so Tahitian labourers in 1879 (Routledge 1914-15; Routledge 1920: 233; Englert
1949: 309; Barthel 1962: 1-2; Métraux 1934-35, Notebook 7: 26a-27a, 53-54 in PDF; Métraux 1940: 53-
54). There is not enough evidence to support Métraux’s assumption and it is important to consider the
possibility of local adaptation to astronomical events and stars for Rapa Nui , ie. Pipiri was the term for
the cool season on Mangareva (June), while on Tahiti it was the name for about March, and roughly
September in Hawai’i (Churchill 1912: 73; Calderon 1921: 173-74). Thus, it is possible to consider that
Métraux recorded Pipiri as the Rapanui name for an asterism in Scorpio, while the oral tradition was
locally adapted to fit Orion. Lit. “to catch” or “to be joined, glued, and/or stuck together” also the
name of an ahu (ceremonial structure) on the South Coast: Ahu o Pipiri (Churchill 1912 241). See Tautorū
and variant Rua Haua (if Shaula and Lesath).

27
Barthel mentionss that Métraux may have confused Pau with He Pou / Te Pou (Sirius), however, Sirius does not fit Métraux’s description,
appearing late November or December in 1500 AD. As previously mentioned, calendar stars, were observed when they first appeared at
their rising and setting positions at dusk and dawn, about 45o above the horizon or less. In 1500 AD, Sirius was high in the sky at dusk in
October and most of November (between 70o to 800 before dawn), and it was not visibile until well after dusk for again most of October
and November (Barthel 1962:2). At the time, Sirius could be observed at about 45o at dawn on November 26-29, and at 30o and less in
mid-december, thus appearing at dawn on those dates and lower in the horizon later in December. On the other hand, Sirius appeared
rising in the East shortly after dusk at a scant 10 o -20o above the horizon between 29 November and 8 December (Edwards 2022).
28
In Tahitian oral tradition, Antares (α Sco) is a stag beetle, on whose back the mistreated twins Pipiri (male) and Rehūa (female), children
of Tau-a-tia-roaroa, rode to the sky to become the last two stars in the tail-end of Scorpius, presumably, Shaula and Lesath (λ and υ Sco)
(Makemson 1941: 244 #482). On Mangaia, Tarakorekore (Lesath) was the mother of the twins Pipiri (male, µ1 Sco) and Piri-ere-ua (female,
µ2 Sco) (Ibid.). The story is also recounted on Ra’ivavae and in chants from Rurutu (Stimson 1938: pdf 305-06; Mahelona et al. 2022).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 15
Figure 6a. Routledge
indentifies Rei a Tanga (in
red and spelled slightly
differently in her notes) as a
star in Orion (green), where
Tautorū is listed and drawn
as Orion’s Belt (blue)
(Routledge 1914-15).
Figure 6b. Routlege writes
that Rei a Tana (sic, in red)
“was the wife of a Tautorū”
(blue), a tradition that she
publishes in her book (Ibid. ;
Routledge 1920: 231).

Figures 7a and 7b. Copies of Métraux’s unpublished notes where he identifies Pipiri as Orion, and narrates the familiar tale about
the wife who is murdered by her jealous husband and becomes a star, however, in his published work he identifies Pipiri as stars
in Scorpius (Métraux 1934-35, Notebook 7: 26 and 27; Métraux 1940: 53-54). The same tradition was earlier recorded by
Routledge associated to Orion, but relative to the term Rei a Tanga (Routledge 1914-1915; Routledge 1920: 233).

Pō Orongo. Different informants told E. Edwards ca. 1960 that this term referred to
Achernar (α Eri), while another said that it was Canopus (α Car); variants Pō’o Orongo,
Pō o Rongo, Pō Rongo (Edwards 1960; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards 2022).
The term may be interpreted in several different ways: pō (deep night) or pō’o (large)
+ “o Rongo” (of Rongo, the Rapanui god of agriculture and peace, represented as half-
man / half-bird) or “Orongo” (the name of the ceremonial village near Rano Kao, where
the Tangata Manu Cult ceremonies and ritual tattooing took place (Edwards and Edwards
2013: 117-18). There is also an ahu on Rapa Nui called Ahu o Rongo.
16 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

Pō’o Orongo. See Pō Orongo.

Pō o Rongo. See Pō Orongo.

Pō Rongo. See Pō Orongo.

Pō’o Rōroa. Rigel (β Ori) or Saiph (κ Ori) if Routledge’s diagram of Orion is inverted
(Routledge 1914-15).29 See E Tūi.

Ra’ ā. The Sun. which was of lesser importance in Polynesia, outdone by the Moon and
stars with regards to calendrics, resourcing, and traditional navigation, despite
publications claiming the contrary, primarily by authors with now obsolete theories
regarding the settlement of Polynesia from the Americas (where the Sun was of great
cultural importance) (Churchill 1912: 245; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 422; Edwards
and Edwards 2013: 182).

Rei a Tanga.
1. Bellatrix (γ Ori) or possibly Betelgeuse (α Ori) if Routledge’s diagram is inverted
(Routledge 1920: 233; Routledge 1914-15; Edwards et al. 2018: 145).
2. An undetermined star unrelated to Sirius and other stars in Scorpius (Englert 1948:
309; Barthel 1962: 2-3).The term is said to be the name of a woman joining together
the terms rei (a crescent shaped ornamental necklace) + tanga (a youth) (Métraux
1940: 53; Barthel 1962: 2; Churchill 1912: 248; Englert 1948: 497; and Routledge
1920: 233 in combination with Routledge 1914-15).30 Barthel noted that it was
observed rising together with Tautorū (Orion’s Belt) in the Winter months of June
and July, which fits what we know about Orion (Barthel 1962: 2; Edwards 2022).
3. Sirius, by error (Métraux 1940: 53). Métraux’s identification of this term as Sirius is
noted as being wrong by Englert and Barthel who both say it is an undetermined star
and unrelated to either Sirius or Scorpius (Englert 1948: 309; Barthel 1962: 2). The
origin of the error is its related oral tradition, which elsewhere in Polynesia associates
it with Scorpius, while on Rapa Nui it is Orion, with Métraux endorsing the former;
all versions mention a family of 4 that rises to the heavens, but the Rapanui story
differs from the Tahitian one with regards to how many individuals escape to the
heavens first (1 vs. two) and how many try and fetch them (3 stars vs. a pair), so it
would seem that the story was adapted to maybe fit a different asterism on Rapa Nui
(Makemson 1941: 243–244 #482; Calderon 1921: 173-74; Routledge 1920: 233; Routledge
1914-15; Métraux 1940: 53-54; Barthel 1962: 2; Englert 1948:309). See Pipiri for more
details.

29
Rectification be E. Edwards who had previously noted it as Canopus out of confusion with the one source who
identified Po Orongo as Canopus circa 1960.
30
The oral tradition, first recorded by Routledge, is about a man who kills his wife out of jealousy, and although the
different versions do not agree as to which star they reference, Rei Atanga is always listed as the name of the
woman (Métraux 1940: 53; Barthel 1962: 2; Englert 1948: 309; Routledge 1920: 233 in combination with Routledge
1914-15).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 17

Rūa Haūa. Shaula and Lesath (λ and υ Sco) (Barthel 1962: 2-3). Rūa = Two + Haūa 1. a diety in
the entourage of god Makemake and 2. snore (Métraux 1940: 312-13; Ènglert 1948: 1948: 437). Rua
Haua is the name of: 1) the western entrance to the Rano Raraku crater, 2. the name of a stone
statue (Moai No. 357) lying there that belonged to the Ure-o-Heir clan, and 3. a spirit (aku aku)
who inhabited that area and protected refugees from their pursuers (Barthel 1962: 3).

Tahito o Te Rangi. “The edge on the horizon where the sky disappears (Barthel 1962:
2; Englert 1948: 496).

Tataurō. The Southern Cross (Routledge 1914–15; Barthel 1962: 2; Edwards and
Belmonte 2004: 425). A modern name, referring to Jesus carrying the burden of the
cross; observed rising together with Rei Atanga in the winter months of June and July
(Englert 1948: 4; Barthel 1962: 2). See He Mataā, Peka, as well as Pipiri and Tataurō.

Tau Ehū. See Kō Tau Ehū.

Tau Hō’ōu. The new year celebrated on the first Full Moon after the HR of Matariki (the
Pleiades) before sunrise in the East (near the June Solstice) followed by the HS of Orion’s
Belt in the west (Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 183).
Tau is the term for fit, worthy, and beautiful, but also one of the terms for year and
season (Churchill 1912: 207-8, 257). See Matariki.

Tautorū. Orion’s belt (Routledge 1914–15; Englert 1948: 309; Barthel 1962: 2; Edwards and
Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards and Edwards 2013: 183). Barthel noted that it was observed rising
together with Rei a Tanga in the winter months of June and July, which coincides with other
reports of Orion being used to mark the start of the new year, which started on the first full Moon
after the heliacal rising (HR) of the Pleiades near the solstice in late June followed by the heliacal
setting (HS) of Orion about a week later (Routledge 1920: 231-233; Routledge 1914–15; (Barthel
1962: 2). Métraux 1940: 53, 133; Edwards 1960; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards and
Edwards 2013: 183). The asterism announced: the start of the colder rainy season with Te Pou
(Sirius) as well as the time for planting, the start of the Paina festivals, as well as an egg-hunt
following the Bird-man Cult competitions (with Matariki and Te Pou) (Ibid.) A set of similar oral
traditions recorded on Rapa Nui associate this asterism to Pipiri and Rei a Tanga. Toru is “three,”
while tau nowadays refers mainly to “beautiful”, but it is also 1., year, season (spelled ta’u), 2.,
worthy, opportune, 3., to perch 4., to hang, 5., anchor, and 6., to train for fighting and young
fighters (with a more pronounced accent on the “a”, as in “táu” (Englert 1948: 501; Churchill
1912: 257). See E Tūi, Kō Tau Ehū, Rei a Tanga, and Pipiri for more details.31

Tauhorū. See variant Hetū’ū Tauhorū.

Taūra Ehū. See Kō Tau Ehū and Kō Taū’a Kikira.

31
In Routledge, a woman is carried off by a stranger while bathing, then slewn by her jealous husband; the wife’s
spirit rises to the heavens and becomes a star with the repentant husband following suit with his two sons
(Routledge 1920: 233).In Englert’s version, the husband discovers his wife bathing with her lover, so he kills her
in a jealous rage whereupon the ending is the same as that recorded by Routledge (Englert 1948: 309). In
Métraux’s version, the woman attends a feast and upon returning with her two children the jealous husband beats
her, so she abandons him rising to the heavens with her children by her side (1940: 53).
18 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

Taūra Nūkūnūkū. Procyon and a second star, probably Gomeisa (α and β CMi)32 (Routledge 1914-
15; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425).33 The same as, or associated in former times to, the
similarly-sounding Kō Taū’a Nūkūnūkū (the “Large Magellanic Cloud”) recorded by Barthel, but
found in a different part of the sky. It is important to consider that it is specifically listed as
consisting of Procyon and another star in Routledge’s notes, preceding Barthel’s studies by over
4 decades (see Figures 5a and 5b) (Routledge 1914-15; Barthel 1962: 1). Taūra nūkūnūkū, may
be translated as a “curled cord” which may also be understood as, “tightly-plaited” (Barthel
1962: 1; Edwards 2022;). See Kō Taū’a Nūkūnūkū.

Taūra Kikira. See variant Kō Taū’a Kikira

Taūrū Nūkūnūkū. See Taūra Nūkūnūkū.

Taūrū Kikira. See variant Kō Taū’a Kikira.

Te Ha’u Vaero. Assumed to be a deformation of Hetū’ū Ūero or

Hūero (sic) and thus a generic name for a comet with a tail that
fan outwards, yet it is possible to consider it a similar-sounding
separate entry, being spelled “E Hau Waierou (sic)” in Routledge
(Barthel 1962: 3; Churchill 1912: 265; Routledge 1914-15). Lit.
“a rooster tail feather headdress” of a specific type on Rapa Nui
(see Figure 8 - Churchill 1912: 201). See Hetū’ū Hūero and
Hetū’ū Ūero.34

Te Ngo’e. The Milky Way (Englert 1948: 309; Edwards and

Belmonte 2004: 425). For the Rapanui, the Milky Way was a
dangerous mythical fish that together with Hūmū Kōreva (the
“Coalsack”) ate people and were therefore lifted to the sky
Figura 8. E Hau Waierou (sic) in
Routledge (Routledge 1914-15).
(Barthel 1962: 1).35

Te Pou. Sirius (α CMa); shortened form of Te Pou o Te Rangi (Barthel 1962: 2; Englert 1948 309).
Both Englert and Barthel agree that Métraux was wrong about Rei a Tanga being Sirius as a result
of Métraux’s assumptions regarding the mix between Tahitian and Rapanui oral traditions (Ibid.).
See Rei a Tanga, Pipirima, and the variants Kō Tau Ehū y Te Pou o Te Rangi.

Te Pou o Te Rangi. Sirius (α CMa) (Edwards 1960; Edwards and Belmonte 2004: 425; Edwards
and Edwards 2013: 183). Lit. “the post of the sky”, consistent with Eastern Polynesian traditions
where Sirius was seen as one of the posts that held up the dome of the heavens (Ibid.). See
variants Kō Tau Ehū and is shortened current form Te Pou.

32
Routledge identifies Taūra Nūkūnūkū as Procyon, but in her star-list says the asterism consists of two stars. Gomeisa has been
identified as the most likely pair as is regularly the case with these two stars (see Figures 5a and 5b).
33
Rectification by E. Edwards et al. who had previously proposed Procyon and Archernar as the stars in this asterism, now deeming
Gomeisa the more likely pair: this resulted from a mixup between this term and Po Orongo (several variants).
34
Rectification by Edwards et al. who had previously noted it on different occasions as Castor and Pollux, and also
Antares by error. Kō Po/Pū Tui is now deemed the correct term for Antares.
35
Mentioned for the first time in the Meteo chants in possession of Monsignor Jaussen (Barthel 1962: 1).
 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 19

Tūhi Rei. The collective name for the "well-known stars", also registered by one informant as a star of
variable light intensity (not Venus), which rises at about 5 a.m. in January, indicating to the fishermen
that the sea will be calm (Barthel 1962: 3). Tūhi: To indicate or point + rei = a crescent shaped
ornamental necklace (Churchill 1912: 248, 263).

Tūhi Renga. The "unknown stars" (Barthel 1962: 3). Tūhi is to indicate or point, while renga is yellow
to orange body paint, a beautiful woman covered in said paint, or possibly an allusion to Marae Renga
in the Rapanui homeland (Englert 1948: 505; Churchill 1912: 263; Churchill 1912: 243, 273; Englert
1948: 22; Métraux 1940: 236; Routledge 1920: 274). Considering the context, this term may also refer
to unknown stars of a reddish colour.

Ūero. See Hetū’ū Ūero.

Vari Koreha. Saiph (κ Ori) or possibly Rigel (β Ori) if

Routledge’s diagram is inverted (Routledge 1914-15; A.
Edwards et al. 2018: 146). There has been some
misunderstanding with regards to the spelling of this term
originating from Routledge’s handwriting in her field notes—
which were never meant for publication—leading to
duplicate entries in previous stars lists, with Veri Horia and
Vari Horia being added by error over time (see Figure 9).
According to Churchill vari is 1) to curl into a circle, or 2) dirt
and mud, while koreha is an eel, and horia does not exist as
a word in Rapanui (Churchill 1912: 268, 219, 281). Veri is
fearsome and monstrous, also a myriapod and centipede;
similarly, on Mangareva and Tahiti veri is variously a
poisonous marine annelid resembling the centipede, a
Figure 9. Routeledge’s unpublished marine insect, and a fearsome monster (Churchill 1912:
notes with the almost unintelligble 269). Considering all of the above, Vari Koreha or Veri
entry for Saiph or Rigel (if the Koreha seem to be the more likely spelling. See E Tūi and
diagram is drawn inverted).
Kō Tau Ehū.

Vari Horia. See Vari Koreha.

Veri Hariu. See Vari Koreha.

Veri Koreha. See Vari Koreha.

Waierou (sic). See Hetū’ū Ūero and Te Ha’u Vaero (Routledge 1914-15).

REMOVED PREVIOUS STAR CATALOGUE ENTRIES

Atutahi, Ehūa, Ehūo, Hetū’ū Kōkiri (Etu-Kōkiri [sic]), Mere

- Rectification by A. Edwards of previous catalogue inclusion error in A. Edwards 2018.
20 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms

APPENDIX 1. Undetermined Rapanui Asterisms

The following are diagrams of Rapanui asterisms drawn in Metraux’s Field notes. They
have yet to be identified, which considering the little information supplied presents
quite a challenge (Métraux 1934-35: Notebook 9a: 7 in PDF).

Figure 10. Undetermined Rapanui asterisms (Ibid.)

 Rapanui Star Catalogue and Astronomy-Related Terms 21

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