MOAI RESTORATION PROJECT

In celebration of the arrival of the crane

At 4 p.m. on April 8, 2008 a crane donation ceremony, with 15 re-erected Moai statues in the background, was held at Ahu Tongariki in Easter Island under the auspices of the island's Governor, Carolina Hotus Hey.

The handover ceremony was attended by more than 30 people including the 5th State Governor, the Chilean Ambassador to Japan and the Councilor of the Japanese Embassy in Santiago in addition to senior Tadano staff led by president Koichi Tadano.

In the presence of many islanders and nearly 50 tourists from Japan and other nations, the ceremony began with the national flags of both countries being raised, singing of Rapa Nui song, rites of purification by a priest and the exchange of the official presentation.

After a meal that drew upon local culture and demonstrations of crane operation performed by Tadano staff, the event was completed by a banquet and a display of traditional Rapa Nui dancing.

The first task for the donated crane will be to reconstruct Moai statues - weighing a total of 70 tons and broken into two pieces - in an altar Te Pito Kura under the second phase of the Moai restoration project.

The crane will be also used to improve local infrastructure.

Our aim is to implement what is / will be expected of us by the islanders, namely to give local staff guidance for not only crane operation also necessary inspections and maintenance of crane so that it will operation also necessary for a long period of time for their work purposes.

Tadano president gives Governor Carolina Hotus Hey a commemorative plate

Display of traditional Rapa Nui dancing by the islanders