Haka Pei: Easter Island's Ancient Extreme Sport That Sends Warriors Racing Down a Volcano

Take two banana tree trunks, lash them together, point them downhill and jump on board. Get your mates involved and turn it into a competition. You might not associate Easter Island with extreme sports, but they have been part of the island's culture for centuries (with the occasional hiatus). There is no doubt that the highlight of the annual Tapati Rapa Nui Festival is the Haka Pei competition. Although the festival also celebrates Rapa Nui culture through singing, swimming, cooking demonstrations and countless other events, few can compete with the spectacle of hurtling down the side of an extinct volcano wearing nothing more than a loincloth and body paint. Image Credit The origins of this sport trace back to an ancient Rapa Nui rite of passage, where young people tested their courage by taking on the daring haka pei descent. Completing the challenge proved they possessed the bravery and resilience expected of adults, earning some the status of matato'a - elite warriors. In this…