Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is located in the South Pacific and is famous for its giant moai statues. While the statues are an important part of Rapanui culture, there are many mysteries surrounding how and why they were carved. The population of Rapa Nui peaked at around 6,000-10,000 people but declined to just 111 people by 1877 due to disease, warfare, and slavery. Today the population has recovered to around 4,000 people. Various theories exist around how the statues were transported and erected, and why they faced away from the sea, but the exact reasons are still unknown.