Mana Rapa Nui Foundation

The Mana Rapa Nui Foundation is a North Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the indigenous Rapa Nui people of Easter Island, Chile — one of the most isolated and underserved communities on Earth. Founded and led by members of the Rapa Nui diaspora, we work across three interconnected missions that cannot be separated, because for our people, health, livelihood, and culture are all the same fight.

— a UNESCO World Heritage community


Mana Rapa Nui Foundation | 501(c)(3) Nonprofit | EIN: 33-4549354 | Durham, NC | manarapanuifoundation.org

Easter Island's people face three crises at once — no healthcare for their disabled, no sustainable economy, and a culture fighting to survive. The Mana Rapa Nui Foundation is solving all three.

Easter Island's people face three crises at once — no healthcare for their disabled, no sustainable economy, and a culture fighting to survive. The Mana Rapa Nui Foundation is solving all three.

CULTURAL HERITAGE"The Moai stand for eternity. So will we."
We protect the Rapa Nui language, traditions, and ancestral knowledge — because a people without healthcare and economic opportunity cannot sustain their culture. Our three missions exist to keep the Rapa Nui people whole.

HEALTH & DISABILITY

"Wheelchairs today. A Wellness Center forever."
Easter Island's disabled and elderly residents have zero government support — no wheelchairs, no rehabilitation, no hospital beds. We are delivering life-changing assistive devices now, and building a permanent 50-room Wellness Center for the future.

SUSTAINABILITY & LIVELIHOODS

"Clean energy and coffee — grown by Rapa Nui's disabled workers."
We are developing clean energy solutions (3-SOL-X), regenerative coffee cultivation, and inclusive agricultural enterprises that create real income for disabled and marginalized residents — building economic independence alongside physical care.

        🚨 Our Most Urgent Need Right Now
        The Rapa Nui Handicap Supplies Project is launching now. Disabled residents of Easter Island have no wheelchairs, no rehabilitation, and no hospital beds. We are delivering life-changing supplies in 2026 — and we need your help.

        $300 = one wheelchair · $2,000 = one electric hospital bed · $25,000 = one foundation grant that changes everything.

        Our Vision

        We envision a thriving Rapa Nui where every child grows up with access to quality education, a strong cultural identity, and the tools to build a sustainable life. Our work is guided by the belief that cultural preservation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand with social progress.

        We are not outsiders parachuting in — we are family, founded and led by members of the Rapa Nui diaspora with direct ties to the community we serve. We work across three interconnected missions: Health & Disability, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Cultural Heritage — because for the Rapa Nui people, they are all the same fight.

        Our Strategic Priorities

        🫆

        Cultural Heritage & Education

        We protect and promote the Rapa Nui language, traditions, and ancestral knowledge through immersive educational programs. Our initiatives ensure that future generations remain deeply connected to their roots while gaining the skills to thrive in a modern world.

        🍃

        Sustainable Living & Clean Energy

        We implement clean energy solutions and water generation systems tailored to the island’s unique environment. Our 3-SOL-X initiative supports rural and agricultural communities with renewable technologies that reduce dependency and increase resilience.

        ♻️

        Regenerative Agriculture

        We support the development of productive, sustainable agriculture through training, technology, and capacity-building. From ancestral techniques to modern agroecology — including our inclusive coffee cultivation project — we help communities grow food and income in harmony with nature.

        🏥

        Health & Disability Care

        Easter Island’s disabled and elderly residents have zero government support — no wheelchairs, no rehabilitation, no hospital beds. We are delivering life-changing assistive devices now, and building a permanent 50-room Wellness Center for the future.

        📈

        Economic Empowerment

        We promote sustainable economic initiatives — coffee cultivation by disabled workers, artisan crafts, and eco-tourism — creating income-generating opportunities that align with cultural values and build real independence for Rapa Nui’s most marginalized residents.