page_title: Tangata manu
hierarchical_section_title: Tangata manu
caption_attribution_description: English: Motu Nui, with the smaller Motu Iti and the sea stack of Motu Kao Kao, taken from Orongo on the Rano Kau volcano on Easter Island
context_page_description: The Tangata manu was the winner of a traditional competition on Rapa Nui. The ritual was an annual competition to collect the first sooty tern egg of the season from the islet of Motu Nui, swim back to Rapa Nui and climb the sea cliff of Rano Kau to the clifftop village of Orongo.
context_section_description: The Tangata manu ("bird-man," from tangata "human beings" + manu "bird") was the winner of a traditional competition on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The ritual was an annual competition to collect the first sooty tern (manu tara) egg of the season from the islet of Motu Nui, swim back to Rapa Nui and climb the sea cliff of Rano Kau to the clifftop village of Orongo.
caption: Motu Nui, with the smaller Motu Iti in front and the isolated sea stack of Motu Kau Kau between them and the viewer. Viewed from the top of a 250 meters (820 feet) sea cliff at Orongo.
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