Puna Pau

Puna Pau is a small extinct volcanic crater on Easter Island, approximately 7 km from Hanga Roa, that served as the sole quarry for the red scoria (hani hani) used to carve pukao -- the cylindrical topknots placed atop moai statues. The soft, iron oxide-rich volcanic stone was intensively quarried between the 14th and 17th centuries, with roughly one-third of the crater consumed for pukao production. Beyond pukao, artisans also carved small statues, water containers, and moai eyes from this material. Red held sacred significance in Rapanui culture, associated with mana (spiritual power).