GREENE — Araxine Wilkins Sawyer Memorial will show the film “Rapa Nui: Easter Island,” offering a glimpse of life on the island through the eyes of its Polynesian people, on Friday, June 17.

Providing commentary will be Professor Willis H. A. Moore of Honolulu, who teaches history, geography, religion and political science at the Chaminade University of Honolulu and is a travelogue and documentary film lecturer affiliated with the Hawaii Geographic Society and National Audubon Society.

Easter Island, Isla de Pascua was “discovered” by a Dutch explorer in the early 1700s and is named for the day he arrived.

Rapa Nui, meaning large island, is the name inhabitants gave their home long before it was visited by outsiders.

By the end of the 19th century, La Republic de Chile had laid claim to the island and provides governance and oversight to this day.

The official languages are Rapa Nui Polynesian and Spanish.

English Lt. James Cook visited Rapa Nui on his second journey in the Pacific in the 1770s, noting the small population, general lack of trees and spectacular stone statue heads positioned over much of the island.

The people of Rapa Nui today play host to visitors and tourists from all over the world who come to see their spectacular stone carvings, visit their volcano crater and relax on the remote islands.

The 75-minute film will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m. Sawyer Memorial is at 371 Sawyer Road. For more information, call 946-5311 or visit www.sawyer-foundation.com.

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