Who does the moai statues represent?

The moai statues of Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, are believed to represent the ancestors of the island's people. They are thought to embody the spirits of important leaders or chiefs and serve as a means of honoring and connecting with ancestral lineage. The statues were typically placed on stone platforms called ahu, which also served as burial sites for these individuals, reinforcing their significance in the island's cultural and spiritual life.