With just nine rooms spread across three traditional hares, low, open-plan houses linked by wooden walkways, Hare Uta feels more like a private residence than a hotel. Designed to echo the island’s ancestral architecture, the lodge blends simple modern comforts with Polynesian warmth.

Interiors are all wood and stone, bathed in natural light, and surrounded by gardens. The heart of the property, the motu umanga, houses a volcanic-stone solarium, massage room, restaurant and bar. Here, guests gather after long, dusty days to share stories over local fish and garden-grown vegetables, just a short drive from the mysteries of the moai.