English 
Español Happy New Year!
Dear Friends of EISP,
This letter brings New Year greetings for a happy and productive 2019! Thanks to everyone for their support and interest in our research, and especially to our colleagues who have shared so much information now being shaped for inclusion in our major writing project, the “Easter Island Atlas” due to be completed (fingers crossed!) by the end of this year.
The past year ended with the great event of the Early Pacific Migration and Navigation Conference. Held at Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui and organized by archaeologist Sonia Haoa and her Mata Ki Te Rangi Rapa Nui Foundation team, the conference offered a wonderful series of interesting papers and great social events. EISP sponsored the attendance of four members of our team, and we delivered four interrelated papers. We were joined by good friends and supporters from UCLA, and we all reveled in the warm hospitality of the Rapanui community.
At the Mana Gallery we launched Mana Press with a great party for the attendees! Our new series of “small books” is edited with Adrienne L. Kaepper. The first is entitled “The Iconic Tattooed Man of Easter Island.” The second will be out later this year and will focus on Rapanui music. We also presented the Spanish translation of my “Among Stone Giants” by José Miguel Ramírez and published by Rapa Nui Press.
I am very pleased and proud to say that, during the opening reception, I was one of three recipients of an award presented by Sonia Haoa and given for “humanitarian values” and respect shown the “traditions and values of the past” through archaeological research.
All in all, a wonderful year.
Kind regards,
Jo Anne Van Tilburg
Charles Stanish, Jo Anne Van Tilburg, and Charlie Steinmetz at the opening reception for the Early Pacific Migration and Navigation Conference, Rapa Nui, November 2018.
Sarah Sherwood presenting at the Early Pacific Migration and Navigation Conference, Rapa Nui, November 2018.
Mana Gallery opening for the launch of Mana Press, November 2018.
Mana Gallery opening for the launch of Mana Press, November 2018.