Manutara is a sacred bird in the traditional Rapa Nui performances. It was worshiped and was an important part of the Tangata Manu ritual. Manutara also represented good luck. The name itself translates as 'bird of luck'. The luck is probably associated with the arrival of birds on the island, which coincides with the end of winter and the beginning of the season with a large abundance of eggs and fish. Perhaps these reasons later made Manutara the center of the birdman ritual.
