Enrique Ika

Enrique Ika a Tuʻu Hati (c. 1859 – after 1900) was elected ‘ariki (king) of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in 1900 and led a failed rebellion.

The Chilean government abandoned the settlement in 1892 due to political troubles on the mainland, which was embroiled in civil war, and this prompted the Rapa Nui to reassert their independence.

Although both were of the Miru clan, Ika was more closely related to Kerekorio Manu Rangi, the last undisputed ‘ariki mau, who died during an outbreak of tuberculosis in 1867.

[1] However, Kāinga's cousin Maria Angata Veri Tahi 'a Pengo Hare Kohou, a Catholic catechist and prophet, organized many of the island's women in his support.

[13][14] According to the accounts of Bienvenido de Estella, Sánchez declared to the islanders, "Ya no hay más rey en la isla.

while Ika responded "No, todavía hay rey: yo lo soy"[15] Sánchez later wrote in 1921, “...desde que se supo la muerte del Rey puse mano firme para terminar con esta dinastía y creo haberlo conseguido porque no se habló más del sucesor de Riro Roco.”[16] Riro Kāinga has been generally referred to as the last king of Easter Island.

When the news of Riro's death arrived in Easter Island, Prime Minister Ika was considered the natural successor.

In the end of March 1900, the schooner Maria Luisa brought Merlet and a dozen armed guardians to join the force of the company.

Restoring the so-called "pax merletiana", Merlet burned the Rapa Nui owned plantations to make them dependent on the company's grocery store.

In May 1900, Chilean Naval corvette Baquedano under the command of Captain Arturo Wilson Navarrete brought back two Rapa Nui who had accompanied King Riro to the continent three years ago, Tepano and José Pirivato.

Personal pretension, supported by Chilean officers who needed a responsible intermediary to deal with the population, might have contributed toward the restoration of power to this fictitious and ephemeral royalty.