By 2080, rising sea levels could cause seasonal waves to reach Ahu Tongariki, the iconic ceremonial platform that is part of the Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, according to a study published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage by a team of researchers from the UH at Mānoa. This coastal flooding also threatens 51 cultural assets in the area, including Rapa Nui's world-renowned moai statues.