This paper draws on epistemology, theory, published data, hypothesis testing and synthesis to explore the predictive and explanatory power of a far-from-equilibrium interpretation of the history of human settlement on Rapa Nui. Our interpretation of the last 1500 years of human settlement on Rapa Nui provides an important competing hypothesis by which to test the explanatory power of earlier equilibrium interpretations of this history. Our evaluation of this competing hypothesis suggests that it provides, overall, a more satisfactory theory that has interesting implications for the goal of sustaining human civilisation.