Final answer:
It is false that interisland travel was common between Rapa Nui and other Polynesian islands, as Rapa Nui's inhabitants became isolated due to resource depletion, particularly the decline of trees needed for building canoes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about interisland travel being common between Rapa Nui and other Polynesian Islands such as Mangareva, Pitcairn, and Henderson is false. Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world, situated over two thousand miles from the nearest island or mainland. The early inhabitants of Rapa Nui managed to arrive there by crossing the vast Pacific Ocean in canoes, which suggests a significant level of skill and ocean navigation capabilities. However, as the island's natural resources were depleted, mainly due to deforestation for the construction of homes, fires, and canoes, the inhabitants became isolated and unable to continue such voyages. Hence, interisland travel would not have been common once wood was scarce and the inhabitants were essentially trapped without the means to build seaworthy vessels. Moreover, the impact of European invasions, South American incursions, diseases, and competition for resources eventually led to the collapse of the Rapa Nui culture.