Ili

Ili. Fan. This is a handheld ili, made for everyday, domestic use. It is made up of dried lau niu (coconut leaf), wood and string. This ili is flat and leaf-like in shape. The 'au (handle) is of wood, using a dark-brown string to bind the lau niu in the top area of the 'au. The lau niu is fili (plaited) on both sides. The lau niu from the fili is used to ensue the lalaga process, creating the leaf-like body of the lau (leaf or blade). The lau is made up of three different styles of lalaga, which includes the ola technique. The binding string is adorned with strips of lau niu in serrated patterns.