Te ili

Ili. Fan. This is an ili made of tuaaniu (coconut midrib), kaumoe (immature coconut leaf), laukie (soft pandanus) and fulu kaleva (kaleva feathers). Tuaaniu are braided to form the spine of the blade as well as the handle. The handle is cylindrical in shape and is encased in lalaga (woven) laukie. A beige laukie and a black laukie form a checkerboard design along the handle. The blade is circular in shape and is made of tightly lashed tuaaniu. Thin strips of kaumoe hold the tuaaniu but also serve as a decorative feature. Triangular motifs decorate both sides of the blade. One side uses orange laukie while the other uses red laukie. The ili is also bordered with a row of white fulu kaleva. As in many parts of the Pacific, ili were used to keep cool in hot weather and often presented as gifts.