Te binobino n ai onauti

Te binobino n ai onauti. Fishing float. This is a float used in te kabwabwa (fishing). It is made from te binobino (a hollowed coconut shell receptacle). The surface of te binobino has been ground and a large circular perforation has been made at the top through one of its three eyes. It is pale brown in colour, mostly smooth in surface with some remnants of its original husk layers present. A short cylindrical rod that has been carved from from the aerial roots of te ira (Pandanus) has been inserted into te binobino. A long piece of kora (cordage made of coconut husk fibres) has been attached to it. The kora extends, becoming te nimwaewae (human hair and coconut sennit husk twined into cordage). The end of te nimwaewae features a small, loose knot where the presence of a hook may have once been attached. An additional component to te binobino n ai onouti has been made from te ira (pandanus leaves). It has been coiled and wrapped to form a cork that is used to plug the circular perforation of the binobino. When not in use, the kora would be coiled and stored inside te binobino then covered with the plug of te ira. When in use, the cord would be unravelled. A piece of bait would be secured to the end and then thrown into the water. The circular perforation would be plugged with te ira allowing te binobino to act as a float. The float would bob in the water when the bait has attracted a catch.