Te bakabaka. Clamshell pounder. This is a pounder. It is an implement used in preparing food or fibre. It has been carved from te aubunga (tridacna gigas; clam shell). It is cylindrical in form with a wide depth that defines where it has been cut fro te aubunga. The exterior of the shell is defined by the convex area of te bakaka. The surface texture of the shell's exterior is dappled with pores and curved ridges that define the shells lines of growth. A tarnished base that shows a reddish, brown residue shows the base area of te bakabaka that would make contact when in use. The underside of the shell can be defined by the concave surface. It is smooth in surface texture. It is heavy in weight and off-white in colour. This type of pounder would be used for pounding food or the coconut palm leaf in preparation for making te riri (skirts). The hard material of te aubunga is considered valuable in producing tools such as te bakabaka as it does not splinter.