Te ili

Ili. Fan. This is an ili made of tuaaniu (coconut midrib), kaumoe (immature coconut leaf), laukie (soft pandanus), vulu, wool and fulu moa (chicken feathers). The tuaaniu have been braided to form the spine of the blade as well as the handle. The cylindrical handle is then encased in lalaga (woven) laukie. A natural beige laukie and a black laukie are lalaga to form a checkerboard pattern along the handle. The handle then flares to form a circular blade made of tightly lashed tuaaniu. Thin strips of kaumoe lash the tuaaniu and are a light beige colour. An orange laukie, a red laukie and a green laukie have been dyed and used to form a decorative line around the blade. White fulu moa and vulu also form a decorative border around the edge of the blade. As in many parts of the Pacific, ili were used to keep cool in the hot weather, and often presented as gifts.