belt

Kafa. Girdle. Kafa is coconut sennit cordage which has many uses in Tonga. It can be used to lash fale (houses), vaka (canoes), or any two ,materials together in lieu of nails. Kafa can also function as a girdle to tie and hold up ta'ovala (waistmat). Kafa when used as a tie for a ta'ovala can also be made out of synthetic materials such as wool, rope or ribbon. This kafa is made from both natural and synthetic materials. Plaited lengths of kafa pulu'i niu (coconut husk kafa) as well as plaited black synthetic nylon rope are plaited and woven together to make a large and long kafa. From the way it is plaited the brown and black colours contrast well with each other.