Ethnology of Tokelau Islands
Headbands and Sandals
Headbands and Sandals
Formerly the natives wore narrow headbands of plaited matting similar to the matting of their malos. They wore eyeshades (taumata) of braided coconut leaf to protect their eyes while fishing.
Sandals (taka) were used only for walking over the sharp coral reefs. They were made with sennit braid (kafa), but the technique has been forgotten. A temporary foot protection was made by binding sennit across the instep, under the sole, and around the ankle in a figure-of-eight pattern. Flat pieces of wood or coconut husk were sometimes bound to the soles of the feet for protection.