disasters and agriculture in the pacific islands - Pacific Disaster Net

Table 27: The coconut and its uses inTuvalu.Coconut part Tuvaluan TermDescriptionNuts mukomuko Only for drinking, without kernelutopimotomotoFuaniuufanu (pulapula)taumeFor drinking, kernel and husk eatenThe drinking nut with the soft kernel, favoured by young and old, also used for cooking, aswell as for feeding to hens and pigs. Husk is used for making coconut fibre string and also forsurrounding the earth oven. Hard shell used as a container in the earth oven.With a harder shell and thicker kernel. This type is used for food and fodder for pigs. Hardshells are likewise used as food containers in the earth oven.The ripe nut. Kernel eaten raw; used grated and pressed in cooking (coconut milk) and forbody oil, copra (also for eating) and for pig fodder. Husk used as combustible material for oras "corks" or vessels, as flasks for oil, as markers during games (Iafo), hooks andcombustible materialThe germinating nut. Contents eaten raw and used for cookingFor the production of fire-brands and fire tongsInflorescence Cut to obtain toddyLeaves kaumoe The young leaf before it unfolds, used for weaving fans and baskets and for tying skirtslauniukaulamakautuaniupalalafakakaGreen fronds, used for weaving floor mats, food plates, covering and balls for games; fortying skirts, for belts for those who climb palm trees, for magic, for "wind-mill" toys and forwrapping around fish being put in an earth ovenOld, brown fronds, used for blinds, food plates roofing, torches for fishing, containers forcompost (plaited and wound round), skirts, garland of flowers, compost and combustiblematerialMidribs of the frond leaflets, used for brooms, fastening the pandanus leaves forming thesegments of thatch, baskets, fans, "wind-mills" and toy canoes, for strengthening the sides ofbonito hooks, as skewers for cooking fish and as "arrows" for shooting fishFrond midrib, when green: used as a pole for carrying, for stirring food, as a weapon inmock fights, as an improvised coconut grater (with coconut shell), as an improvised tool forhusking coconuts, as walls inside and outside the houses, pieces are used as toy clappers,and when split, used as a belt for carrying fish. When old and grey: used as roof patterns, asthe support for the pandanus leaves used in the segments of thatch, for the platform insleeping houses, for stirring food, for walls, covering, room partitions and as combustiblematerialNatural fibre cloth from the base of the leaf stalk;(Iaufaka)used as a filter bag for grated coconut meat/body oil, as herbal medicine, as a filter for toddy,as tinder when making a fire and as combustible materialStem koganui (tafito) Used as supporting posts or beams for houses, for roof battens, house surrounds, spears,props, pigsty fences and fuel for lime-burningBark laukili c(pakili) Used as an ingredient for scenting body oil, for smoking skirts and as combustible materialRoots aka Used for fish traps, sand screens and medicineSource: Koch, 1961:50.