the art of weaving pandanus - rurutu

The craft of weaving the leaves of the pandanus tree is common throughout the Australs.  The leaves are cut from the tree and laid out to dry in the sun, after which the fronds are painstakingly interlaced by hand into beautiful hats, mats, and bags.  Some of these pieces are sold to the few visitors who pass through the Australs, but many are used by the islanders, especially on Sundays, when most of the population heads to church in their Sunday best, adorned with flowers in their hair or elegant pandanus hats.