The ultimate and unique souvenir from the South Pacific

If you had to pick one typical and unique souvenir from a country that you can only get there and nowhere else what would that be (and which country)? Ideally it should not be too bulky so that you would have to ship it home separately.

A traditional Samoan Tattoo, done with candlenut, and the bone piercing implements struck with a hammer. I was too young on my trips there, and thought it would be a dumb thing to do, but now that I've reconciled myself to trying to grow older disgracefully, it's way up on my list of things to do if I get back!

In the meantime I've collected some pretty special pieces:

A shark-tooth sword, traditional hat and eel trap from Kiribati
A tapa, war-club and Kava Bowl from Samoa
Tapa from Tonga, that is hanging in front of my desk as I type this
Penis Gourds & Lime Gourd from PNG
Pig-Killing Club from Vanuatu
Carved Tangaroa from Rarotonga

Memories and Friendships from all the above

Would adopting a Palauan son count?

Wood carvings (20-cm to 50-cm):

- Any of the amazing non-hairy carvings from PNG
- Nzoo-Nzoo (Nguzunguzu) from the Solomon Islands
- Any of the ancestral spirits from Ambrym/Vanuatu
- Tapwanu from Chuuk
- “Stone money” shaped carving from Yap
- Tobi Island squatting statue from Palau
- Four-pronged cannibal fork from Fiji
- Tangaroa from the Cook Islands
- Tiki from the Marquesas/French Polynesia
- Hikuleo from Tonga
- War club from Samoa
- Moai from Easter Island

I still have tapa and carvings from my first trip to some of the Pacific islands in 1982.

I try to get a cosume doll from most countries that I visit.

Some of the best other things I have got are:

A wooden gifaffe from Kenya.

A triangle shaped coin from the Cook Islands.

Just find this question curious in terms of the Pacific, because what always strikes me in a really profound way is the lack of materialism, or notion of personal "property" in the region. Everyone is right, there are some beautiful arts in the Pacific, but one of my favourite things from my time living in Tonga was learning about the communal ownership of koloa (mats, tapa, baskets and other treasures). In their lifetime, these items pass through hundreds of different families through out the islands in successive funerals and wedding, presented as a sign of respect and occasion.

Hand woven Bra's from Kiribati. Made from dried palm leaf I think. Not sure of the comfort factor but then I'm a male. They made great gifts.
The Kiribati fighting sword is another one, with shark teeth being placed along the leading and rear edges of the wooden stick.

Great stuff so far, keep going!

The gorgeous Sepik masks and storyboards from PNG are my absolute favourite souvenirs from anywhere.

When I saw it on the clothes line today - the big white towel that says "AGGIE GREY'S" down the middle!

Ok, besides my son, my repeat guest tee shirts, the many shell necklaces I was given, some earrings that one of my prisoner patients made me, and my breadfruit knife. Have never found a good use for it here stateside, but I love the idea that we lived on the stuff for quite a while.

currency/coins : esp $3 Bills from the Cook Islands
also have one of the original large $1 coins.

Ukulele from the Rarotonga's Prison.
These are real ones U can actually play - not some tourist crap.

my hand woven basket/bag with my name woven onto it that was my leaving present from a bwatnapni school, pentecost, vanuatu.

Solomon Island's custom money belt, used for bride price, compensation, feasts, etc. Heavy, though, but totally unique. And, as mentioned, Solomon Island's most famous figure, the Nguzunguzu.

Some of my favourites:
A Tongan-language Bible
A Samoan-language version of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
A tacky shell trinket that represents a rather charming "fleece the tourist" operation I was subjected to in Nadi
A Samoan kilikiti bat (one of those big three-sided ones)
* A photo of me and Night Rider, the motorbike I rented on Ma'uke. (I really bonded with that bike!)

What I'd like to get: stone money from Yap.

An autographed copy of LP's "Rarotonga and the Cook Islands", 5 th edition, written by Errol Hunt! [#15!]

Awww Raro, you say the nicest things!

Ok I'll add to the list my Cook Island Companion (by Raro), and my ancient, 2nd-edition Moon South Pacific Handbook (with typewriter font, and David sporting a crazy crazy beard.)

Incidentally I heard that Night Rider is no more. So sad.

Yeah, David's beard would have been a good souvenir---and your ponytail Errol??? :)

Re: Shark tooth sword;

I will be visiting Kiribati in a few weeks to visit a friend living there. After reading this thread and doing some research, I got my heart set on a shark tooth sword, but my friend says she's never seen a full size one for sale. Can anyone (Apollo?) explain how or where exactly one might find such a piece? Thanks

I got my shark tooth sword from a handicrafts co-op - it was either the one in Bikenibeu or in Betio - both on Tarawa Atoll (sorry - brain fade - it's been seven or eight years).

I think there were also some handicrafts available from the bookshop at the USP annex - in any case, some of the books available there are absolute treasures - have a look at "The Gilbertese Maneaba" by Harry Maude if it is still available!

My sword is about 70cm from top of handle to tip of decoration on end - shark-tooth bladed section is approx 42.5 cm (17 inches) with 30 teeth down each side of the blade.
I don't know whether that is "full size" but it remains an interesting and unusual treasure in my collection!

Have a wonderful trip - Tarawa is not an "easy" destination, but can be wonderfully interesting and rewarding.

Rob

Rob,

it sounds like you're talking 'full size'; she has seen really small ones (15-20 cm). I'll make sure to visit both of those places while in Tarawa. And thanks for the book idea! I'll be spending most of my Kiribati time on Marakei with my friend, but any other advice you have would be much appreciated. PM me as not to clutter this thread, I guess.

Thanks again!

John

Handmade Polynesian Tuna Lures from Vava'u, Tonga

Australia - Little coin purse made from a kangaroos scrotum. (didn't go down well at the wildlife expo I hear)
Vanuatu - small wooden carved Tam Tam (native drum). (better if it is not the made in china version)
NZ - small tiki carved from paua shell. (pretty hard to get a genuine one)
New Caledonie - A nice view as you overfly enroute to Vanuatu. lol