Ili (Woven Fan)

A woven palm-leaf fan used both to cool food and diners in warm climates and, in a cooking context, to fan the coals of an open fire or umu oven for even heat.

Material & Construction

Woven from pandanus or coconut palm leaves into a flat paddle shape, often with a decoratively plaited handle and border.

Traditional Uses

Fanning fire and coals to regulate heat during outdoor and earth-oven cooking, and cooling cooked food or fanning diners during outdoor communal meals.

Modern Availability / Equivalents

An electric fan or a piece of cardboard serves the practical fanning function; the woven fan remains in active use for outdoor and traditional cooking contexts specifically.

Care & Maintenance

Keep dry between uses to prevent mold in the woven leaf material; a fan exposed to constant smoke and heat is generally treated as replaceable rather than long-preserved.