Ethnobotany material culture presentations

Emillia presented a peig from Satawal, Yap, woven from banana fibers. These outer island wrap skirts take months from plant to product to produce and are important as gifts.


In spring 2007 the class was informed that a Pohnpeian ngarangar is used these days primarily in association with drinking sakau. Consumption of other liquids has moved to glasses. When used in a nahs with high titles present and sakau in the ngarangar, the ngarangar takes on a new name: kohwa. Priana presented the ngarangar. Discussion noted that the ngarangar is often handed down through the generations - they can last many years and are accorded great respect.

Fall 2007 another student reported that a rough, unfinished coconut cup not yet used for sakau is termed a ngarangar. A finished cup that has held sakau gains the name kohwa. When called by a menindei the kohwa is termed kohwailoang (high cup). Details on the sakau ceremony and the meaning of some of the terms used are noted on another page.

The page with information on the ceremony includes a third take on the names of the cup:

The coconut cup that receives the sakau has a number of names that may reflect municipal or situational differences. The cup can "name shift" during the course of a ceremony. The coconut cup is generically a ngarangar. Other names include kohwa, kohwaleng (kowahloang), and koupahloang (Koaupahloang) (women's cup). [Words that may relate to the cup: Katehria, kowahleng, koahnpwud also called Delen sakau (Doaloan sakau).]

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