Used to soft the dried pandanus leaves (Maan) before the weaving.
Price: $45
The making of all mats in the Marshall Islands wouldn’t be possible without the use of the heavy pounders known as dekã in nin (literally translated as ‘stone of pound’). These larger, heavy pounders are mainly used to soften the dried pandanus leaves (maan) that are used to weave mats (jaki). They can, however, be used in the making of many traditional medicines and to soften some types of food.
WAM staff and trainees use hardwoods such as the wood from the lukwej tree to make the pounders.
Betty Lobwij, who at that time was an apprentice weaver, learns to use a pounder (dekã in nin) to soften the dried pandanus leaves in preparation of making a jaki-ed (clothing mat).