Fish hook TOKELAU

Traditional Tokelauan Fish Hook – “Te-Kau-hi-palu”
This handcrafted Tokelauan fish hook, known as “Te Kau-hi-palu”, is a culturally significant artifact traditionally used for deep-sea fishing in the Pacific. Made from the extremely hard gagie wood and bound with coconut fibre rope (Te Afo), the hook showcases expert craftsmanship and indigenous fishing knowledge. Designed with a unique method that allows the fish to hook itself as it descends, it was capable of catching fish over 200kg from depths of more than 100 fathoms. Commonly used to catch castor oil fish (palu), groper, and sharks, this hook represents a powerful blend of artistry and function in Tokelauan heritage. A very large finely made example 43cm