Sennit

Sennit is a type of cordage made by plaiting strands of dried fibre or grass.

Sennit is an important material in the cultures of Oceania, where it is used in traditional architecture, boat building, fishing and as an ornamentation.

The term is also used in Hawaii and throughout Polynesia for cordage made by braiding the fibers of coconut husks.

It was important in attaching the ʻama (outrigger float) via the iako (spars) to the hull of canoes, stones to war-club handles, erecting hale (houses), etc.

A significant quote from the book, made by a village chief to Gibbings, emphasises the importance of sennit in Samoan culture: "In your country," said a chief to me, "only a few men can make nails, but in Samoa, everyone can make nails" (p. 118).

Magimagi sennit of Fiji around wooden ceiling posts.
A sacred god figure wrapping in sennit for the Tahitian war god 'Oro .
Polynesian ceremonial stone adze ( toʻi or toki in Polynesian languages ) lashed in sennit around the blade with carved handle, 1891-1892