The Tuiga Fau or Tuiga Fafau is a traditional Samoan headdress that is made up of 5 parts

1. Pou (foundation)

   • This is where the hair is wrapped in a tight bun and fixed with cloth to make a firm post where the rest of the parts are attached to.

2. Lave & Fa’ai’ila

   • In their original design, Tuiga headdresses were intricate creations, comprised of multiple individual components that were affixed to the wearer's head, forming a unified structure. These compositions featured some of the most treasured, highly sought-after, and often sacred materials in Samoan culture. When worn together, they symbolized authority, power, and affluence.

   • The lave, which served as the crest or vertical framework made of sticks, typically incorporated a central plate crafted from laumei (turtle) shell, adorned with circular inlays of tifa (mother of pearl).

3. Lauūlu

   • Additionally, the lauulu, bundles of human hair, also known as lauao, held intrinsic sanctity due to the close connection between hair and the head.

   • Across Polynesian cultures, the head was regarded as the most sacred part of the body. Consequently, a person's head and hair were believed to embody their mana, or spiritual power. To emphasize this concept further, the lauulu bundles underwent a bleaching process called fa‘aenaena, resulting in a reddish-light brown or blonde-brown shade.

4. Pale Fuiono

   • The pale fuiono, a headband traditionally crafted from nautilus shells, played a vital role in the headdress, but it was also an accessory that could be worn independently.

   • These fuiono shells, known for their pearly bluish sheen, held great value because they were rarely found in Samoan waters and were frequently brought in from Tonga to satisfy the demand.

   • The sections of the nautilus shell used in creating the pale fuiono were the innermost 'core' and septum pieces, meticulously arranged in two rows.

5. Sei Fulumanu or the ‘ie ula

   • The most prestigious part of the Tuiga was the 'ie ula, a bundle created from strands of vibrant red feathers. Crafting these bundles followed a similar process as making the titi‘ula, a red feather girdle, and they featured the rare and precious feathers of the sega bird (sega‘ula/segavao).

   • These red feathers held a significance in Samoa akin to that of gold. They became a valuable commodity, sparking trade exchanges with other prized goods among Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji.

   • These feathers were not only cherished for their natural red hue, symbolizing the presence of mana, but also for their connections to divine deities in the ancient Samoan belief system before the arrival of Christianity.

Tuiga Pulou

In contrast, the Tuiga Pulou offers a more modern and convenient alternative. In this version, all the components that would typically be separate have been attached to a hat-like structure for easy slip-on and slip-off convenience.