Yap Cultural Dance

Here are a few pictures of the local people involved in the festivities:

More precious than stone money. And she is hiding a machete behind her back! She is six years old and will start first grade this year.

 

Cutting the top off the coconut for us to drink the liquid inside.

 

Young girls applying oil and turmeric to the skin in preparation for the dance.

Stone money, a very large and valuable one.

 

Colorful skirts made of pandanus leaves.

 

Grandmother weaving a basket while her granddaughters weave a smaller item. The grandmother is from Chuuk and  married a man from Yap. She has lived in Pohnpei and Guam, then Yap. She makes the necessary adornments for the girls' dance.

Starting out young with his basket and helping Mom.

Yes, that is a diaper under that loin cloth!

 

Beautiful local girl.

Elder of the village.

These feet probably walked a million miles.

Grandmother made the arm and head bands for the girls.

Dancer preparing for the show.