Biebuyck observes in his note for the book that the commoners in Tahiti were not allowed to wear feathers in their hair, but used a number of alternatives such as garlands of shells, flowers or leaves. He suggests that this type of headband might fall into the category called hei. Heermann, I., and Menter, U., Schmuck der Sdsee, Munich, 1990, illustrate a similar necklace as from Samoa, p.124, fig.69 (2)