6 Best Souvenirs & Gifts From Wallis & Futuna

A traditional craft from Wallis and Futuna, tapa is a canvas made from the flattened bark of a mulberry tree.

These canvases are then painted with an array of island-inspired patterns and designs, typically using a hand-carved stencil and naturally derived paints, which is why you’ll only ever see black, brown and red colours used.

While gatu (giant tapa) are made as customary or religious offerings, some smaller tapa gifts we've seen include passport holders, notebooks and other accessories.

Where to buy: Veiogo Tapa (Lotoalahi, Wallis), Gie Alo (Mala'e, Futuna) and more.

Intricately woven baskets, bags, fans, fine mats, earrings and more; it’s amazing the array of crafts Wallisian and Futunan women can weave using the fine fibres of the pandanus tree.

Also known as fala in Wallisian, there is a wealth of unique designs popping up in all sorts of hues and patterns.

Where to buy: Atuhakevalu (Alele, Wallis), Gie d'Aka'aka (Aka'aka, Wallis), Gie de Tepa (Tepa, Wallis) and more.

A traditional art form in Wallis and Futuna, wooden carvings are highly prized souvenirs.

You’ll find a wide variety of traditional carvings, from turtles to tanoa bowls used for drinking kava, but you can also find all sorts of practical items for modern-day uses, such as placemats and cutting boards.

Designs are usually inspired by the myths and legends of Wallis and Futuna’s ancestors, as well as drawing inspiration from the natural world of the South Pacific.

Where to buy: Atuhakevalu (Alele, Wallis) and more.

You might not be able to pack these in your suitcase, but flower garlands are truly the beating heart of Wallis and Futuna.

Exclusively crafted by the island's women, flower garlands are a living art form and a way of life. You'll see locals wearing them everywhere: to work, important meetings and graduation!

The moment you step off the plane, you'll be enchanted by the sweet scent of tiaré blossom garlands. Better yet, there is an incredible variety of fragrant plants and flowers that exist nowhere else on earth. Locals tell us there are supposedly as many different flower necklace combinations as there are days in the year, with koli, mapa, pua, paogo, higano, heahea and hea being just some of the endemic flowers used for such creations.

Don't be surprised if someone offers you their own necklace during your visit. It's a genuine gesture of friendship and welcome that'll warm your heart.

The king of all flower garlands, if you're lucky enough to see a kahoa kakala, this represents natural heritage that Wallisians and Futunans are fiercely committed to preserving, with up to 17 different plants on one garland. You won't be taking one home with you but, trust us, that intoxicating fragrance will stay with you long after you've left the islands.

Where to buy: You are more likely to be gifted a garland, but they are available to purchase from stores all over Wallis and Futuna.

A common handicraft necklace that you will be able to take home with you, shell necklaces are a common craft found in Wallis and Futuna.

Once its host has stopped adorning the shell, the shells make for colourful and attractive beads for jewellery, doing a fine job of capturing the islands' oceanic beauty.

Where to buy: Atuhakevalu (Alele, Wallis), Gie d'Aka'aka (Aka'aka, Wallis), Gie de Tepa (Tepa, Wallis), Gie Alo (Mala'e, Futuna) and more.

100% grown and processed in Wallis and Futuna, tuitui (candlenut) and coconut oils make perfect gifts for yourself or loved ones back home.

Tuitui oil is cold-pressed candlenut oil that has been used by locals for generations. This golden, nutrient-dense treasure is renowned for its intense moisturising and skin-healing properties.

Meanwhile, coconut oil is another fantastic souvenir option that's incredibly versatile. You can use it to hydrate your skin or add it to your cooking back home, and you'll find it available in a range of products that make excellent gifts.

Where to buy: All over Wallis and Futuna.