In 2001 I was living on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. My daughter, Chicha, had to do a science project. We decided to make coconut oil from coconuts harvested at our home. We had help from Chicha's sister, Javelynn.
Gathering coconuts in the back yard.
Husking the nuts. This husker is steel. The old huskers were made of wood hardened in fire.
Husking is hard work.
After husking, the kernel is left.
Grating coconut meat the old style way. This grater has a metal blade. In the old days they were made from sea shells.
More hard work.
Even Dad helped.
The grated coconut meat is mixed with warm water.
Squeeze it to remove the oil.
Strain the coconut cream.
Boil and boil to remove the water.
It takes several hours.
Getting there....
Keep stirring to keep it from burning.
Finally! Pure coconut oil in the left hand jar. Oil plus coconut sugar in the two glasses
Photographs and text copyright Michael Newman: 2024