The leaves would be used in a balangai or gupot higai, a large-scale gathering where families and neighbors would work together to repair the roofs for their homes. Whoever was having their roof thatched would have to provide food and drink for those working. Singing was common to help keep the work light.

The gupot higai was a common event in the Marianas prior to World War II, and a regular metaphor for the sense of chenchule’ or reciprocity amongst CHamorus. In exchange for everyone pooling their labor and giving up one day to help a neighbor, all knew that when it came time to thatch the roofs for their homes, they would be taken care of.

The cultural value of inafa’maolek has its roots in these types of communal activities, where labor, time and resources are shared by individuals to benefit the larger collective, whether the family or the village.