Like the materials for tapa, almost all motifs were based on natural world phenomena. In most communities, for example, the natural patterns of pandanus or palm leaves informed refined geometric patterns. In Niuean hiapo, these decorative patterns were often complemented with more naturalistic arrangements of leafy fronds and branches. Hiapo were typically hand-painted in detailed fine-line compositions. Niue still imports rolls of tapa strips for its hiapo, many of which are smaller than in other islands, and often circular in format.