The hagabi is a long wooden bench, carved from a single piece of wood, which is a symbol of wealth and social prestige among the Ifugao. An elaborate public feast (also called hagabi) is given by a man of the rank of kadangyan (wealthy man) as part of the ritual to create the bench.

Mumbaki (priests) first perform a ceremony called mamaldang to determine whether the omens are good enough to begin the ritual of searching for the right tree and carving the wood.

The woodcarvers then go to the forest where they select a large hardwood tree (usually narra), which they cut down and begin carving into a hagabi, which may take several days.

When it is finished, villagers go into the forest and take turns in carrying out the hagabi. It may take several days to get the hagabi to its destination as the mountain trails are narrow and steep and the people carrying it are intoxicated with rice wine.

Several days of eating, drinking, and dancing follow the installation of the hagabi.

The hagabi is placed on the stone-paved area under the eaves of the Ifugao hut and is used by the kadangyan to recline on. The ends of the bench are called ngiwit and usually resemble the head of an animal with a long snout and large ears.