Tattoos

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Covering the arms, legs, and backs of many Polynesian men and women, tattoos in the South Seas are both a form of self-expression and deeply spiritual markings believed to bring luck, strength, and guidance. Once social symbols, they often marked life passages—from sacred marriage to acts of bravery in battle. Look closely, and the intertwining designs unravel to reveal the wearer’s life story.Covering the arms, legs, and backs of many Polynesian men and women, tattoos in the South Seas are both a form of self-expression and deeply spiritual markings believed to bring luck, strength, and guidance. Once social symbols, they often marked life passages—from sacred marriage to acts of bravery in battle. Look closely, and the intertwining designs unravel to reveal the wearer’s life story.

Tatau

Tattoo comes from the Polynesian word tatau, which means to hit repeatedly. Ancient islanders concocted a mixture of charcoal and sap, creating a dark colored ink. Then, wielding a mallet against a crude bone needle started a trend which lives on today in the modern tattoo parlors of the South Pacific.

History of tatoo

Over the millennia tattoos have held a special place in Polynesian culture. They evolved to tell the story of the Great Migration that settled the islands of Oceania. When tattooed Maori adventurers set out in their canoes to settle each island chain, they set up kingdoms, created their own cultures, and codified intricate sets of symbols unique to their island state. While each island’s art form is unique, the Marquesas Islands enjoy the reputation of having Oceania’s most distinctive tattoos. The 1600s brought a wave of European explorers and a rash of sailors, who inked up and literally transported tattoos to the European continent. When missionaries arrived to colonize the islands in the late 1700s, they banned the practice of tattooing. The art form was reborn in the 1980s and brought the celebrity of the Polynesian tattoo to the world stage. Now the ancient symbols of the Islands can be found on bodies the world over.

Designing a tatto

If you are a tattoo lover, Tahiti is a world-class destination for getting inked. Polynesian tattoo artists are renowned as magicians who weave ancient symbols into masterpieces of body art. The key to success is finding the right artist. To begin designing a personal tattoo, select a few basic symbols that hold meaning for you. Taking your lead, a talented virtuoso of ink will design a pattern around your totems, fill in the details of your life story, and create a meaningful work of art.

The language of tattoos

You can get the hang of speaking tattoo if you put your mind to it. Maori culture is shaped by legends of warriors, superstition, seafaring, and spirituality, each rich in iconic symbols that convey local folklore. Islanders use tikis, shark’s teeth, and orcas for protection, while fish and coconut flowers represent prosperity. Spiritual connection and divine energy are shown through birds, waves, and Marquesan crosses. The broader and more relevant the theme, the more symbols are available.

Prosperity

Prosperity

Fish

Health & Peace

Health & Peace

Turtle

Protection

Protection

Tiki

Warrior Energy

Warrior Energy

Spearhead

Travel

Travel

Bird

Tattoo body placement

Body language is everything. Where a Polynesian tattoo is placed reveals a lot about the wearer. An image on the head or face represents intuitive spirituality or wisdom. On the upper arms and shoulders, a tattoo denotes bravery. Legs signify transformation or moving forward while a tattoo on the torso is meant to convey sincerity, generosity and honor.

Hery, girl! Watcha wearin'?

Traditionally, Polynesian legacy held that women be tattooed only on the hands, legs, and feet. Nowadays it’s not unusual for a woman to sport a warrior’s armband, but there are also some decidedly feminine options available when selecting a tattoo. A little ring of tiaré flowers dancing around an anklebone represents grace, beauty, and sensuality. Or, a hibiscus flower perched between the shoulders signals feminine passion.

It runs in the family

Mihimana Tetuaiterai is a native Tahitian who was part of the Paul Gauguin Cruises dive team and is also a tattoo artist. Tattoos are quite prevalent in French Polynesia and so important to its people that Mihimana got his first tattoo when he was eight years old. The tattoo artist? His father. A Tahitian tattoo isn’t just a marking on the skin. It is about family and history. When asked why tattoos are so important to Tahitians, Mihimana references his father. “My father told me [a tattoo] is like your personality. It is like your name…this is your story.” The tattoos that cover Mihimana’s body reflect just that. Simply by asking him about his tattoos, one quickly learns that family and ancestry are extremely important to him, that the sea turtle holds great significance to his family (protection while fishing in the ocean), and that he holds many interests (including dancing).