Polynesian Tattoos

Polynesia

Polynesia, a word coming from Greek that means "many islands", is actually a grouping of over 1000 islands that are located in the southern and central Pacific Ocean. French Polynesia, a portion of these islands that were settled by the French, is also included in this group.

The islands of Polynesia can be described as the islands that fall within the "Polynesian Triangle", which has its points at Hawaii, New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Easter Island (Rapa Nui). The islands found inside this triangle include such well known islands as Somoa, Figi and Tonga. The Polynesian culture is not contained to these islands or this island area, however, because there is evidence that the Polynesians settled and spread their beliefs and styles to other islands like Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands.

Anthropologists believe that most of the residents of Polynesia originally survived through farming, fishing and limited trade with ships that came through the area. The Europeans that stopped here for supplies eventually spread Christianity to the islands, and today most of the residents here are Christian. Farming and fishing are still used to allow the Polynesians to subsist, but most of these islands gain most of their income today from tourism.

Polynesian Tattoos

Polynesian tattoos cover a broad range of tattoo styles... some examples are Hawaiian tattoos and Maori tattoos, but there are others styles like Samoan, Marquesan and Tahitian as well. Each island in Polynesia has its own style, and while there may be similarities between the imagery used, interpretations of the styles vary.

There are several different things to consider when deciding on which Polynesian tattoos you are going to get. Remember that these tattoos, like so many other cultural markings, have very specific meanings. Having lines placed to "look" Polynesian may in fact be making an incorrect statement. It is important to make sure that your tattoo artist is knowledgeable about the placement and meaning of designs.

Choosing a Polynesian Tat

One good way to choose a Polynesian tattoo is to research the meanings of the many symbols used. One great resource is the Online Handbook from Tahiti Tatou. This resource allows you to see the meanings of not just the symbols that are being used but the meanings based on the location of the symbols on the body.

Another good resource is the book Die Marquesaner und ihre Kunst (written in German) by Karl von den Steinen. Written in 1925, it was considered the "Bible" of Polynesian tattoos for many years. It is now out of print, but can be found in libraries and specialty book stores.

Many people want to have things written in a Polynesian style on their bodies, or contained within their tattoos. There is no real written Polynesian language, aside from the Easter Island Rongo-Rongo. This language is a series of pictographs that have not yet been deciphered. Some artists will create words and sayings in a Polynesian script style, using the angles and symbols from styles like Hawaiian and Samoan in order to create words.

Finally, it is important to realize that most Polynesian tattoo artists will not work with flash tattoo art. They will choose the tattoo that means what you want to say, or that they feel is correct for you and your situation. Many tattoo artists won't give you a flash tattoo because each tattoo must be unique for the individual.

Where to Get Tattooed

Getting a Polynesian tat that is done correctly is even more important than tattoos from other cultures. Be sure to find a tattoo artist and shop that specializes in Polynesian work - especially if you plan to get a Maori face tattoo (Moko). A listing of tattoo studios who work in Polynesian styles can be found here.