Your Questions About Polynesian Tattoos

admin answers:

Depends on the Polynesian that you ask. Me personally, I think it’s pretty cool that others from outside our cultures want our tattoos. It shows me that there is an appreciation and possibly a respect for our traditions, maybe even our heritage.

Here is a video of a person getting a Polynesian tattoo in the traditional way. Does he look in any way like a Polynesian?
Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFpHnpW2fYw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

admin answers:

1) You mean Samoan

2) Traditional Samoan tattooing or Pe’a is on the lower body of men, from the waist to the knees, is immensely painful, and has much significance to the native people of Samoa.

3) The picture you have used is a generic Polynesian tattoo

4) The only person you should allow to tattoo you in the Polynesian/Ta Moko/Tatau way is someone who has been trained to do so and thus won’t tattoo you with the wrong thing. This kind of body art is individual specific, and if you were to get someone elses Ta Moko, that would be like stealing their wallet and performing identity theft.

admin answers:

Lol, so why do you think something that came from the ground has anything to do with non-whites? What people figured out to do WITH that stuff from the ground that is what you can point to. And like the overwhelming mjaority of stuff that came from the ground, it was skill and knowledge in farming and selection and encouraging breeds that makes much of the common foods we eat today very, very different from the stuff non-whites found first. NONE of the varities of potato we eat today that originated where the incans in peru and bolivia lived… Are nothing like the potatos that grew when the incans lived. Most of the strains that would be grown in peru and bolivia today…are the strains developed SINCE.

Tatooing existed all over the world…it was after running into the Polynesians in the ‘modern’ day, that it re entered western popular culture.

Tats and things like surfing … What you are referring to is called cultural appropriation.

Why do non-whites think wearing a suit and tie is not a white thing?

admin answers:

It’s hard to predict what the weather will be like in October in Waikiki. Lately our days have been in the lower to mid 80’s with nighttime temperatures dropping to the mid 60’s to lower 70’s.

Depending on where you’re coming from, I would bring along shorts and t-shirts and pack a pair of jeans and a light jacket just in case.

I would suggest you check out Hanauma Bay and Polynesian Cultural Center. Both of these activites are all day activities so be prepared. I would suggest you go to Hanauma Bay in the early am to get yourself a good spot in the shade (as it usually gets quite warm and crowded as the day progresses). Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays I believe.

Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is definately worth taking the drive out there. You’ll be able to see lots of different polynesian cultures and experience first hand lots of different activities that are native to those cultures. They also have a great dinner show. Transportation to PCC should be available from Waikiki, just ask your conceirge at your hotel for pricing information and pick up times.

As far as the tattoo goes, there are lots of different shops down in Waikiki. Good luck finding one that fits your price range and artistic style. I would suggest you do it after you do your swimming and such as you’ll want to keep out of the water once you do it.

Hope that helps you…..good luck and happy travels!

admin answers:

Yes. The Maori art of tattooing is called ‘Ta Moko’ and is a highly detailed process whereby every line created has meaning.

I can’t speak for other Polynesian cultures because I don’t know enough about them but I am Maori and do have a small understanding of ta moko. Because Maori never had a written language, all of their stories, legends, and family history were passed down either orally or through carving, weaving and tattooing.
Men traditionally received full, or partial face tattoos and tattoos covering the buttocks and thighs. These designs told everything from that individual’s whakapapa (geneology) to their tribal affiliations to their social and warrior status to their mental and spiritual prowess etc. Essentially it became an early form of a passport lol. However, a person was never tattooed at just one point in time. It would be gradually added to over the years as that person matured until eventually the whole face for instance would be covered. In some tribes, it wasn’t uncommon for other parts of the body to be tattooed where there was more to tell about that person but there was no longer any space left to tell it.
Women received moko on the chin and at times, the upper lip and forehead. Nowadays, it’s uncommon to see these latter two body parts tattooed although some mature Maori women still receive facial tattoos. Full facial tattoos for men are also rare but still have their place with a select group of individuals. Ironically, it was Maori gangs who revived the art of Maori tattooing because they frequently tattooed themselves as a form of intimidation.

It’s important to remember that although there are similarities in design between various iwi (tribes) there are also many differences and so for one tribe or family, a design that means one thing might be interperated differently by another.

Nowadays, there are still some traditionally correct designs out there, but most of them (particularly those worn by young Maori) are just a hybrid between tradition and fashion. It’s very popular in this day and age for teenage boys and young men to have their shoulders, chest, upper arms and backs tattooed. Again this is more of a fashion statement than anything else which has been enhanced by Maori rugby stars who aren’t afraid of showing them off. Where the designs are traditional (even if they’re not placed on a traditional part of the body) they still hold the same meanings that they did for our ancestors. Trying to distinguish between tradition and fashion however can be tricky and only an experienced ta moko artist will be able to spot the fakes reasonably quickly.

Here’s a site that might help you. If you can get past the lack of translated terms it might help you out somewhat:
http://www.matakite.co.nz/tamoko.html