Art with a Meaning
Polynesian tattoos can tell stories, protect, inspire.
Did you know that each design is made up of several smaller elements, comparable to building blocks, which are selected by the tattoo master based on their meaning and then assembled together in a coded order to create the final piece?
Just as sentences convey meaning if their words are chosen and joined properly, so do Polynesian tattoos if they are properly designed.
Unfortunately, that is true even when they're not chosen properly, and that's the problem: you never know what could be symbolized by your tattoo.
Keep in mind that these tattoos are NEVER just nice designs: they are deeply rooted in tradition and are a sacred art. Getting a Polynesian tattoo in a respectful way goes through understanding their purpose and essence. Being able to tell what each symbol of your tattoo represents is the bare minimum required to show your respect for this tradition and its origins.
That's why this site was born.
We want to help you find your perfect tattoo, well designed and using the symbols correctly.
Tattoos are a serious thing in Polynesia, and it's a pain for any trained eye to see designs that have invented or mocked symbols.
So we decided to publish articles monthly to share information on the symbols, their origins and purpose, and how they can be used within a tattoo.
They are all accessible in the SYMBOLS section, and can even be collected as PDF cards (freely downloadable). If you don't have time to keep checking, leave your email below and we'll take care of it all, delivering each new card straight into your inbox:
And if you love this and want to know even more, we do have two books that collect over 12 years of research from countless sources, verified individually one by one to guarantee this work is among the most comprehensive and accurate ever published on Polynesian tattoos.
While Volume 1 is a comprehensive introduction to the world of Polynesian tattoos, Volume 2 is an unprecedented resource for those who wish to take one step further and delve deeper into the styles, elements, and meanings of this art.
10 years anniversary special:
don't miss the chance to get both
at the price of one!
Catana Padilla
Hawaii
Kerissa Savea
Hawaii
Chiqui's Mom
USA
BeeBee
USA
John Mochan
UK
Nicolas Kroyer
Germany