Hawaiian Tattoos for Girls

Hawaii is a part of the Polynesian islands, all of which have a rich tradition of body art. Most of the modern tattoo designs are based on traditional tribal tattoos of the Polynesian islands. The word for tattoo in Hawaiian is uhi and it means covering. It is said that the western world was introduced to tattoo body art after Captain James Cook made his famous journey to the Hawaii islands. Let's find out more about the history of tattoos in Hawaii and also about Hawaiian tattoo designs that are best suited for girls.

History of Tattoos in Hawaii

In ancient Hawaii, tattoos were made to indicate the importance of the person in the hierarchy of the society. These tattoos had meanings and were displayed on various parts of the body. Tattoo designs for girls and women were mainly inked on their hands, feet, fingers, calves, ears and lips. In fact, face tattooing was very common in the Hawaiian islands. Tattoos on the face were made on the brow ridge, cheek bones, cheeks and chin. Tattoos in ancient times were made with bird beaks, bird talons and large fish bones. Hawaiian tattoo designs have deep and personal meanings as they were often made for individual identification and not for ceremonial purposes, as was common in other Polynesian islands. It is said that more the wealth possessed by an individual, more were the number of tattoos on that person. It was not just the common man who wore tattoos but they were also worn by defeated warriors and convicted criminals. This was a way of branding people. Black ink was used for tattooing in the Hawaiian islands. These tattoos often had bold designs and also were big in size. Of all the tattoo designs, flower tattoos and arm tattoos are very famous.

Hawaiian Tattoo Ideas for Girls

The early Hawaiian body art patterns consisted of geometric figures. These tattoos were usually made around the arms, neck and ankles. Now let's take a look at the various Hawaiian tattoo designs for girls.

Hawaiian flower tattoos are the most famous of all tattoo designs belonging from this part of the world. The hibiscus flower tattoo is no doubt the most popular floral design. Did you know that the yellow hibiscus flower is the state flower of Hawaii? The hibiscus flower tattoo can be made in colors such as red, pink, yellow, white as well as purple. Orchid flower tattoos are also famous amongst the various popular Hawaiian designs. Of all the orchid flower designs, ghost orchid designs are very popular. These flowers are beautiful but also quite peculiar. Vine tattoos can also bring a lot of variation to a design which has Hawaiian flowers in it.

Marine life has a lot of importance in the Hawaiian islands as it has religious importance. A lot of people choose to get themselves tattooed with the image of a shark. It signifies that the wearer has chosen the shark as his personal God. A shark tattoo can also denote protection against attacks from sharks. Among other marine lives, dolphins are also quite the rage. Sea turtles are also popular tattoo designs and these symbolize longevity. Seashells denote prosperity in the Hawaiians islands. This can be attributed to the fact that shells were used in the ancient times as currency.

There are a number of people who get tropical birds of the Hawaiian islands tattooed on themselves. These birds are very colorful and beautiful. Hawaiians have a lot of respect for lizards (Gecko). At the same time, they are also in awe of these geckos. Hence, you will come across a lot of lizard imagery in Hawaiian body art.

Tiki is a God whose eyes are always closed as he is known to smell danger before it is seen. There are variations in the Tiki God images that are used in tattoos.

A lot of tribal tattoo designs also form a part of Hawaiian body art. A lot of celebrities sport Hawaii inspired tattoos. You can choose to make use of these designs to get tattooed with.