Polynesian Tattoo Ideas

Polynesia, which means "many islands," covers a roughly triangular-shaped geographical area of beautiful group of islands over the mystical Pacific Ocean, with Hawaii at the northern apex, New Zealand in the southwest, and Easter Island in the southeast. The art of tattooing has always been a part of the Polynesian culture since thousands of years. Each island has a distinct style of tattoo designs and patterns and Polynesian tattoo meanings are based on their culture and history. Polynesian style tattoos, although often compared to tribal tattoos, actually utilize bolder abstracts or specific figures that are based on a deep history of various Polynesian islands. If you are inspired by the Polynesian culture, then getting a Polynesian tattoo is the perfect choice.

Types of Polynesian Tattoos

There are a variety of Polynesian tattoo designs and meanings, however, there are two main categories. One is Enata and the other is Etua. Enata tattoo designs can be described as natural tattoo designs which describe the person, their identity and status, while Etua designs have a strong spiritual and religious meaning attached to them. They have also been considered magical symbols that offer protection from god. However, Polynesian tattoo designs of today do not mean as much in this day and age, as people love them for the design rather than the magical protection or a declaration of status. The following are types of Polynesian tattoos and different Polynesian tattoo ideas:

Hawaiian Tattoos: Perhaps the most popular tattoos of all Polynesian tattoo ideas are Hawaiian tattoos. Also known as the Kakau, Hawaiian tattoos have been used for personal identification as a talisman that offers protection or as a symbol of mourning. Hawaiian tattoo designs are generally larger and bolder as compared to other Polynesian tattoos ideas. The most popular designs are Hawaiian flower tattoos, sea turtles, lizards, dolphins and sea waves. Hawaiian hibiscus and orchids are also popular designs, symbolizing the wearers love of the island, while acknowledging the beauty and fragility of life.

Maori Tattoos: The Maori people are a group of people based in New Zealand. They refer to their tattoo art as Ta moko, which is a traditional process of tattooing and tattoo design symbol. Traditionally, Maori tattoos were used as a means of personal identification, and often covered the entire face, as well as the legs and buttocks of men, and usually covered the chin area with curved designs for women. Maori tattoos are very distinctive designs with intricate spirals and beautiful curved shapes. Maori inspired Polynesian tattoo work well anywhere on the body and are especially well suited for facial tattoos.

Tiki Tattoos: Tiki tattoo designs pertains to the Polynesian statues and carvings that depict a human figure. There are thousands of Tiki gods and goddesses with different symbols. Most of the tattoos of Tiki gods are shown with their eyes closed, as they have the power of smelling trouble before it is seen. These make great tattoo designs, either on their own or with bold floral designs and colorful outdoor images. Most people getting Tiki tattoos actually feel a connection to the culture, while others get it to show their interest in the Tiki culture of the 1950s and 1960s.

Samoan Tattoos: Another great Polynesian tattoo idea is a Samoan tattoo. These Polynesian tattoo designs are abstract and are loaded with cultural significance. Men's tattoos traditionally run from under the ribcage, all the way to the ankles with large areas of designs completely black. This is one of the most traditional Polynesian tattoo ideas that can be a source of great inspiration if you want to design a tattoo composed of small repeating elements, especially if you create your own personal symbols as the base of your tattoo. However, due to the extensiveness of these tattoos, they require a lot of tattoo care.

There are a lot of other tattoo design ideas as well, but it is important to select a tattoo artist that knows a little about the Polynesian culture or its history so that you are sure about the meaning of the tattoo you wish to get. You can include images like seas turtles, shark teeth, shells, geckos etc. to make your Polynesian tattoo designs more unique and original. So go ahead and get these exotic and intricate tattoo designs inked!