Polynesian History + Tattoos

Polynesian History

descendants of the Lapita people from the Solomon Islands migrated through the Pacific and settled in islands; Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, and Tonga around 3,500 years ago

Polynesian Society

men fished, grew crops, built houses and canoes, while women prepared food, gathered shellfish, and crafted baskets and fabrics

Tattooing Process

deep grooves created with combs and needles hammered to make intricate patterns; mana (honor), social importance, protective qualities

Tattoo Materials

bird fish bone, shark teeth, turtle shell, bamboo, and fixed to wooden handles as tools

Tattoo Rituals

sessions included rituals and prayers; continued until pain became unbearable or skin needed healing, each tattoo unique to the individual

Tattoo Styles

styles varied by island, Samoa using straight lines, while other islands curved patterns

Tattooing Ceremony

tattoo completion; families hosted a celebration, and the tattooist (tufuga) broke water vessel to mark the end

Cultural Appropriation

exposure of culture led to borrowing of tattoo designs by other cultures, without understanding the meaning

Mana in Polynesian Culture

spiritual energy, authority, honor; tattoos served as a visible representation