Hawaiian Tattoos

Although Hawaiian tattoos are considered to be the cultural heirlooms of native-born Hawaiians this doesn’t make them less popular or wide spread with the rest of the world. They are bold and beautiful and they’re in demand everywhere on the globe not only in the warm Hawaiian Islands.

Traditionally Hawaiian tattoos have a very deep meaning much like all other Polynesian tattoos, and they were used only accompanied by rituals and were worn for specific purposes. They were worn to either lament for a loved one or in memory of a loved one, as talismans meant to protect the wearer from evil spirits and enemies and as personal identifications showing their place in society.

The Hawaiian tribal tattoos were traditionally made using all natural materials like natural inks and used things like fish bones to scratch them into the skin. However that is not the case anymore as tribal tattoos of any sort have evolved with the influence of modern technology and society and the designs have suffered somewhat of a change as well in the sense that facial tattoos were once very popular including getting one’s lips tattooed, especially when it came to the women, this doesn’t happen today very often.

Amongst the most popular types of Hawaiian tattoos are Hawaiian flower tattoos which are very commonly seen being worn by women. These tattoos are generally done in the tribal style of tattoos meaning they use of dark and thick lines but they also are heavy in symbolism especially standing for qualities such as friendship and hospitality. These types of tattoos are very flexible in that they can be combined with other symbols to create deeper and more complex meanings; they can combine forces with angel tattoos or with another Hawaiian aquatic motif, turtle tattoos. Popular flower tattoo designs are those of the lei, which is a small but colorful flower, the hibiscus and the orchid each of them carrying their own unique look and meaning.

Usually the native-born men who wear Hawaiian tattoos tend to wear bigger, bolder and more intricate designs than the women this is so because similarly to maori tattoos these tattoos will oftentimes be a marker of the wearer’s social status and influence in the community. Hawaiian tattoos are considered to be very personal and this adds an extra layer of symbolism to those that a tattoo would normally have. Sometimes individuals will choose to compound even that deep meaning with the symbolism of other cultures thus combining Hawaiian tattoos with kanji tattoos to create whole new designs and meanings.

When talking about Hawaiian tattoos it is important to note that regardless of the type of meaning of various tattoos, there is a common theme that permeates the idea of getting a Hawaiian tattoo and that theme is a deep respect for nature and the power it holds over the lives of those who live on the Islands. And even if you have nothing to do with the Hawaiian culture, if you choose to adorn yourself with Hawaiian tattoos means that you will be linked to their symbolism through the pain that comes with getting one.