But they failed in Samoa, where men traditionally received markings called pe’a, and women got thigh tattoos called malu. Today tatau has made forays into other cultures while retaining its ...

Etched into her skin from the wrists up to her nail beds, the markings are no ordinary tattoos, but symbols of traditional "tatau" found among the people of the Polynesian island country Samoa.

“Tatau: Marks of Polynesia” at Bishop Museum features the art, history and cultural significance of Samoan tattoos through a series of photographs by John Agcaoili. Pictured is the tattoo ...

A band of bards, priests ... Amid all this change, some Polynesian tattoo artists have begun to put a new spin on the ancient art. “Through different cultures sharing from around the Pacific ...

In a tiny room at the rear of a tattoo parlor in Garden Grove a very special ritual plays out in carefully placed black inks. An expression of personal bravery and protection of family that most ...

HONOLULU (Island News)-- A Samoan Army Captain is the first soldier to receive approval to have traditional “tatau” or tattoos on her hands. This move not only honors Captain Isis Sake’s ...

Rose, a discus thrower from Grand Rapids, represented Samoa in the 2016 Olympics in Rio and will do so again in Tokyo later this year. “Tattoos in Samoan culture are very, very, very important ...

The Nike brand has apologised and ceased production of a line of ladies’ running clothes after realising it’s Samoan tattoo design was reserved within the culture for men only. The Nike Pro ...