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SAMOAN
TATAU (TATTOOS)
The only Dive Shop in the World with a first class award-winning tattooist on hand!!
Samoan Tattoos, (tatua), demonstrate the strong ties many Samoans feel for their culture. Early Englishmen mispronounced the word tatau and borrowed it into popular usage as tattoo.
Samoans have practiced the art of tattooing both men and women for over 2,000 years. To this day, a man's traditional tattoo - the pe'a, covers from mid-back, down the sides and flanks, to the knees. A woman's tattoo - the malu is not quite as extensive or heavy. The geometric patterns are based on ancient designs, and often denote rank and status.
In Samoa's cultural past most males were tattooed between the ages of 14-18, when it was determined they had stopped growing, so the designs would not stretch and suffer in beauty. Today, there has been a strong revival of traditional tattooing, not only in Samoa but throughout Polynesia, often as a symbol of cultural identity.
Over the years tattoo designs have changed to include cultural symbols such as the kava bowl representing hospitality; the characterization of the Samoan house or fale signifying kinship; emblems of nature — shells, fish, birds, waves, centipedes; and the traditional geometric lines and angles of different lengths and sizes.
Our tattooist - Masua, is a local Samoan who has qualifications in fine arts, including design, sculpture and painting, as well as being the best tattooist on the Island. Masua has just won an award through Coca Cola for the best new island label design.
You can browse through a number of designs, or Masua will draw something up for you according to what your own ideas for the design.
The Samoan Tatau (tattoo) stands for valor and courage and all those qualities in which man takes pride. Seen as some of the best in the world with designs taken from local culture they are a work of art for you to keep on display, remembering your trip to Samoa for ever.
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