Aug 6, 2013 - Explore Mindy Stevens's board 'Polynesian Tattoos' on Pinterest. See more ideas about tattoos, tribal tattoos, polynesian tattoo. Polynesian tattoos are an ancient art that has been receiving a lot of attention in modern times. Though few of us who are not from the Polynesian islands would be willing to undergo the.

1. Polynesian Tattoo For Family
2. Polynesian Tattoo Meanings Pdf
3. Polynesian Tattoo Style
4. Polynesian Tattoo Pdf

Polynesian tattoos are also called Tahitian tattoos. Polynesian tattoos are common among the tribals of South Pacific region. These tattoos are worn for many different reasons. Today, they are a form of style among the urban people. But, among the tribals they are still very symbolic. Tattoos signify personal achievements in a tribe. The boys get their first tattoo when they attain puberty in some tribes. As they grow older, the number of tattoos keep on increasing on their body. Tattoos also signify the position in the tribe of the person. The leader of the tribe is generally known to have many tattoos on his body.

There are many types of Polynesian tribal tattoos. Enata designs signify the various developments in a person’s life. It signifies the contribution of the individual to the society. Etua is another type of tattoo design. These tattoos were meant to honor the people in the tribe for their achievements. They also are meant to protect the person from evil. These tattoos have spiritual and religious significance. The last are the Tiki tattoos. This consists of abstract designs like sharks, turtles, etc. So, here is a look at some of the Polynesian tattoo designs-

If you liked our selection, perhaps these other posts will interest you too, Tribal Heart Tattoos, Hawaiian Tribal Tattoos, Hawaiian Flower Tattoos and Irish Tattoos.

Polynesian Lizard Tattoo

Lizard is worshipped by polynesians as a symbol of supernatural powers. It is looked at by people with awe and fear.

Polynesian Hand Tattoo

You will find this tattoo on a soldier who has just been victorious in a war.

Polynesian Sleeve

This is a beautiful sleeve tattoo. This almost looks like a henna design.

Polynesian Nice Tattoo

The left arm tattoo signifies victory in a war. These tattoos were worn by soldiers.

Polynesian Style Tribal Tattoo

This tattoo is inked on the arm and part of the shoulder. The circle in the center represents long life.

Polynesian Tattoo

This tattoo is inked as a necklace around the neck. It has intricate design.

Polynesian On Waist

This is a beautiful tattoo inked on the waist. Polynesian tattoos are very symbolic.

Polynesian Tribal Tattoo

This person has inked the tattoo on his the left side of his chest and his entire left hand.

Polynesian Back Tattoo

This tattoo in inked on the back along the spine. It looks like the tatoo is telling a war story.

Tribal Polynesian Tattoo

This person has many tattoos on his body. The number tattoos increase with age in the polynesian tribes.

Shoulder Tattoo

This tattoo in inked on the shoulder by the person. The lower side of the tattoo represents shark teeth.

Polynesian Leg Piece

This tattoo represents face of tiki who is known to be a god. He is known to smell trouble with closed eyes.

Nice Polynesian Tattoo

This tattoo has shark teeth in it. Shark teeth denote protection.

Polynesian Tribal Freehand Tattoo

This tattoo has the face of Tiki in it. He is inked for a good omen against evil.

Full Sleeve Tattoo

Full sleeve tattoos are common among celebrities today. They display these tattoos to connect to their fans.

Polynesian Sweet Tattoo

This tattoo almost looks like a scarf is wrapped around the person’s neck.

Nice Hand Tattoo

The parts in this tattoo look like the armoury used by warriors in ancient times.

Polynesian Tribal Heart

This is polynesian tribal art inked in the shape of a heart.

Polynesian Tattoo For Family

Tribal Hand Tattoo

This tattoo looks like stripes of designed cloth is wrapped around his arm.

Tribal Polynesian

This tattoo signifies of an important achievement in this person’s life. He has achieved a new social status as well.

Polynesian Faces Tattoo

This tattoo has many faces hidden in this tattoo. The tattoo is inked on the inner side of the wrist.

Very Nice Tribal Polynesian

This is a colored polynesian tattoo inked on the shoulder. Generally, Polynesian tattoos are known to be in black ink.

Old Tribal Tattoo

This tattoo signifies a rise in social ranking of the person. This is an old tribal tattoo.

Polynesian Shark

Polynesian Tattoo Meanings Pdf

Sharks are sacred animals in polynesian. Shark tattoos are often inked for protection from enemies.

Polynesian Design Tattoo

This is a simple polynesian design tattoo. It is inked on the shoulder.

Among various tattoo designs, tribal tattoos always take up important position. This particular kind of tattoo has been practiced for centuries by the native people of Polynesian islands. The origins of tribal tattoos are always deeply symbolic in ancient times and represent one’s rank and social status. Today, tribal tattoos are interpreted to cover more types of tattoos, tribal groups in Africa, Celtic, Japanese tattoos, etc. A person with tribal tattoo is the representation of strength and often signifies one’s cultural background and personal life story.

What is tribal tattoos?

Narrowly, tribal tattoo is a tattoo pattern influenced by tattoo patterns practiced by indigenous Polynesian people. Broadly, Japanese Yakuza tattoos, some celtic tattoos, Aztec inspired tattoos are also considered to be tribal style. Most of tribal tattoos are featured in weaving or spiral patterns and portrayed in masculine style to represent strength and boldness. Tribal tattoos are favorite tattoo patterns for men although there are increasing adapted designs of feminine tribal tattoos.

Polynesian Tattoos

Polynesia, a group of islands consist of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean in the shape of triangle. including 8 main island groups, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and other small islands. In the past males had to be tattooed between the ages of 14-18 to signifies their mature status. Although identical, there are slight differences between the tattoos of different islands.

Full front body Hawaiian tattoo with rich symbols – sun, shark teeth, ocean, shells

Maori tattoos

The Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, aka Aotearoa. Moko used to be representation of one’s social rank or status. Today it’s strong visual statement of one’s culture identity. Maori tattoos feature intricate spiral or round lines and patterns with mysterious Maori symbols. Maori inspired designs are found in many of tribal tattoo designs.

Samoan tattoos

Samoan tattoos, practiced by native people of Samoan islands. Samoan Tattoos are featured with quadrangular weaving pattern in dark color. Spiral or round lines are not used in traditional Samoan tattoos although modern Polynesian inspired tribal tattoos could incorporate both patterns.

Samoan inspired tribal sleeve tattoo

Other Polynesian tattoos

• Hawaiian tattoos
• Tongan tattoos

Tradition tribal tattoos also refer to tattoos inspired by Samoan Tattoos, Hawaiian tattoos, Tongan tattoo, Tahitian tattoo as well as Filipino tattoos. Various of symbolic symbols could be found in the design of tribal tattoos, e.g., shark teeth, ray, sun, ocean, sea turtle, tiki, gecko, shell, etc. Each symbol is rich in meanings. Tribal tattoos are often designed in the style with masculine strength, which makes them typical tattoos ideas for men. In modern tribal tattoos, tribal style could be extended to any designs, tribal flower, tribal cat, tribal dragon,…. Tribal tattoos could be designed in feminine style and be embedded with modern pop elements. So in modern designs, tribal tattoos have become favorite choice for women. Today tattoo serves as a symbol of cultural identity for people of Polynesia. Tribal tattoos are good ideas to help us connect to a mysterious and ancient past and cultures.

Polynesian tribal tattoo with Enata symbols

Enata is a symbol in Polynesian tattoo designs to represent humans and gods. The two semi-circles in the lower right corner of the picture means the sky, guarding all the Polynesians and their children.

Hawaiian tribal tattoo

The state flower of Hawaii, hibiscus is a popular ornamental flower for girls in Hawaii. The intricate weaving pattern centered with vibrant hibiscus flower, presenting a strong visual statement off culture identity.

Polynesian shoulder tattoo

Tribal skull tattoo

Tribal tattoos

Tribal inspired feminine tattoo – butterflies at tribal flames

Tribal phoenix back tattoo2

Tribal phoenix back tattoo

Filipino tribal tattoo done by Jonathan Cena

The tribal leg tattoo features dark color and tribal elements, i.e., shark teeth.

Celtic sleeve tattoo

Tribal tattoo full sleeve tattoo

Dragon tattoo back tattoo

Polynesian tattoos girl

Elegant tribal tattoo design for girls

Japanese geisha tattoo

Japanese tribal letter tattoo design

Japanese dragon

Maori back tattoo

Maori art

Maori back tribal tattoo

Maori tattoo colour back

Maori tattoo polynsien

Maori moko tattoo

Tribal chest sleeve tattoo

Tribal Angel tattoo

Maori tattoo

Tribal lion tattoo

Tribal dragon tattoo for women

The custom Japanese dragon tattoo is fused with tribal style, a perfect piece for oriental women.

Manta ray tattoo

Manta Ray is a very large distinctive, deep-bodied fish whose body could grow up to 3 m in length. The rays have virtually no symbolism in the western tradition. The Shark Ray is one of indigenous animals for ancient Polynesian people. It is not only rich in meaning but also valued as the source of food and raw materials.

Shark Ray and honu tattoo

The feminine style mixing Polynesian and Hawaiian tribal tattoo designs makes it perfect tattoo for women.

Polynesian Tattoo Style

Full back tribal ray tattoo

Perfectly match the available area of body canvas.

Custom design of Full back tribal ray tattoo for men

Custom tribal ray tattoo on chest

signifies strength and power.

Feminine tribal ray back women tattoo

The tribal inspired lion sleeve tattoo represents the power and strength

Tribal shell tattoo for women

Polynesian Tattoo Pdf

Shell is one of popular symbols in Polynesian culture. Shell used to be used as the currency to exchange food and tools for ancient Polynesian people. The symbol of Shells signifies abundance of wealth, fortune, and good luck.

Tribal inspired tattoo – tribal dragon tattoo

Polynesian Tattoo for women

Polynesian half sleeve Tattoos for Men

Henna tribal tattoo

Excellent design blending tribal design in henna style, full of tribal elements

Half body tribal tattoo

Filipino tribal tattoo

Filipino Kalinga Tattoo Freehand

Cool tribal tattoo

Amazing tribal tattoo

Tribal tattoo design

Tribal pattern tattoo for Man

This unique design is composed of round tribal sun patterns in dark color, awesome design for men.

Tribal tattoo for man

Tribal sleeve tattoo for men

The koru, fish hooks and the spiral lines are obvious features distinguishing the Maori tattoo from others.

Samoan adapted sleeve tribal tattoo

The geometric patterns of Samoan tattoos are widely used in the masculine tattoos for men.