HOW HAWAIIAN TRADITIONAL TATTOOS STILL CONTINUE TO BE POPULAR

In our society today, tattoos have already been considered as an expression of art and beauty. The human body is transformed into a canvass where the artist paints his masterpiece. There are many kinds of tattoos in the world. One of the most appealing for tattoo-lovers is the Hawaiian traditional tattoos.

In Hawaii, tattoos have become a huge part of their culture. In fact, Hawaiian traditional tattoos have been a symbol of expression. Tattoos are used in different tribal rituals, showing the Hawaiian tradition in a form of body art. For thousands of years in Hawaii, Hawaiian traditional tattoos were embraced by the natives as a part of their heritage.  The word tattoo in Hawaiian is “uhi”, which means a covering. For them, it symbolizes the status of one person in society. The size and artistic design of the tattoo became a mark of one’s status in life.

Hawaiian traditional tattoos have various designs and were placed in different parts of the body. For women, they were only placed in the limbs, fingers, lips and ears. Some even preferred to have their tattoos placed on their face. For men, Hawaiian traditional tattoos were given much more stress because it symbolizes their status, power and importance in society. It was considered an honor to have skilled artists to make the Hawaiian traditional tattoos for them because only those of high status deserved it. For others, the apprentices did the work. The designs of Hawaiian traditional tattoos were mostly geometric and symmetrical. Soon, the designs became more complex. Pictures and text symbolizing their culture were sometimes included. The meanings of Hawaiian traditional tattoos were considered personal.  Since they were used as a means of identification in their society, it was only appropriate that their meanings were close to the personality of the individual.

Hawaiian traditional tattoos were embedded into the body using native tools. Examples of these are bird beaks, claws and fish bones. Today, some still stick with these traditional tools but a lot of Hawaiian tattoo artists now prefer to use modern instruments, which are electrically powered, in making the tattoos.   Even though the means of making Hawaiian traditional tattoos have changed, its cultural and artistic value is still the same. The designs today are still as beautiful and captivating as they were before. A lot of creative designs are being introduced everyday. The tattoo artists have become more innovative in coming up with designs, taking their inspirations from different sources. The art of Hawaiian traditional tattoos is evolving and people all over the globe have become attracted to its brilliance.

The tattoo industry is continuously growing everyday. The number of artists is growing, and the population of tattoo-lovers is likewise increasing.  The origins of the tattoo industry can be traced back to Hawaii, where tattoos have become a part of their culture. Today, tattoos are now considered a lifestyle.  Hawaiian traditional tattoos have become a big influence in the tattoo industry. With its history, intricacy and creative designs, Hawaiian traditional tattoos have become a timeless piece of art, alluring more people all over the world.