Unknown Hawaiian Tattoo History

Referring to the Hawaiian tattoo history, there is no doubt that the term “tattoo” actually originated in Polynesia.  In fact, there is a strong belief that Western people were not even aware about this ancient body art until the arrival of Captain James Cook who made the famous exploration to the virgin island now universally known as Hawaiian Islands.

During the olden days, the process of tattooing in Hawaii was crude compared to the current modern standards.  Just like other cultures in ancient history, Hawaiian tats were engraved on the skin with the use of traditional tools like needles, bird’s beaks, claws and fish bones.  Based on findings, the Hawaiians seemed to have performed multiple piercing on the skins of the natives with only a single blow.

The basis for this assumption regarding the Hawaiian tattoo history is the fact that several tat piercing components in ancient history that were discovered had split tips found at the end, or possessed a number of needles grouped into only one handle.  During those times, tattooing was not restricted on who could get tats exclusively on the basis of gender, social standing, age, etc.

However, it seemed that the more a person had tats on his or her body, the more wealth is possessed by that particular individual.  This means that many tats possessed on the body depicts the kind of status that a person had in the community.  While Hawaiian tats became so popular to the natives of Hawaii, people across the globe are now trying to catch-up with the trend.

Based on Hawaiian tattoo history, the popularity of multi-colored Hawaiian tats has been known throughout ages, and they are now in great demand around the world; not only to people who possess an island heritage.  Apart from the exceptional beauty that these Hawaiian tats exude, they are also special due to several reasons.

First, they represent deep meanings for expressing one’s self.  People who are wearing Hawaiian tats are having their hopes and thoughts on the designs that are shown on their bodies, literally.  These tats are usually viewed as a form of distinguishing a social order, a rite for passage, and to celebrate something.

However, the systems utilized in creating Hawaiian tats based on Hawaiian tattoo history have already changed.  Before, the traditional tats were pierced on the skin using inks from natural extracts, and involved the use of natural tools like fish bones and bird’s beaks.

Today, Hawaiian tats may cover a bigger area of your body which was not practiced in the past.  Because of European influence in designs, what you see today with modern Hawaiian tats may be far from the original tattoos that existed about 50 years ago.  Good examples are the traditional placement areas on the bodies of women such as the lips, ears, arms, feet and hands.

But nowadays, it is very rare for you to see a lady having a kind of tat pierced on her lips.  As far as Hawaiian tattoo history is concerned, facial process of tattooing was a traditional practice in Hawaii, and it was common to see both genders tattooed all over their faces.

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