From Hawaii To Samoa: Tattoos That Go Beyond Skin Deep. Sabrina Talbert. Sun, June 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM UTC. 10 min read.

Army Capt. Isis Sake is the first soldier to receive a religious accommodation for traditional Samoan hand tattoos. (Jon Simkins/Staff) Small arrows, birds and stars adorn the tops of the soldier ...

Hi! I'm Morgan, and I'm a 30-year-old Samoan woman. Even if you don't know much about Samoan culture, you've likely seen or heard about our tattoos. Fun fact: the English word "tattoo" actually comes ...

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 cultural heritage but also ...

She recently got a tualima, a traditional Samoan tattoo on her hand, after her father became seriously ill. "I basically got it for cultural beliefs and traditions," Sialega-Fili said.

However, Sialega-Fili was terminated this month from the position after getting a tualima, a traditional Samoan tattoo, to honor her father, who has been seriously ill.

What Maui’s tattoos in ‘Moana’ say about Polynesia’s tattoo culture. Tattoos in places like Samoa, Tonga, and Hawai‘i can signify a sacred oath to protect and honor one’s community.

For Samoan designs, the patterns typically represent different animals or earth-related structures, which can be assigned different meaning, but ultimately, it's up to the one getting the tattoo ...

Soldier is first to get approval for traditional Samoan hand tattoos. Jonathan Lehrfeld, Jon Simkins. Mon, June 3, 2024 at 7:36 PM UTC. 5 min read.