From his signature tattoos, we can learn about the place of the practice across the Pacific Islands, what its images communicate, and how tattoos tie leaders to their communities. Although stories ...

Tracing back more than 2,000 years to the Pacific Islands, tattoo is an ancient art form that began as a rite of passage for Polynesians and has become a form of expression for people worldwide.

When the South Pacific was colonized in the 18th and ... and we were instrumental in the resurgence of other islands' tattoos in recent years. Now that Polynesian tattoos are considered cool ...

Moana's tattoo is another nuance ... The most important element that reflected Pacific Islander heritage was the notion of community. "Service to our community was a huge thing," says Hand.

Tattoos are personal and individual in Pacific Islander culture It is considered taboo and extremely disrespectful in many Pacific cultures to wear the markings of a people or place that you are ...

It’s still very much a white person’s story.” A male dancer showing his pe`a (body tattoo) Doug Herman In fact, many Pacific Islands remain in some neocolonial relationship with the powers ...