HISTORY & ORIGIN OF TRADITIONAL TATTOOS The foundations of Hawaiian tattooing are found through the migrations throughout Polynesia and the rest of the Pacific. From Indochina to Borneo, the Philippines, and Micronesia and in some parts of Melanesia, the tradition of tattooing thrived. The usual method of tattooing in these areas was the tapping of one tool that had a comb needle with a hitting stick. The introduction of tattooing into Polynesia is documented through the story of Taima and Tilafiga. Taima and Tilafiga were twins that swam over from Fiji to Savai`i in the Samoan Island chain. They carried with them the tattooing tools which came from Fiji and where the women were tattooed.  During the swim, they chanted, “Tattoo the women and not the men”. In the middle of their journey, the chant was reversed, “Tattoo the men and not the women”. When they landed in Savai`i in the village of Falealupo, they gave the tools to a Samoan Chief, or several Chiefs depending on the version of the story. That was how tattooing came to Polynesia. The art of tattooing was widespread on every island of Polynesia, from Samoa to Nukuhiwa (Marquesas), to Rarotonga and Aotearoa, and to Hawai`i in the north. Throughout Polynesia, the application was called “Ta tau” or “Ka kau”, and in some areas “Ta tu”.  The art itself had many different names: “Pe`a” in Samoa, “Peka“ in Tonga, “Moko” in Aotearoa, “Patu tiki” in the Marquesas, and “Uhi” or “Kuni” in Hawai`i.
	Above:  Hawaiian man form Waimea, Kaua`i, drawn by Webber; Cook's first voyage to Hawai`i.

TOOLS The tools, Au in Samoa, Uhi in Aotearoa, and Moli in Hawai`i, were made of various materials:  bird bone, boar's tusk, and even human bone.  Today, these tools have not changed very much over time and are still hand-made.  Each tool takes from one day to one week to make and will last for years given the proper care.  Pāuhi currently uses tools made from hippopotamus tusks.

SIGNIFICANCE

Polynesians practiced this form of art for many reasons: to gain mana, or for lack of better words “spiritual powers”, for protection, as a rite of passage, as a clan symbol, to commemorate the passing of a great person, and as an adornment. 

The location where uhi was placed on the skin was called the Pāuhi, “the enclosure of tattoo”.  These were often temporary shelters that were dismantled or destroyed after the work was completed.