Sketches for Your Tattoo Collection

Today we talk about Hawaiian tattoos

Hawaiian tattoos and body art have a history of thousands of years and experienced a renewed popularity since the 90s, together with other tribal tattoo styles. They often include a unique blend of tribal designs and culturally significant images like pictures of spirit animals, tropical flowers, or Hawaiian Tiki gods.

There’s more to Hawaii than flowers and leis, after all, the Hawaiian islands are part of a larger chain (the Polynesian Islands) which include other island cultures such as the Maoriand the Samoan, tribal communities with a rich tattoo tradition.

All of these cultures were famous for their tattoo art. Modern tribal tattoos are based on the traditional tattoo art of the Polynesian islands, and Hawaiian tattoos represent both the popular culture of Hawaii and the older tribal traditions.

Hawaiian designs and styles – like Hawaiian shirts – have had their day and currently have a strong retro appeal. Hawaiian tattoos are also a manifestation of the resurgence of ‘Tiki’ culture, so popular in the 1950s and 60s.