Aavere

Design Story

This Polynesian hammerhead shark tattoo was prepared for Ed and it symbolizes strength and tenacity.
We placed a compass in his head to represent direction, a warrior who knows what he wants and goes for it (the warrior symbol is placed below the compass, protecting his wife and daughter close to him).

The back fin of the shark incorporates a turtle with flax leaves on the shell to represent family union, with two tiki on the side fins for protection from all sides, and a sun surrounding it for joy and stability (the mountains).

The spearheads in the body of the shark symbolize courage and strength, and they have a swordfish on one side (focus and determination) and a black line on the other (molina: flight of the albatross) representing long distance voyages.
The octopus tentacle is a symbol of adaptability and tenacity while shark teeth bring protection in the water.

The tail of the shark is shaped by waves, going upward and down to symbolize the cycle of life: water is our origin (the koru below) and our destination (the star above it).

The colored image below shows the main elements within the tattoo:

A curiosity: aavere is the name of the hound needlefish, and it is used to indicate a courageous warrior who prefers the front of a battle as well as a fast sailing canoe.