Faaaraara

Design Story

This mixed Polynesian half-sleeve tattoo for the left arm was prepared for Patrick.

A turtle is central to symbolize the importance of family, surrounded by a sun for eternity and joy, by a braid for unity, and by coconut leaves for prosperity.
Within the turtle the couple and son are side by side with mountains (stability) and flax leaves (unity).

A manaia, a guardian angel, protects the family together with the hammerhead shark representing a warrior who faced many challenges (the path of Kamehameha) along his voyage (the row of birds) that led to this new start (the koru below the turtle).
The manulua represents the union of two families and prosperity.

The manta along this new path symbolizes beauty and freedom, with a Marquesan cross for harmony and balance and fish are for prosperity

Some maorigrams were used to include a date and some initials.

The ahuahu o Mataora represents a path to success and the stepping stones at the base are all the things learnt and achieved along the way.

The colored image below helps identify the main elements within the tattoo: