Fatu

Design Story

This Polynesian forearm sleeve tattoo was designed for Daniel to extend an existing tattoo on his upper arm.

We kept his family central, represented by flax leaves (family union) with his children above them and he and his wife below to support them. The star in the middle represents direction and shows how they are a fixed point in his life, while the sun around them is a symbol of joy and eternity.

Both parents have braids and spearheads for union and warrior spirit, which surround and protect the children in the middle, with a te ha symbol representing the breath of life, their new life together.

Shark teeth represent adaptability and strength, and together with the octopus tentacles (tenacity) and the spearheads they symbolize Daniel´s tenacity in facing every challenge (the path of Kamehameha) to learn and achieve what is now the foundation of his life (the stepping stones at the wrist).
The fish hook, coconut leaves, and pandanus flowers symbolize prosperity, and the fern leaf is for maturity.

Tiki eyes and the all-seeing eye keep all evil away with the help of ancestors, and the birds symbolize voyage and watching the world from a higher perspective.

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