Hakatoa

Design Story

This mostly Marquesan armband tattoo was prepared for Joseph to integrate and extend a half sleeve he had in the same style.

The two tiki protect the turtle, with his children represented on the shell and braid to symbolize their union giving him strength (spearheads on the front flippers).
The star in front of them shows their importance, the direction in his life.
Fish hook and bonito tail are prosperity symbols.

Moray eels in the past symbolize adversities, overcome thanks to family, tenacity (the hammerhead shark) and fighting spirit (centipede), starting a voyage (the birds) that led to a new start (the koru) and freedom (the manta).

Stones at the base symbolize all that he learnt, which is now the foundation of his new life.

The colored image below helps identifying the individual elements in the integration: