Piti tamari'i

Design Story

This Polynesian half sleeve tattoo depicting Andrea's story represents a change that brought two children into his life.

The turtle representing his family is central and points toward the future, indicating how this is the beginning (the koru at the bottom formed by the lizard's tail) of his new life as a family, protected by the lizard and the tiki on the sides and connected to the manta ray symbolizing harmony and freedom.
In it, the Marquesan cross and the sun symbolize harmony, balance, and joy, while the birds in front of the manta ray indicate the future journeys together.
The two birds chasing each other and the fish in front of the turtle indicate the support he will always provide.

In the past, the Path of Kamehameha shows all the challenges faced, the spearheads and shark teeth symbolize tenacity, determination, and adaptability, and the stones that close the lower part represent everything learned and achieved along the way.

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