Tamau

Design Story

This Polynesian tattoo was requested by Damir as a way to honor the memory of his daughter Aleksija.

We placed a dolphin as she loved them, and as a symbol of joy and playfulness together with the flower of hibiscus.
Below the dolphin, the path of Kamehameha shows the difficult path that she faced like a warrior, which eventually led her to become a guardian angel for her family (the manaia protecting the flax leaves, with the tail shaped to recall an "A" for her name).

The bird on top above the ancestors symbolizes she left to be with them.

We included a twist, which symbolizes two people whom, even if separated, will always get back together, and dots for importance.

A curiosity: tamau is the tinder that is used to catch sparks of fire. It symbolizes persevering, keeping in memory constantly.

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