Turu

Design Story

This half sleeve and pec Polynesian tattoo was designed for Adem to represent his bond with his daughter.

The center of the shoulder is entirely covered by the turtle representing family, with a warrior on the shell supporting his two daughters (the braid represents family unity) and providing them with serenity (the Marquesan cross representing balance and harmony).
Mountains are for stability and the sun for joy and eternity.
The front flippers have tiki hands for protection and the back flippers are fish hooks for prosperity.

Two tiki on the sides bring protection from every direction, and so do the one on the pec and the all seeing eye guarding upon family (the flax leaves at the base), while the stepping stones at the base and on top of the pec represent teachings.

The path of Kamehameha in the past shows difficulties and challenges, and the hammerhead shark and shark teeth symbolize how he'll help his daughters face them with strength, tenacity and adaptability.
The waves symbolize changes, which start as difficulties and then turn into positive changes.
The lizard on the other side (in the future) is to bring good luck and health, and the fish prosperity, while the chasing birds symbolize support always granted.

The star on top and the compass symbolize how his daughters represent a fixed point for him, his direction to follow in every situation.

Ancestors protect the family and pass their knowledge on to it while the coconut leaves represent prosperity.
The lo kahi symbol symbolizes harmony with nature and the world.

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