Hawaiian tattoos have a rich and long history, and, together with other types of tribal tattoos, have experienced a recent explosion in popularity since the 90s.

Hawaiian tattoos are a part of a tradition that stretches out across the world, amongst the Polynesian peoples, such as the Samoans and even the Moari of New Zealand. Both ancient tribal patterns and more modern, realistic and nature inspired themes are encompassed by Hawaiian tattoo designs.

All Polynesian peoples are famous for their tattoo art, which is commented upon by the earliest explorers and mariners who were the first Europeans to meet these people. Modern tribal patterns are based on older ones, in a chain going back many thousands of years, to a time before recorded history begins.

Sadly, for a time, tattoo art was suppressed in Hawaii, with the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century. It was not until the 20th century that this art was revived.

Hawaiian patterns differ from those of other Polynesian people in several ways. They tend to be larger and bolder.

Hawaiian art and culture has found its way into our own culture during the latter part of the last century, and with the growing popularity for tattoos, it's only natural that Hawaiian tattoos are now becoming popular, too. In fact for many, they have a retro appeal, reminiscent of the 'Tiki' craze of the 50s and 60s.

In the Hawaiian tradition, tattoos are very important. There is even a god of Tattoos, and when a person gets a new tattoo it is traditional for there to be prayers and temple visits.

Traditionally, these tattoos have been worn for decoration, as identification, to offer protection from evil, or to mark the passing of a loved one.

Hawaiian tattoos are mostly black, with the ink being made from a combination of sugarcane juice and kukui nuts.

The traditional method of tattooing that was used in the past in Hawaii was a lot more painful than our modern tattooing process - sharp objects such as bird beaks or claws were tied to branches and whacked with a mallet. This hurt a lot, as you can imagine. So this is one part of the process that you would probably be glad to skip.

Traditional Hawaiian tattoo designs include:

Animals such as lizards, sea turtles, and dolphins.

Flowers, and objects with special significance, such as arrows.

Typical body locations for these tattoos for men are legs, arms, face and torso.

For women, the traditional locations are the hands, wrists and the tongue.

Although flowers feature heavily in Hawaiian designs, they are not intended just for women - these designs are mostly unisex, and Hawaiian men also have floral tattoos. Hibiscus flowers are a mainstay of many different Hawaiian tattoos.

Orchids are also often featured, which, given the endangered status of many of the plants, adds a certain poignancy to the design. Many read these designs to infer "rare beauty"

Hawaiian band tattoos are worn on the arms and legs. They are similar to the ancient tribal tattoo designs, but are a more modern take on the theme. They are the invention of a tattoo artist called Michale Malone, who learnt the craft from the famous artist Sailor Jerry.