Paraphrasing a famous quote, not all tattoos are created equal.

Since the Maori rugby team, the All Blacks, took the world of rugby by storm, aspects of their culture like the haka and tattoos have come into the spotlight. This has had both positive and negative effects, including the tendency for people to label any tattoo from the Pacific region as "Maori."

However, you may have noticed that Polynesian tattoos vary significantly, not just because of individual artist styles.

Take Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, for instance. Numerous articles incorrectly refer to his Polynesian tattoo as "Maori," a mistake you should avoid.

Tattoos hold deep significance in Polynesian cultures, and if you want one, it's important to understand its cultural origins and symbolism to avoid causing offense. There’s a revival of traditional tattoos across the Pacific, with artists reconnecting people to their heritage through traditional practices and symbols. This revival is evident in places like Tonga, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, joining the five more recognized styles.

The five main Polynesian tattoo styles are Maori, Samoan, Marquesan, Hawaiian, and Tahitian. Maori, Samoan, Marquesan, and Hawaiian are the most traditional, while Tahitian has evolved into a more figurative style that includes realistic elements for a 'wow' factor.

Manu Farrarons' art exemplifies this modern Polynesian style that blends realism with traditional symbols.

So, how can you recognize and identify a specific Polynesian tattoo style?

Each style has unique characteristics, identifiable by its elements and overall look. Here's a brief overview of the main characteristics of the five main Polynesian tattoo styles:

Maori Style

• Features: Rich in round elements, spirals, and intricate fillings.
• Characteristics: Spiraling thin lines and significant blank spaces create parts of the design by leaving specific shapes without ink.

Marquesan Style

• Features: Geometrical with large blocks and solid black areas. Asymmetrical for men, mostly symmetrical for women.
• Characteristics: The darkest of all Polynesian styles, with large areas of solid black.

Samoan Style

• Features: Rectilinear, geometrical, repetitive. Highly symmetrical.
• Characteristics: Male versions can include solid areas, while female versions are much lighter.

Tahitian Style

• Features: Highly figurative with smooth, rounded elements, naturalistic.
• Characteristics: Blends Marquesan and Samoan styles with modern influences and Western art.

Hawaiian Style

• Features: Highly geometric, often based on repetition.
• Characteristics: Traditional practitioners like Keone Nunes have revived Hawaiian traditional tattoos, respecting their roots and original purposes.

Fijian and Tongan tattoos resemble Samoan styles but often include flower patterns, which are not prominent in Samoan designs.

If I asked you now, "What style is Dwayne Johnson's Polynesian tattoo?" you’d probably answer: "Marquesan."

"But Dwayne Johnson is Samoan!" you might say—and you'd be correct. This did cause some controversy among Samoans, but he was ultimately forgiven, showing that admiration for another culture can be accepted without offense.

Now that you can recognize the styles, how about understanding their meanings? Well, that’s another story—see you in the next article!

All credits and sources go to Polynesian Tattoo Symbols.