ALEC: Hawaiian Tattooing

Imagine having a sharp claw, beak or fish tooth dripping with ink plunged into your skin. Feels comfortable? Well to early Hawaiian society this was just a simple part of life. Whether it be for celebration or self expression tattooing with these quintessential tools has deep roots within the Hawaiian and wider Polynesian culture. It is also form of identification and a representation of a particular tribe.

Traditional tools used for the art of tattooing were mainly found objects from nature; whatever the tattooist could get their hands on. There was no set tool. Tattoo artists would sharpen the object against rocks to achieve and maintain optimal sharpness.