The Samoan tattoo hut was just one of many activities at the Sagan Kotturan Chamoru, or Chamorro Cultural Center, in Tumon, which is one of the satellite sites for FestPac.

Liufau, who grew up in Southern California, discovered Samoan tattooing in his 20s. Tatau brought him back to Samoan traditions and language as he trained to perform the ritual himself.

Women’s tattoos depict such images as: centipedes, birds, plants, shells and hair combs. These icons vary from the male tattoo, but are equally powerful, positive images drawn from life in Samoa.

APIA, Samoa (Reuters) - Oliver Fagalilo takes a laboured breath and tenses his body before a sharp steel comb, dipped in ink, drives into his skin. Six hands keep his body still and his skin taut ...

Autagavaia is a Samoan delegate responsible for the tattoo delegation. He says this is how it’s done in Samoa, and while there are many traditional tattoo artists, they all hail from the Sulu ...

I’d been in Samoa for a month, studying Samoan tattooing culture and the impact of the big traditional pieces called pe’a and malu – tatau in general – on the immune system.

But in Samoa and New Zealand you couldn't get a tattoo without permission from certain people such as chiefs in the village. It is still today a little like this in Samoa where not just any person can ...

For Samoan designs, the patterns typically represent different animals or earth-related structures, which can be assigned different meaning, but ultimately, it's up to the one getting the tattoo ...

From Hawaii To Samoa: Tattoos That Go Beyond Skin Deep. Sabrina Talbert. Sun, June 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM UTC. 10 min read.

You may view respectfully from a distance, he said, but to enter the Samoan tattoo hut at the Sågan Kotturan Chamoru during the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts, certain rules are followed.

A US anthropologist is in Samoa to investigate how traditional tattooing could strengthen the immune systems of some Pacific Islanders, and help ward off disease and sickness.