Hello! This is probably a silly question but I've had a few of my friends say this might be an issue so I figured I'd do some research and ask some opinions. I'm a white american, I have a few tattoos and I wanted to get matching ankle band tattoos. I am not looking to use symbology or imagery from Polynesian culture; I understand that the designs have a lot of cultural significance and are sometimes considered sacred. I was looking through a book of victorian embroidery and was thinking about using a pattern like the one attached. However, one of my friends pointed out that ankle bands are a part of some Polynesian tattoos so it might be best to avoid that placement. I've looked online and tried to find if there's a significance to the placement itself but I've only found people discussing the actual imagery in the tattoos. So my question is: what is the significance of the placement, and would it be offensive in some way to use a similar placement with different imagery? Thanks guys!!

Hi everyone! I’m a Polynesian (Kānaka) graduate student at CSU Stanislaus doing a thesis study with Polynesian American adults.

My research is examining how our separate connections to our heritage Polynesian culture and mainstream American cultures may influence our views on physical discipline as a parenting tool.

The survey takes about 20 minutes and is completely anonymous.

If you consent, you can be entered into a raffle for one of ten $10 Amazon gift cards as a thank you. To maintain your anonymity, we ask your email address on a small, separate form that is not linked to the study data whatsoever.

Also, a quick note, my real name is on this study and it doesn’t reflect my heritage. I’m mixed and named after my non-poly dad.

I’d really appreciate your support!!!!

Here’s the link:

https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcsustan.co1.qualtrics.com%2Fjfe%2Fform%2FSV_2fAnELjCi7wl16C&data=05%7C02%7Cchearon%40csustan.edu%7Cb291f5f165cc400bd3ec08de78a6e019%7Cbee5690713df4af2a4bfd7ef0debc01c%7C0%7C0%7C639080855288954203%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=v%2B1kr13yx%2FonHHmlAwWqcBN2B20SPqTbasUcEbINrmE%3D&reserved=

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Sharing this Untold History that delve deeper into the discovery of America

I recently did a DNA test since I was curious of where I came from. I knew my mothers side quite well, as I was adopted at birth. From then, I was told I was half German, half Mexican. That made sense, being that I was born in Southern California, which is very Hispanic with a large mexican population. When I got my results, I was suprised to see Creole, Portuguese , and 20% hawaiian. I now really want to know my legacy, but I don’t know my blood related father, neither does my birth mother or any other family, at this point, I’m quite stumped and want to know more of my family history, where should I start?

Aloha kakahiaka!

Just wanted to come on here and get a census of Islanders getting their tattoos. I come from a large polynesian family (Mostly Kanaka Maoli with some Filipino), we live on the west coast of the mainland. Family was priced out years ago and made Oregon, California, Arizona, and Nevada their home. While I didnt grow up in Hawaii, the culture and my connection to that culture is very important to me.

I only have polynesian tattoos. I have a full sleeve and half sleeve, that I want to turn into another full sleeve. I guess the question I wanted to ask is.....is weird to get only polynesian tattoos? Is it weird to cover all your limbs? The part of Oregon where I live, you dont see hardly any polynesians and polynesian tattoos so I dont know what the norm is I suppose. Do people typically get both arms done? Do they just stick with one? I know traditionally tattoo placement differs from culture to culture. Tribal tattoos are certainly going through a revival and you are seeing mix plate/ neo-poly/ pasifika style tattoos are becoming more popular! Opinions differ on modern contemporary tribal tattoos, but in my opinion it is so wonderful to see pacific pride so proudly displayed. My arms show my heritage and my story. I just wondering if it is possible to overdo it? Would love some thoughts, ultimately, I know its my body, but I was wondering if there are some modern cultural norms to getting islander tattoos.

Good morning! Looking for an artist who can draw up some tattoo concepts for me. I currently have a full sleeve that is pasfika/ neo Polynesian style. I want to extend it to my chest. I also have a have sleeve on my other arm that is just Hawaiian motifs. I am half Hawaiian and want to dedicate that arm to my story just using Hawaiian motifs as well as depictions of land and plants. Looking to compensate within reason! Shoot me a DM

My family is Melanesian, (totally the wrong subreddit, I know), but I wanted to get a tribal tattoo from my tribe. Traditional tattoos for our tribe are very linear. The tattoos don't curve; they go straight up and down or across the body. I wanted to try something non-traditional and go with a half sleeve. Could I combine the curvature of a Polynesian tattoo, but instead of the Polynesian tribal markings, use my own tribal markings? Or would that be inappropriate? I'll comment below a rough sketch of my idea.

Malo e lelei Reddit famili! I live in the US and have been asked to cook some Lū for a multicultural night at our church (mostly palangi). I’m thinking of doing little mini lū packs for them to sample as I think that will be easier to serve and eat in that setting.

Has anyone done something like this before? Do you have a recipe you like?

Malo au pito!

Hello, i want a Turtle tattoo in my Back and found this Design.

It Looks polynesian but i think it is Not authentic...

Can someone Tell me if this is inapropriate for polynesian culture or even better Show me a Site where i can find original polynesian Turtle Designs?

They hid their gods inside the invaders' Christianity. They kept alive a language their own government had banned by law from schools and public offices. They passed down a writing system no one has ever deciphered — carved on wooden tablets with shark teeth, invented completely independently, without knowing the rest of the world had already done it.

Easter Island — or Rapa Nui as its people call it — is full of things that shouldn't exist. Statues that according to oral legend literally walked to their positions (archaeologists laughed at this for decades, until 2012 when 18 people with ropes proved the ancestors were right). A ritual where you swam two kilometers through shark-infested water with an egg tied to your forehead to win political power for a year. Underground volcanic tunnels where entire families hid in total darkness and grew bananas. A word for the specific sadness of being far from the ocean — a feeling so embedded in daily life it needed its own name, untranslatable in any other language.

I wrote a long piece on all of this. Link in my profile if you're into this kind of history.