Hawaiian Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

Hawaiian tattoos are an old custom that has existed for centuries among those native to Hawaii. They often covered the entire body of the native islander, and even to this day many natives practice the old tradition of praying to the tattoo god each time a member of the village receives a tattoo design.



Hawaiian tattoos have a meaning; they are not just gotten for the sake of getting one. They are usually in memory of a family member who has passed, for distinguishing a particular group, or for keeping evil spirits at bay.



Hawaiian Tattoos - More Than Just A Fad

This is a time-honored tradition in Hawaii and the subject of the tattoos plays an important role as well. They range from an ordinary stick figure to extensive scenes of beaches. Hawaiian flowers, ocean life or full body tattoos that take a great amount of time to complete. The meaning of the tattoos vary greatly and in the past was different even among the other various islands.



Hawaiian tattoo designs are normally larger and more colorful than others. When Hawaii was home to tribes, tattoos were used to show the different statuses as well as to commemorate important stages of life.



Painful Traditional Tattoo Method

The way of getting tattoos using the traditional Hawaiian method is not a pleasant experience. The use of a bone chisel that has been sharpened is required. It is used to tap a sharp stick into the skin until it begins to bleed. Then the ink is rubbed into the affected area. Often the design of the tattoo that was tapped into the skin was a voyage which was considered courageous.



Members of Hawaiian royalty in days gone by showed their importance by the number of tattoos they had. The higher you were ranked in the village, the greater the number of tattoos. Today Hawaiian body artwork still has great meaning. They are based on the tribe from which the Hawaiian descended and they often use aspects of the islands to add beauty.



Popular Hawaiian Tattoo Design Ideas For Women And Men

Hawaiian flowers are popular with women and men. A wave, a waterfall or anything that relates to the beauty of the tropical surroundings can be used. The tattoos are usually seen around the ankle on women or perhaps on the hip or wrist area. They may start on the back and circle around to the stomach or down the leg.



Men often have the tattoos on their chest, and birds are a popular design choice. Lizards are another as Hawaiians respect these creatures. Dolphins, sea turtles and other water related tattoos are often chosen. Hawaiians would also have tattoos on their face, typically on the cheekbones or the forehead. The meanings of these tattoos are typically more personal.



When flowers are chosen for a Hawaiian design, they have a unique meaning for each one. Since native Hawaiian orchids are becoming extinct and are on the endangered list, choosing this flower is often associated with love that is at risk or a beauty that is not often seen. Hawaiian tattoos can be based on a number of beautiful features, but the ones most often chosen are usually flowers or a combination of flowers and other aspects of the island habitat.

Guitar Tattoo Meanings And Pictures

Musical instruments are usually chosen as tattoos for the special meaning they have for the person playing the instrument. The two most popular are the drums and the guitar. Many of the designs are made to resemble an etching of the musical instrument chosen. The majority of people who choose this symbol are either songwriters, professional players, in a band or are particularly lovers of guitar music.



Meanings of Guitar Tattoos Are Often The Love of Music

In the world of rock music, a guitar in flames is one that is chosen by many. When girls choose this particular tattoo, it is often drawn with symbols depicting a certain person who plays this instrument. The additional designs that are added often have as much meaning as the guitar itself. Guitar tattoos chosen by girls are often more unique than the ones chosen by men.



There are two general types of guitars, thus tattoos depict one or the other, but the electric guitar is the most popular. As you may know, the acoustic guitar and the electric guitar sound entirely different. The electric guitar is used most often by rock bands and the acoustic guitar is used by country and western, folk and even some classical musicians.



As a symbol of the love of music, guitar tattoos are also commonly chosen by those who do not play the instrument, but simply love to listen to guitar music. They can also be chosen in memory of a musician who played the guitar but has passed away. There are many people that still mourn the death of Elvis Presley and a tattoo depicting him and his famous guitar is a sign of a true fan.



The history of the guitar spans nearly three thousand years. Before the presence of books, this was often a way of telling stories. The storytellers would travel from place to place with their guitar to sing the songs that told of history, traditions, customs and a way of life that was different from those who were being entertained.



The style of the guitar tattoo will often vary as much as the actual meaning to the recipient. This is a type of design that has various meanings and the decision to get a guitar tattoo is often thought about for a long time before acting upon it.



There are a variety of subjects that are often chosen to embellish the guitar tattoo. They are often designed to feature skulls, flames, dice, hearts, classic American cars and many other items that are part of the meaning for the person who is getting the tattoo.



What Are Some of The Most Popular Guitar Tattoos?

They will vary by the sex of the person choosing them. Girls typically like guitars with the following: Roses, musical notes, hearts, colored guitars, cartoon animals playing the instrument.



The tattoo is much more varied when it is chosen by males. They often choose: Skeletons, skull and crossbones, girls alongside or riding guitars, sometimes entwined with snakes or other beastly creatures. Other popular choices for both men and women include singing birds, cherries, and four-leaf clovers.