How much of what we see today is truly traditional—I mean that it’s the same design with the same meaning worn in ancient times?
Very little. Most of what is done today is a modern interpretation of the older styles, incorporating both old symbols with modern or borrowed ones. Tahitian tattooing today, or example, is drastically different than Tahitian tattoos of ancient times. In early times, they were much like the designs seen in a Samoan woman’s malu. Today what I a call the pan-Polynesian style is by far the most popular. This is a blend of elements from a number of the island cultures recombined into modern designs which are heavily influenced by the older styles. Remember, we are modern people! Wearing modern designs is not inappropriate.
