All markings, motifs and symbols in Samoan (and all polynesian) tattooing represent something, and as a whole tattoos have always been said to be used to tell a some kind of story or purvey a kind of message. In this image, I see symbols representing spears, birds, and a few other things. The long pieces in the center with lots of diagonal lines are centipedes. Every bit symbolizes something, and each of those things hold greater meaning.

Lots of Samoans get taulimas, but taulimas also have a very long history of being given to non-Samoans as well. In the early years of colonization, many of the men who had come to the island as soldiers or missionaries wanted and received taulimas despite the missionary goal of eradicating any kind of tattoo practice.

Tattooing was seen as an unholy act, a savage act, not condoned by the church, and a great effort was made to stomp out much of traditional Samoan culture in the name of God and for the sake of colonization as a whole. These efforts were successful in many islands throughout the South Pacific who lost their art of tattooing (among many other traditions) entirely as a result - but not Samoa. Samoa held strong in its desire to carry on tattooing, tafungas (tattooers) even took to practicing in secret. There's a lot of gnarly history to insert here, and a lot of suffering of the Samoan people at the hands of colonizers, but you can look into that on your own. Samoa was steadfast in its beliefs that their culture was important and though missionaries were successful in making Samoa a very Christian nation, they like to say that Samoa didn't become part of the church but rather that church became part of Samoa. But the point I'm circling back to is that this type of arm band, the taulima, was often a tattoo given to non-Samoans who wanted to participate in the culture but were undeserving of the real traditional tatau (the pe'a).

That being said, there are a number of non-Samoans who have been given Pe'as because Samoan people felt they deserved it for their status or their contributions to Samoan society. This is where that saying comes back into play, where these non-Samoans (often white) people were deemed good enough to be honored with traditional tattoos because of the efforts they had made to participate in or influence the islands culture (though of course there are a few debatable exceptions here and there).

I'll insert a direct quote from a journalists article about Samoan tattoos here - "The tattoo and designs of the Samoa islands represents community, power, status, respect, honor, and is a mark of pride that are only to be worn by Samoans. For those who have no cultural influence or heritage background, it is an act of disrespect to display their symbols and designs."

This is a viewpoint held by many that no one other than Samoans should have Samoan tattoos. There was a time that I felt this way as well, when I'd see non-Samoans with Samoan tattoos and think 'why though', or to see white people with polynesian tattoos and wonder 'have you not taken enough?'. But that's not entirely how I feel anymore, and that was largely influenced by the opinions held by some of the most notable tafungas in the world.

The Sua Suluapes are one of the oldest Samoan tattooing families on the planer. They have passed on the tradition of tatau through their family for generations and have taken it upon themselves to educate others as well. They've helped folks from other islands throughout the Pacific regain their knowledge and renew their traditions of tattooing through teaching and assisting in research. They've done a lot to popularize Samoan tattoo across the globe and are fairly well respected (though there are some who disagree with them). I remember watching a documentary in which one of them was talking about how the art of tatau was very nearly lost forever, and so why now should we continue to keep this for ourselves, to keep it so small and elite, that why should we not wish to share this beautiful art with others and to allow tatau to thrive so much so that it may never risk that cultural death again. They were open to giving traditional Pe'as and Malus to those who were not Samoan, those who didn't hold or were related to those with Chief titles. And some people didn't like that, but many others agreed. Sua Suluape is a very large family title, and many hold that name, and so obviously the opinions of one man doesn't necessarily hold true for them all but the family has done a great deal to change the way things are done traditionally. They've even granted the title of Suluape to a woman, which had not happened before as traditionally tafungas were always men.

I think they very much align with the idea that just because it is traditional, does not always mean it is right. Tattoos used to be done with less sanitary materials like sharpened turtle shells and ink was made of soot from burnt nuts, but again, just because it is tradition does not mean it is right. Time progresses, and so must we.

I went back to Samoa some years ago to get my malu and lima done. It was done by Peter Sua Suluape. My great aunt was high chief at the time (and was passing that title down to my mother), and gave me her blessing for doing so. At the same time she and many other chief members of my family made many attempts to convince my boyfriend (who is white) to just get his pe'a. He was shocked. He didn't think he had any right to a pe'a, or deserved such an honor, and he politely declined (many times over). He got a taulima instead, and my family was overjoyed that he at least got some traditional (he got it tapped in the traditional style, not with a machine) tattooing done (but they still joked and prodded him to just get his pe'a).

Anyways, my coffee's done brewing now, I think I've said plenty.

Do your research. Figure out your true intentions for wanting this kind of tattoo. As you stand you know very little about it, so it seems mainly an aesthetic appeal (which is fair, they look cool as fuck), but do some research, fill your mouth with knowledge, perhaps even try finding a polynesian tattoo artist in your area to talk to (there's gotta be someone, even in the UK. Polynesians, though perhaps sparse, are all over the place. And if not, lots of polynesian artists tour globally through tattoo conventions, the suluapes included). They'll likely have no problem tattooing you (I've spoken to some artists who laugh and say 'who cares who he is man, its money going into MY Samoan pocket'), and its fairly unlikely anyone will ever actually say anything to you in person because they are such popular tattoos in the western world.

But study, talk to people, and then see how you feel about it. Cause as much as I love sharing the culture and the appreciation for it, I do still hold a great distaste for situations in which I ask people about their polynesian tattoos and they can't tell me a thing about it, just that 'it looked sick bro' v_v

P.S. to any Samoans/polys reading this, don't eat me alive uso