Hawaiian
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Hawaiian
Tattoos
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| Tribal Hawaiian Tattoos | Hawaiian Tattoos | |
Hawaiian Flower Tattoos
Hawaiian flower
tattoos can express ones respect and esteem for Hawaiian culture or may
simply be considered an exotic and beautiful design, regardless they come
in a wide range of forms and can have a variety of symbolic meanings.
Not all of which were feminine! Due to tourism in the 19th and 20th centuries
the most popular examples of the Hawaiians use of the tropical flower
is the concept of a lei, a wreath of flowers that is draped around the
neck upon ones arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection. Another Hawaiian
use of tropical flowers that has been popularized is the hibiscus flower
behind the ear of a women, this symbolizes that she is ready to find a
partner for marriage. The Hawaiians were also great practitioners of the
art of tattooing and used tropical flowers in their designs. Hawaiian
flowers were traditionally tattooed in a highly stylized manner and are
a common theme in traditional Hawaiian tattoo designs. Since ancient times
the Hawaiians tattooed themselves with a variety of geometric, curling
and natural designs, and the tropical flower may be one of the most enduring
and popular of their subjects.
Hawaiian Flower Tattoo with traditional elements and Hawaiian Islands.
Modern tropical flower tattoo featuring rich color.
Hawaiian culture,
like many tribal societies, identified themselves much more closely with
nature than their modern counterparts. Their navigators were so in touch
with the waves and currents that they could detect an island from hundreds
of miles away. Their connection with the land was no different and they
became well acquainted and connected with the flora of the Hawaiian Islands.
A staggering array of tropical flowers can be found on the Hawaiian Islands.
The islands isolation, tropical climate, wide ranging elevation (ecosystems)
and fertile volcanic soils have created one of the greatest variety and
abundance of tropical flowers of any location in the world. When you consider
the wide variety of flowers and the different styles of tattoo art there
are endless possibilities to ensure that each Hawaiian flower tattoo is
unique and meaningful. (or just exotic and beautiful!)
Hawaiian Flower Tattoos Meaning
Hibiscus Flower Tattoos
The hibiscus is the most popular Hawaiian flower tattoo and one of its
family members, is the yellow ma’o hau hele hisbiscus, is the state
flower. Hibiscus flowers come in a variety of colors consisting of pink,
white, red, yellow, green, lavender, blue, purple and orange. A hibiscus
can often be seen perched behind the ear of Hawaiian women, symbolizing
they are available for marriage. A hibiscus flower tattoo is more commonly
seen as meaning “delicate beauty” or “consumed by love”.
The wide range of colors of the hibiscus makes it ideal for colorful,
modern styled Hawaiian tattoos, while its interesting form lends itself
well to more traditional, geometric tattoo designs.
Anthurium Flower Tattoo
The anthurium is an excellent choice for a Hawaiian flower tattoos. These
bright red flowers often have a heart shape. They are the most popular
flower shipped from Hawaii and they are a symbol of hospitality, friendship
and kindness.
Orchid Flower Tattoo
Orchid tattoos can represent magnificence, luxury, strength, love, and
beauty. Other orchids can mean free spirited, unique or mysterious. The
number of meanings, wide variety of interesting forms and beautiful blossoms
makes the orchid an excellent choice for a customized tattoo.
One popular orchid type in Hawaii, the Dendrobium Orchid, has butterfly
shaped blossoms and lends itself nicely to integrated tattoo designs and
has the added meaning of free, free spirited or independent beauty. Another
popular orchid tattoo, and a personal favorite, is the ghost orchid. Ghost
orchids are stunningly beautiful flowers and rather peculiar, their form
reminds me of a very strange surreal figure. This orchid is also unusual
in due to having a greatly reduced stem , the leaves have been reduced
to green scales and cord-like, green roots with a distinctive track mark
design on them. Their roots blend so well with the trees they grow on
that the pale flower seems to be floating in midair, hence its name "Ghost
Orchid". They are an endanger species, rarely seen in the wild and
difficult to keep out of its environment, giving ghost orchid tattoos
the symbolic meaning of something like “rare beauty” or “mysterious”
The Bird of Paradise Flower Tattoos
This dramatic, colorful flower is known for resembling a bird in flight.
If you like very colorful tattoos then the Birds of Paradise flower could
be the perfect Hawaiian flower tattoo for you. They are elegant and can
add vigor to the human body with their vivid splashes of color and organic
but familiar forms. This tropical flower represents “joyfulness”
and “paradise”. “Fun loving” and “elegant”
are appropriate meanings as well.
The above tropical flower types are by no means an exhausted list of possible
species for a Hawaiian flower tattoos. In fact there are many, many more
possibilities. You could select the lehua or you can even get a tattoo that
represents a particular Hawaiian island; each island has an official flower
of its own.
The mysterious ghost orchid.
Flowers by Hawaiian Island
The official flower of the big island is the Red Lehua Ohia, which, according to legend is sacred to Pele, the volcano goddess. The flower of Kauai is Mokihana, or the Green Berry. The official flower of Lanai is the Kaunaoa, or the Yellow and Orange Air Plant. In Maui the official flower is the Lokelani, or the Pink Cottage Rose. The flower of Molokai is the White Kukui Blossom. Oahu's flower is the Ilima. The flower of Kahoolawe is the Hinahina, or Beach Heliotrope. For Niihau the official flower of this island is the Pupu Shell.
Hawaiian Flower Tattoo Designs
Tropical flower tattoos are sometimes combined with traditional tribal bands and are found on both men and women. Traditional tribal Hawaiian tattoos are currently making a comeback and often involve both modern and traditional styles. Modern and traditional tattoo design styles are even being merged in a single tattoo!Traditional
Hawaiian tattoo styles are very geometric, featuring stylized animals,
flowers and geometric designs. Large dramatic swirls (such as on the shoulders)
can be used to great effect, giving an energetic tribal feel of ferocity
or elegance. Traditional tattoos also feature intricate triangle patterns
that often seem to play between the worlds of organic and geometric (think
of an M.C. Escher drawing or print). Tattoos of the ancient Hawaiian Islands
tended to be bolder and blacker than those found on the other Polynesian
islands. There’s a lot more information about traditional Hawaiian
tattoos out there, the book Hawaiian Tattoos is an excellent resource.
Modern Hawaiian tattoos aren’t as confined, additional elements
like color and a great variety of artistic styles can be applied. Color
in its self can be very beautiful and striking in a tattoo, even adding
to the boldness that characterized traditional tribal Hawaiian tattoo
designs. Modern artistic styles offer yet another level of customization
and personalization. Realistically rendered flowers are often used, although
some opt for a more playful cartoon like design. A laughing Tiki God could
accompany a tropical flower for example. There is a just as wide of a
variety of artist styles as there are Hawaiian flowers! A tattoo could
be sketch like, have a flat Asian style (anime) or have the feel of a
water color painting to name a few.
Hawaiian arm and leg tattoos were very popular for a long time, and Hawaiian
band tattoos are currently popular. A tropical flower may be seen on its
own, but they are just as often seen as part of an integrated design or
pattern. Flowers are frequently combined with vines, butterflies, hummingbirds
and ladybugs. Flower tattoos can be beautiful, exotic and rather feminine
looking, or alternatively be the subject of a fierce, savage tribal warrior’s
skin art. Flower tattoo designs are popular with men and women, although
men are more likely to combine them with skulls, crosses, tiki
gods, daggers and sharks.
Hawaiian Flower tattoos also have considerable variety regarding their overall look. They can be small, inconspicuous and delicate or big, bright and bold. The can be whimsical, serious or eclectic. A single flower or a chain of flower can be used. All of these options would have made the ancient Hawaiians proud, it was their belief that a tattoo should both express meaning to the outside world as well as have a deep personal meaning. However, there is certainly still room for those that just want an exceptional, beautiful or exotic design when it comes to Hawaiian flower tattoos.
Related Pages:
Tribal Hawaiian Tattoos
Traditional Tribal Hawaiian
Hawaiian Tattoos
Tradiational and Modern
This is just the surface of the amazing information about Hawaiian tattoos,
for more information we recommend reading Tribal Tattoo Designs, an excellent
resource. It's link can be found on the left, for the best price online.