Fresh Polynesian tattoo inspiration

Uhi hand-tap kākau

The most recognised living practitioner of traditional Hawaiian hand-tap kākau. Named a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow in 2019 for his work reviving Hawaiian tattoo. Also holds the Sāmoan Sulu'ape title bestowed by the Sulu'ape family.

Tā moko (uhi chisel)

Senior tohunga tā moko and co-founder of Te Uhi a Mataora, the national collective of tā moko practitioners. Widely documented across museum, academic and public-media coverage of the tā moko revival.

High-detail Samoan / contemporary fusion

Working out of Sacred Tatau in Tampa, Samoan Mike is known for high-detail Samoan work that blends the dense geometry of pe'a and malu with contemporary sculptural motifs. He has built a wide following for tattooing high-profile athletes including WWE stars Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt.

Freehand Polynesian, graffiti-inflected

Founded Frost City Tattoo (Frost City Tatau) in 2017 after starting his career at 16 in Compton. Best known for freehand contemporary Polynesian work — drawn on the skin without stencils — that fuses Samoan pattern language with graffiti lettering and photoreal depth. Has tattooed more than two dozen NFL players.

3D sculptural Polynesian shading

Founder of IslandTAT, widely credited with pioneering a three-dimensional shading technique in Polynesian tattooing — treating each motif as an individually sculpted form so the pattern reads as depth rather than a flat surface design. Also launched Island Tat as an apparel line and authored The Polynesian Tattoo: Code (2023). Clients include NFL players Rey Maualuga, Ray Lewis and Lofa Tatupu, and he has designed Polynesian patterns for Disney's Polynesian Resort.

Contemporary Polynesian & Filipino tribal

Bay Area tattooist working from Humble Beginnings in San Jose. Part of the 1990s West Coast "New Tribal" generation that fused Pacific and Filipino tribal design with graffiti and illustration — a lineage that helped codify contemporary Polynesian tattoo on the US mainland.

Tā moko & kirituhi

Founder of Karanga Ink and a widely profiled wāhine tā moko artist featured in Stuff, RNZ and The Spinoff coverage of the moko kauae revival.

Neo-Polynesian / freehand tribal

Widely-published neo-Polynesian tattooist and Inked Magazine feature artist, part of the international generation building on the Farrarons/Chimé Tahitian design vocabulary.