Each year, Butter adds new ornament designs to her exquisitely made ‘Nei Hua’ ornaments. “As every year, Butter told this reporter, we’ve added seven new Hawaiian ornament designs just in time for Christmas. They often range from floral images to very traditional Hawaiian petroglyphs.”
Yet, with the beauty and the spirit of the Hawaiian Islands enamoring her life so much, she wanted to do something more. So, she embarked on another business venture.
“It is a line of leather wallets for men (and soon also for women), she said, featuring genuine Polynesian tattoo art on the leather. I have been in love with the look of Polynesian tattoos for years, but it took me three years to find a way to make the leather goods so that the art was durable, while preserving the great touch and smell of real leather.”
It was also a challenge for Butter to find an authentic Polynesian tattoo artist who was willing to share the ancient craft with the public in a respectful commercial way. “Out or respect for the traditions and cultures, I do not want to place anything truly sacred on any commercial product.” Artists Te’va Lowy, Eugene Ta’ase, Kuaika Quenga and Xavier Saint Amand, work at expressing an ancient art, passed down thru the generations. In ancient times Polynesian tattoos signified important personal traits such as their wearer’s prowess, status, lineage, and more. Worn by one of Hawaii’s elite koa warriors, they could instill immediate fear.
Phil of Tahiti Tattoo, The Best Polynesian Tattoos in The World, his source for tattoo information history and culture explained. “As there is no writing in the (ancient) Polynesian culture, the Polynesians used this art full of distinctive signs to express their identity and personality. Tattoos would indicate status in a hierarchy society, he said. Tattoos would indicate sexual maturity, genealogy and one’s rank within society. Nearly everyone in ancient Polynesian society was tattooed.”
While tattoos are universal to many cultures and histories throughout the world, there is something unique about the tattoo art of all the Polynesian cultures. While seemingly similar, as Polynesian historian and author Tricia Allen pointed out. “The same symbol would not necessarily carry the same meaning from one island group to the next. Allen is also a tattoo artist and has studied Polynesian art, history and culture for over 30 years. “As for an easily available source or list of meanings (in tattoos), no there isn’t, and if you see one, be skeptical,” she says. With more than seven distinctive peoples and cultures, besides Hawaii, Polynesian art was almost lost. “Shortly after the missionaries arrival (in 1797) the practice of tattooing was strictly banned, said Phil as the Old Testament forbids it. In recent years, however, the art of tattooing has enjoyed a renaissance in the early 1980’s. Polynesians are once again taking pride and interest in their cultural heritage, he said, finding their identity in the revival of many lost arts.”
According to Allen what was truly ancient and contained consistent meaning (in Polynesian culture) is not always clear to anthropologists. “Most of what is done today is a modern interpretation of the older styles, incorporating both old symbols with modern or borrowed ones,” said Allen.
As reported by Honolulu Magazine in 2013, the art of ‘tapping’ (which is tattooing without modern equipment) is special since there are very few artists left in the world who tattoo in this ancient way. Once such artist the magazine featured was Keone Nunes. He does not just tattoo anyone with the ancient warrior motifs.
Nunes insists on interviewing everyone who seeks him out. There are no set questions, Honolulu Magazine reported in its May 2013 issue, Nunes says it just “depends on the individual”. Nunes began tattooing using the traditional Polynesian of “tapping” over twenty years ago. “Very significant, profound things happen when people get tattooed in this way,” Nunes said.
Butter considered Nunes for her new endeavor. “He is one of the best known traditional Hawaiian tattoo artists.” Yet with his busy schedule and what she envisioned as a new product line, the four artists she has now are able to meet the design-work and specifications.
“To find artists, said Butter, I researched to see if the artists I found had a genuine background in Polynesian tattoos, as well as what their personal style of art is. Because the style of each Polynesian island is different, she said, pointing out that Tahitian style looks different than Hawaiian, I wanted to be sure that the art for each piece had a different and distinct look.” Butter also pointed out, what Allen had noted, that even though much of today’s Polynesian tattoo art is a blend of the traditional motifs of each Polynesian island, “I still wanted to do some research before I approached any artist,” she said. “I was happy to find that each of the artists that I approached were open to my idea and I commissioned the art directly from them.”
So far, the response has been positive and Butter is pleased. To learn more about Na Koa Leather designs visit the web site.
