different areas of the body for different tribes
Meanings are complicated. In ancient times most of the symbols had meanings, but not all of those are known today. It varies from island group to island group as to how much information was recorded before the demise of the art. In some cases, like the Marquesas, meanings are pretty well known. In other cases, we know very little. The same symbol would not necessarily carry the same meaning from one island group to the next. As for an easily available source or list of meanings, no there isn’t, and if you see one, be skeptical! BEWARE OF TATTOO DICTIONARIES! Meanings are complicated enough that the interpretation may vary from one family to the next or from one valley to the next. They are NOT universal, by any means. Even within a single island group, such as Hawaii, not everybody will interpret the same symbol the same way. It’s only through reading all of the original documents (most of which are the journals of the early explorers and first visitors to the islands) can we get an inkling of what the designs might have meant in ancient times. Or in some cases, talking to elders IF the knowledge was retained over the years. Most symbols found their origins in nature– they are visual translations from our surrounding environment. Now, most of those elements also carry a deeper significance, like the Samoan canoe that is represented in the pe’a signifies the individual’s maturity and ability to carry his responsibility of his family and village. A canoe however, might have very different meanings in another island groups, or might not have been used at all!
Very little of what is seen now is traditional, the missionaries in the 1790’s worked hard to dissuade the elders from continuing the traditions . 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.
I personally wear an interpretation of a Somoan Pe’a that is still growing as I have that heritage….and it looks as cool as chuff 😀