I’m Irish/Dutch and I have a traditional polynesian tattoo and so does my dad who is 100% Dutch. A little background on my foot tattoo:
I spent last summer sailing the South Pacific…Tahiti through to Bora Bora with my parents on their sailboat. We intermixed with the culture on every island (of which there are many). I couldn’t get one done while in the islands because we were scuba diving every day and that was the purpose of the trip. My dad however did get one done while there and it’s chronicled here: http://sv-grace.blogspot.com/2010/05/skin-deep.html as well as much of the history of the tattoos and pictures of his.
Mine is a symbol of protection, adaptability, strength, and wealth. It was earned after diving with the sharks and Mantas in the Tuamotus.
I disagree with what others have said. It is not disrespectful, as long as you know the meaning. They hated nothing more than whites coming in with their traditional tribals, not knowing what they have on their arms and not respecting the history and the culture.
Doesn’t matter if you don’t have island decent, they still accepted my parents and I into their homes and at their tables.
Polynesia is very welcoming in my experiences and very communal in their way of life.
As far as the traditional method…more power to you! As you can see in the pictures, even in the islands they will use traditional machines!
