As a Samoan, I ask non-Polynesians not to get Polynesian tattoos anymore

Hello! My name is Morgan and I am a 30-year-old woman from Samoa.

Even if you don't know much about Samoan culture, you've probably seen or heard of our tattoos. Fun fact: The English word “tattoo” actually comes from the Samoan word “tatau”! It's a tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years and has endured time, distance, and colonization.

Something that always bothers me is when I see non-Polynesians with Polynesian tattoos, especially the traditional Samoan ones. Since most people probably don't understand why this is such a big deal, let's look at the context:

The traditional Samoan tattoo for men is called a Pe'a. These tattoos are made with hand-crafted tools made from bone, turtle shell and wood. They are extremely meaningful and often convey a man's identity, heritage and expectations within his family. Receiving a traditional tattoo is a great honor; it represents a person's acceptance of their responsibility to their community and celebrates their enduring devotion to the culture.

Each symbol and even its location has a meaning. For example, the pea is always completed with the belly button, as a reminder of the man's connection to his mother, as well as his responsibility to honor and respect her for the rest of his life.

The female equivalent of the pe'a is the malu, which has lighter patterns but still has deep meaning. Many people have asked me if I plan on getting a malu, but it's not as simple as waking up and deciding I want one, as I would have to ask my elders for permission first. And the tattoo should be a sign that I've served my community, but have I done enough to deserve it? Although I try to use my platform here at BuzzFeed to encourage Pacific Islanders and spread awareness and appreciation for Samoan culture, I'm honestly not sure.

Also, getting a tattoo in general means accepting and adhering to cultural customs. Unfortunately, I am not fluent in Samoan (although I am trying to learn!) and perhaps because of my upbringing in the US, I have different opinions on certain traditions, so I just don't know if it would be appropriate for me to get the Malu tattoo. While it would be an honor to wear our sacred symbols on my thighs, I certainly don't want to disrespect my culture.

And it is precisely this cultural context that non-Samoans lack. If they knew how sacred traditional tattoos are and how they symbolize family and service to the Samoan community, I hope they would understand why we frown upon the indiscriminate practice of these tattoos on a large number of people.

In my opinion, the pe'a or malu is the worst cultural practice to adopt from the Samoans. But I am also against non-Polynesians getting the modern tattoos – although Polynesians are not a monolith and some have different views on this depending on their upbringing and island. The modern tattoos are done with a tattoo machine and are probably the most familiar to most people as they are part of many Polynesian cultures and can be applied to many parts of the body. Each symbol still has a meaning that has been passed down to us from our ancestors, so it just doesn't make sense for non-Polynesians to have them on their skin.

Even celebrities have adopted our tattoos. In an episode of The Voice AustraliaHaitian judge Jason Derulo apparently tried to build a relationship with a Samoan contestant by showing off his tattoos.

There are countless examples on Reddit of non-Polynesians asking if they can get our tattoos. But I think people forget the history that comes with it. When the South Pacific was colonized in the 18th and 19th centuries, missionaries banned tattoos entirely on many islands, calling them “savage.” Some of the knowledge was lost forever. Samoa was one of the few islands to keep the practice, and we were instrumental in reviving tattoos on other islands in recent years. Now that Polynesian tattoos are considered cool, everyone wants one? I don't think so.

Although I'm not sure if I'll ever get a Malu tattoo, I do have a few modern tattoos. My favorite is the one that wraps around my wrist because my mom and brother also got their arms tattooed. Such a special memory that I cherish!

Each of the symbols can have multiple meanings. For example, spearheads can represent the warrior, the fisherman who provides for his family, courage and more. My tattoo represents protection, direction, determination and down-to-earthness.

Polynesian tattoos are a beautiful way to connect with our heritage and ancestors, and I am so proud to have my culture with me at all times. But our tattoos are just that: ours. It is imperative that they remain that way – otherwise they lose their meaning completely.

Check out more API-centric content by exploring how BuzzFeed is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Of course, the content doesn't stop after May. Follow BuzzFeed's A*Pop on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to stay up to date with our latest API content all year long.