Do you see the pattern of a map hidden within the crests in front of you? In the past, it was customary for women of Okinawa to get tattoos on their hands called "hajichi." The design before you is based on a motif of the sun. Though this tradition has been outlawed or gone obsolete in some areas, tattoos were once an indispensable part of the Pacific islander and Okinawan culture.
Why do people get tattoos in the first place? One theory is that it distinguishes high-ranking individuals, like the priestess Kikoe-ōgimi in Okinawa or those with sacred power in Polynesia. As the tradition evolved, hajichi became a ritual for ordinary women as well as a charm of good luck and protection from evil.
The Pacific Islands, including Okinawa, have all sorts of tattoo patterns that symbolize regions and family, or the idea of godliness with the image of Tiki. Each tattoo is unique and tells the story of the individual-- their ancestry, religion, and even their personal history and future desires. While the details differ by region, the idea that tattoos symbolize a person’s identity is a shared custom. In recent years, tattoo culture has been revived in certain areas of the Pacific islands, re-establishing the fact that knowing who you are and being able to express it is something worth treasuring.
