The word tattoo is one of the few words in the English language derived from Polynesian languages. Tatau, the Samoan version, has been around in Polynesian culture for hundreds of years. This tradition has persisted through colonial oppression as European settlers tried to erase the practice. This art form is so ingrained into the way of life in the islands. On this website, the focus will be put on tatau in Samoan society. The folklore about the origin of the tradition in the islands will be discussed in the context of the two gendered tattoos, the pe’a and the malu.