Vanya Taule'alo, a gallery owner and artist in Samoa has written several good pieces on contemporary Samoan tattoo, see https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/columns/22332  and https://vanyataulealo.wordpress.com/tattoo-samoan/  Make sure to check out some of her other articles in the links on the right-hand side.

Are you seriously interested in Samoan tattoo?  Authors Sean Mallon and Sebastien Galliots have a relatively new comprehensive book, Tatau, that's available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Tatau-History-Tattooing-Sean-Mallon/dp/0824878493 

A fairly good site on the history of tattooing is at https://blog.jhaiho.com/tattoo-history/  Although it's well written & fairly well researched, the captions on the photos are quite lacking as they don't credit the artist or individual.  While this would be near impossible in some cases, many of us will recognize some of the individuals & the work in the Polynesian section.

Works in Progress, a progressive newspaper on the Olympic Peninsula published an interview with yours truly. You can read it online at https://olywip.org/tattoo-artists-evolution-marked-by-respect-for-polynesian-traditions/

A brief but intriguing article on Berber women's tattoos is at https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/algerias-dying-art-berber-women-facial-tattoos-tell-their-stories-photo-report-1526304?fbclid=IwAR27kNGlziXaJ1JinFWJO1mrw7C6MNG-yGitOlGvyk9V4P_iNLMJTlZsgDo but it really leaves me wanting more! If you feel the same way, you could try getting your hands on a copy of this wonderful book by Loretta Leu:  https://www.amazon.com/Berber-Tattooing-Moroccos-Middle-Atlas/dp/0955110955/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Loretta+leu+berber+tattoo&qid=1581380179&sr=8-1

You might be aware that the Festival of Pacific Arts will be in Hawai'i in mid-June. COME! And please help spread the word! https://www.teaomaori.news/hawaii-prepares-worlds-largest-pacific-cultural-festival?fbclid=IwAR07JzkfelhIpBB6pD5xXkNm39YWlnyNLIKaPuvhPeDVpYZkAlOBz2w4ld4  This is an incredible event that occurs in a different Pacific nation only every  four years and is well worth attending!

LOS ANGELES EVENTS

I'll be giving a presentation on March 21st from 2:30 - 4:30pm at the Asian Pacific Resource Center, Rosemead Library, 8800 Valley Blvd. The event is free, but the library has specified adults (18+) only.  I'll be giving a heavily-illustrated presentation that's an overview of the tattoo traditions of Polynesia.  Please come and help spread the word!

TOURS OF AOTEAROA (New Zealand)

During 2020 I'll be leading two tours of Aotearoa.  If you've never been, this is a great opportunity to go!  The tours are limited to 8 individuals so you won't feel that you are with a commercial tour
- in fact, it's exactly the opposite!  You can expect some wonderful intimate discussions and informal seminars with some exceptional Maori artists and cultural practitioners.  If you are interested in joining either tour, please email me at tattoo@lava.net with
"NZ Tours" in the subject category.

The first of these tours is July 31st - August 14th which is during the winter season so we'll be avoiding the crowds. So far there are 5 individuals committed who are avid travellers from Spain.  We can accommodate 3 more in this tour which includes highlights of both the North and South Islands.

The second tour is during the Spring season, Nov 16 - Aug 1st, and will focus more intently on the North Island, including the Bay of Islands, the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua and Wellington, and Auckland of course. This tour will include a choice of accommodations in some locales for those on a budget.

Following the tour that concludes Dec 1st, those seriously interested in Pacific History can hop up to Fiji for the 2020 Pacific History Association conference, see https://www.pacifichistoryassociation.net/pha2020

UPCOMING TATTOO SCHEDULE

March 13 -  22nd :   Redondo Beach, CA
March 23 - mid May :   home on O'ahu, HI
May 15 - May 31st :  East San Francisco Bay Area
June 3rd - July 14th :  home on O'ahu, HI
July 16 - Aug 16th :   Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Sept 11 - 27th: :  Redondo Beach, CA
Oct 3 - 18th :  East San Francisco Bay Area
Oct 22 - mid-Nov :   home on O'ahu, HI
Nov 15 - Dec 8th :   Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Please check out my website (esp. the SCHEDULE and FAQ links) and call 808 734-8677 or e-mail tattoo@lava.net with your phone number & a short description of what you have in mind  (body placement & size).  If you are a new client it will be helpful to read over the FAQ on my site.

I am also scheduling appointments to do cosmetic tattoo, specifically microblading eyebrows. This is a semi-permanent ink that is designed to fade in 2 - 3 years. I use hand tools and anesthetics and strive for a very natural look simply enhancing the natural shape of your brow; if you want current fashion trends, that's not me. If you are interested, please see my schedule here and contact me for a free consultation. 

Aloha,
Tricia
(808) 734-8677