Tattooing in Samoa isn’t just art—it’s a ceremony, a rite of passage, and a way of carrying family and community on your skin. The Samoan word tatau comes from the sound of the old tools tapping skin, and the tradition goes back more than 3,000 years. Every line has weight: for men, the pe’a marks their duty and readiness to serve; for women, the malu is a symbol of identity, protection, and honor. Whole families show up during the process, praying, singing, and giving strength while someone endures days of tattooing. At the end, there’s blessing, healing oil, and the understanding that you’re no longer the same—you’re part of something bigger.
That history hasn’t always had it easy. Missionaries tried to ban tatau in the 1800s, and there were fines for wearing it. But Samoans never let it go. Artists kept it alive in villages, in New Zealand during the 1960s, and now across the world. Through it all, the tools have evolved—from boar tusk combs lashed to turtle shell handles, to hand-soldered needles sterilized and reused. Each generation has found a way to keep the tradition alive while protecting its meaning.
That’s where Sulu’ape Si’i Liufau comes in. Born in Southern California but carrying a Samoan chief title, Si’i has spent years learning from legendary tufuga (master tattooists) and helping adapt the old ways to modern realities. “The tattoo represents both your mom’s side and your dad’s side,” he explained. “We have a responsibility to both, and for men it was part of their journey to be leaders. You couldn’t even start that journey without your tatau.”
He remembers the first time he saw traditional tools in use—two sticks, a comb, and ink tapped into skin. “I was just mesmerized,” he said. “Watching an old man create something so powerful with basically nothing—it felt different, it felt special. I knew I had to learn.” But keeping up with bone tools or soldering needles for hours at a time? That grind pulled him away from the ceremony itself.
Partnering with Lucky Supply, Si’i helped create the Pasefika Tatau Needle Heads—a line built specifically for Polynesian tatau. Made from jumbo #16 gauge needles, these heads hit closer to the feel of bone tools but with the consistency and safety of single-use sterile construction. The line covers everything: Au Mono for small detail work, Au Fa’asinano for medium to large motifs, Au Sogi’aso for lining, and Au Kapulu shaders all the way up to a monster 91 mag.
For Si’i, it’s a game changer. “Back then, I had to make my own needles, sterilize them, and reuse them. Now I can open a fresh box and just work. I’ve done eight tattoos in a single convention day—that would’ve been impossible before.” He laughs about the early days: “We used to smash mag needles flat just to make them work. Now, with the 16 gauge, it’s easier on the skin and closer to the way bone tools feel. It’s the best of both worlds.”
At the end of the day, that’s the real value: not just saving time, but preserving space for the ritual itself. “This is a team sport,” Si’i said. “It’s about more than just banging sticks together. It’s about community, responsibility, and keeping our culture alive. These needles don’t change that—they make sure it survives.”
To learn more about Sulu’ape Si’i Liufau Check out his instagram here @suluape_siiliufau