Tiki masks are carved wooden masks representing the gods of the Hawaiian and Polynesian culture (Pacific Ocean tattoo style). They used to have different purposes such as warding off evil spirits and even improve the fertility of the owners! They hold such high importance in Polynesian culture that, along with other Tiki sculptures have become defining symbols of the Tiki culture.
Many of the traditional masks are designed based on the four main gods. Kane is the god of the sun and natural life, Ku is the god of war, Lono the god of peace, wind, rain, sport and fertility, Kanaloa is the god of the ocean. In Western tattoo designs the hidden meaning is usually not there any more but they have the looks.
This customer had a small tattoo with a colorful palm tree, sea and sun. In order to get it fit to this design I choose an overdone colorful mask. So you get more the idea of the colorful tiki cocktail bars in the sixties. The designs are still very popular with surfers because they give that tropical feeling of sun, sand and sea.
