Brainstorming for Your Kakau part 2

This is the second half and solution to the kakau I began in part 1

to review:

In writing your story hear are some questions to ask your self. I answered the questions to show the how a kakau chain of thoughts can flow.

Focus: I am always amazed at how much she accomplished and that is was quality work. I want to focus on her(my great-grandmother’sr) excellence and that I will strive for excellence in reaching my goals.

Solution:  How do I capture her essence and honor her accomplishments?

I chose to use:

1.        a hala design for her skills as a weaver and quilter

2.        a haukiuki for her knowledge of gathering  ocean resources (salt, limu, wana ect.)

Placement:  I do most of my work with my hands so this is designed to wrap my forearm, more specifically my left forearm. The body in Hawaiian thought is spit into several zones one of them being the right side on the body is male and the left side is female.

My next blog will be about body placement theories and guidelines....

Brainstorming for Your Kakau part 1

In writing your story here are some questions to ask yourself. I answered the questions to show how a kakau chain of thoughts can flow.

1.        What  the purpose of the design? I want a family tattoo.

2.        Which side of your family and where were they from? My mother's side and from Huelo, Maui

3.        Is this side of your family known for being ocean or mountain people? The person I would like the design to be about is my great grand-mother. She was very knowledgeable at gathering from the ocean: limu, salt, opihi ect. She was also a paniolo and enjoyed her whiskey. She was a Hawaiian quilter and lauhala weaver.

4.        What aspect or trait would you like to focus on? I am always amazed at how much she accomplished and that is was quality work. I want to focus on her excellence and that I would like a kakau to show my commitment to strive for excellence in reaching my goals.

5.        What plants, animals, places, come to mind that would embody this trait? I will focus on ocean plants and ocean animals that I am familiar with and have researched...

I will do some research in the next few days and post the results in part 2.

Native Hawaiian Design

Aloha kaua!

I have created this blog to share what I have learned about native Hawaiian design theory. I have spent the last 18 years studying Hawaiian and Polynesian tattoos as a way to connect to my family, ancestors, culture and universe.

I am sharing what I have learned on this journey through: books I have read, conversations with many experts of Hawaiian culture and experiences that I have had designing kakau for others.

There are many great tattoo artists in Hawaii and many theories and "rules" on Hawaiian tattoo designs. My voice and theory is one of many.

Let's Begin...