The ancient and beautiful art of Samoan tatau was on display for all of Tutuila as Tisa’s 5th Annual Tatoo Fest brought smiles and a sunny, upbeat spirit to everyone who came to the legendary Barefoot Bar at Alega Beach this past weekend. It is hard to imagine a day more beautiful, or a welcome more gracious than Tisa’s opening remarks.

With words of thanksgiving and praise, she spoke of bridging tradition with innovation, and she talked about her special gratitude this year for the festival, for the participants, and for her faithful community sponsors.

“In our darkest moment, let us come together and celebrate our strength,” she said, echoing the theme of this year’s festival.

And it was a celebration indeed... a “commitment to our Samoan heritage” and a true celebration of our strength” said the woman for whom the festival is named.

Introducing the first competition of the Festival, the malu (women’s tattoo) and sogaimiti (men’s tattoo) Tisa reminded everyone that “if you can endure the pain of traditional tattoo, you can endure anything.”

FESTIVAL HISTORY

The first Tattoo Fest was actually held in American Samoa in 1993 at Tisa’s Barefoot Bar. Then in 1998, Tisa took the Festival idea to (Western) Samoa for a special tourist industry event workshop, sponsored by Air New Zealand and Aggie Grey’s Hotel. American Samoa Tourism Office, recognizing the idea as timely, took Tisa with them, and the festival idea took off in Samoa. Tisa said, “I knew that they could do it, because they have a well established tourist industry.”

After that, according to Tisa, the idea “spread like wildfire” in the Pacific, with Hawaii, Tonga, Rarotonga and New Zealand among the many island nations to hold tattoo festivals.

The Samoan art of tatau, using traditional tools, came to the forefront because of these festivals. “We had never lost the ancient art, and yet people did not know that it was our Samoan art until the first tattoo festival brought that to light,” said Tisa.

Several families— traditional aiga ta pe’a (artists of the tatau) have kept the art alive for over 3,000 years in the Samoa archipelago, according to Tisa. “It survived the intrusion of the first missionaries” she said.

In 2005, Tisa felt that American Samoa was ready for the 2nd Tattoo Festival. Her dream, she said, was to see it come to life here.

The 2005 festival, she noted, stimulated excitement and interest in the ancient art, both locally and world wide. She credits her sponsors, among them Samoa News, for the online displays of the art, as well as GHC Reid, KHJ Radio and BlueSky Communications for “faithfully supporting” the tattoo fest, and renewing interest in the tatau and in our islands.

THE 5TH ANNUAL TATTOO FEST

“The best party of my life.” said Dr. Delinda Wills, visiting American Samoa and working alongside Tisa this past weekend. Dr. Wills had been here before, and knew she could not miss the Fest, no matter what, so she offered to come back and not only participate, but help out with the many Festival activities and preparations.

In addition to a live feed by KHJ, Saturday’s fest had traditional Samoan music and dancing, a display of traditional outfits using only organic and natural materials, delicious barbecue plates served on mailo (traditional woven plates) and a contest for Best Malu (women’s traditional full body tattoo) and Best Sogamaiti (men’s traditional full body tattoo).

Patricia Tanuvasa, and David Epati Mata’utia were the winners in the Best Malu and Best Sogamaiti respectively, and in addition to photo sessions which may have seemed a bit like the paparazzi had arrived on island, they were also given $300 each in cash prizes.

Mata’utia, a young man who has served in the U.S. military said, “Enduring the pain made me appreciate my culture even more...this is one way that I represent my people.” His comment was echoed by Tanuvasa, who declared “I want to represent my country wherever I go in the world.” Aumua Amata, who also showed her malu, noted that for her, the malu represented “a complete commitment to my culture.”

Both of the Saturday winners had their tattoos created by Petelo Su’a Suluape a legendary tattoo artist from Upolu.

On Sunday, the tattoo artists were there bright and early as well, as people lined up to have their tattoos done. Before the day was over, one guest counted 90 cars along the roadway, with more showing up as the day wore on.

Also on Sunday, cash awards were given for Best Female Body Art, Best Male Body Art, Best of the Fest New Participating Artist, and Best of the Fest Most Creative Artist.

Best of Fest Female Body Art was won by Mary Tiumalu of Vaitogi, tattoo work done by veteran traditional Tufuga, and machine artist, Wilson Fitiao. He used both machine and traditional art tools. Wilson has won tattoo art awards including Tribal Style Art in Boise, Idaho, Tattoo Convention, two years ago, and Tisa’s Best of Fest Tatau Art in 2008.

He specializes in both Machine and Traditional tattooing tools.

Best of Fest Male Body Art was won by Sonny Chen from tattoo artist Joseph Ioane, This 22 year old artist from Avau, Nu’uuli is a new participating artist at Tisa’s Tattoo Fest, 2009. Ioane is a soldier in the Army, who started his tattooing career after he deployed to Iraq in 2008.

He brings fresh attitude and new tattooing techniques to American Samoa’s tattooing profession, with his machine tattooing gun.

Best of Fest New Participating Artist was won by Ina Alo.

Malietau Steffany is also a new participating artist from Hawaii. He is a native of Fagasa village and a Purple Heart soldier of the US Army. Steffany enjoys tattooing art as a form of therapy away from his military duties.

Best of Fest Most Creative Artist was a tie between veteran artist Eddie Tarrant, of American Samoa, and new participating tattooing artist, Henry Utoaluga, of Vaitogi, American Samoa.

Tarrant is a veteran tattoo machine artist, who won Tribal Stlye Tattoo Art in Electric Ink Tattoo Festival in California two years ago, and Best of Fest taulima in 2008.

Henry Utoaluga, a new artist to display his art at Tisa’s Tattoo Fest tied for the Best of Fest Most Creative Artist of Tisa’s Tattoo Fest 2009.

Utoaluga, an art student at American Samoa Community College, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree, and hopes to become a traditional tattoo artist someday.

Both Male Traditional Soga’imiti art by Petelo Suluape of Samoa, and Female Malu also by Petelo, Suluape, excited the fest crowd on Saturday afternoon, by entertaining the Tattoo Fest crowd, in a true Soga’imiti Fa’ataupati siva, the best ever to be witnessed at Tisa’s Annual Tattoo Fest, according to Tisa.

Upon winning his award, David, Mata’utia, a soldier in the army, said, “ I am proud to show the world that I am a proud Samoan, and my Pe’a is a true signature, that I am a Samoan warrior.”

Tisa said, “Thank you and congratulations to all our tattoo artists for participating in Tisa’s Annual Tattoo Fest 2009. Special thanks to our Cash Award Sponsors: Tool Shop, Ace American Industries, Industrial Gases, SOS, and Tradewinds Hotel.”