Tattooing on Hawaii was often crudely executed and underwent enormous changes following the arrival of the Europeans, as it had on Tahiti. Some specific tattoos had a clear significance, such as the magical tattoos for warriors and mourning tattoos.

Warriors protected their bodies with chequered patterns or with long parallel rows of connected triangles and spearheads. Mourning tattoos for men were limited to the names of their deceased wives scratched into the chest. Women were tattooed on the tongue, and the pain associated with the procedure was seen as the embodiment of their sorrow.