According to legend, two gods instructed the Marshall Islanders to tattoo themselves with designs identical to the patterns on fish. This would prevent the skin from shrivelling with age, and even after death, when the flesh had decayed, the tattoos would survive.

Tattooing on the Marshall Islands was accompanied by religious ceremonies and singing, especially when tattooing a king or chief. A week beforehand, the process of appeasing the gods would begin, oracles were consulted and fruit was offered. It was essential that the gods approved, or the tattooist would not receive the inspiration required to create beautiful tattoos. The men gathered in the communal hut where they were strictly placed according to their status. Outside, the women sang and kept the rhythm on drums or their thighs. The singing and drumming helped the chief enter a trance and feel less pain. When the king or chief had recovered, he stepped outside and proudly displayed his elaborately decorated body to his subjects. He concluded the ritual by hosting a great feast.