Rapa Nui tattooing

[3][4] The ink was made out of natural products, primarily from the burning of Ti leaves (Cordyline terminalis) and sugar cane.

[3] Tattoos are applied with the needle combs and a wooden mallet called miro pua ‘uhi.

[3] These lines were curved and combined with a series of large dots (humu or puraki, “to enclose”) that marked the forehead and temples.

[3] One of the last women to receive these tattoos was Ana Eva Hei, who was queen consort of Atamu Tekena.

[4] Nowadays, young people are bringing back Rapa Nui tattoos as an important part of their culture and local artists base their creations on traditional motifs.

[4] Sebastian Englert refers to the tattooing, also called Tatú or Tá kona, as a form of natural expression among the islanders, commonly seeing both adults and children with these paintings.