Last June 2024 at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts (FESTPAC) in Oahu Hawaii, something extraordinary happened where tattoo were taking place. Su’a Uilisone Fitiao, a Tufuga ta Tatau from the village of Matuu representing Amerika Samoa as a delegate for Tatau, the high art form of traditional Samoan tattoo, knew this event would be the place where everything would come to fruition. His desire to gift and complete three of his son’s full body pe’a was an epic moment for him. “My boys live off island and so when I travel to Utah to see them and tattoo, I felt it was a good time to begin tattooing their pe’a,” Su’a says, “even though I know it will take time to complete theirs.” (Most often a full body pe’a can be completed within 12 or so days. Often it is dependent upon the strength of the person being tattooed).
The journey for Su’a Uilisone’s sons Isley, Isaac and Isaiah wasn’t the usual format for receiving a full body pe’a. Since they also work with their Dad, to toso (pull the skin), make tools, set-up, and cleanup, Su’a Uilisone insisted they make the tools he would use for their pe’a.
Imagine making something that you know is going to inflict pain on your body! But they also knew that the pain would be worth it in the end. So once the ‘au tools were made, the boys took turns to toso for each other’s session while Su’a worked. As you can imagine, a mix of supporting, bantering, teasing, and storytelling filled the room, but there was also care that the boys shared as each had to lay on the mat while Su’a Uilisone concentrated on the work. “It’s good to keep the pe’a distracted to take his mind off the pain,” explained Su’a Uilisone.
As FESTPAC neared and artists around the Pacific booked their tickets to Oahu, the plans were set for Su’a Uilisone’s sons to come for the event to assist him and complete their pe’a. Su’a Uilisone, in his usual proficient manner, paced his work around the ten days of the Festival and was able to finish what he set out to do. The completion of his son’s pe’a was a dream come true. Two other family members who’d started their pe’a earlier were also completed while Su’a Uilisone made time for two nieces to receive their malu (woman’s traditional tattoo). Talk about mastery and skill! What an incredible amount of work! Lots of tapping, ink, concentration, pulling of the skin, wiping, dipping, sitting, and standing. But in the end, a culmination of Samoan ancestral formations of patterns and motifs incised in the skin, made by the sacred hands of the Tufuga ta Tatau. And in this case, Su’a Uilisone Fitiao. Malo le fai ole faiva Su’a!
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