In 1993 Tisa Fa’amuli launched a fledgling tattoo celebration in her village of Alega in American Samoa. This first tattoo event attracted close to 200 people and helped spark a revival of the traditional Samoan Tattoo designs and craft. It grew into an annual event starting in 2004 — the Annual Tisa’s Tattoo Festival, now celebrating its 10th year.

Six years after Tisa’s first small beginnings, Master Tufuga Suluape Paulo established the Tatau Festival in Samoa, then took the pe’a (traditional male tattoo) to Europe. Now in the 21st century, the Tatau art of the Samoan islands has gone global, and is one of the most popular cultural arts, inspiring fashion and skin art on an international scale.

This year with an extra day added on to the front, and several new events, hundreds and hundreds of people will converge on Alega village starting on Thursday, Oct. 23 with a sign up for tattoo artists and an opportunity to meet and greet at a sundown cocktail party. Artists, residents and guests to our island home can mingle and enjoy the beauty of one of American Samoa’s most scenic beaches.

This year you can learn the art of tattooing for yourself from the masters as Tisa’s Tattoo Fest adds a tattooing workshop. Master Tufuga will be on hand the second day, Friday, October 24 from 12 noon until 1 p.m. to work with new and aspiring tattooists. 

Sponsor for the workshops, Polynesian Tattoo Factory will be giving away tattooing supplies for participants at the workshop. But you must sign up in advance. For details email: tisa@tisasbarefootbar.com or call 622-7447.

As always, Tisa acknowledges the business community as the driving force that placed Tisa’s Tattoo Fest on the map. “Thank you sponsors — and we welcome our new sponsors Michels, and Marine and Wildlife to the 10th Annual Tisa’s Tattoo festival,” Tisa told Samoa News whose website, samoanews.com is one of her original major sponsors.

Look for the 10th Annual Tisa’s Tattoo Festival banner in Samoa News for schedules, updates and info on special guests and tattoo artists.

The 10th Annual Tisa’s Tattoo Festival is brought to you by Tisa’s Barefoot Bar in partnership with American Samoa Visitor’s Bureau.