§ Symbol
Hammerhead shark
Manō kihikihi
Polynesia · Hawaii
The hammerhead shark (manō kihikihi) symbolises determination, guidance and protection in Polynesian culture. In Hawaii the shark counts among the ʻaumakua, or protective family spirits.
§ How I draw it
2 original drawings
None of these drawings gets tattooed as it is. They're the starting point: in the consultation the motif is adapted to your anatomy and to the rest of the piece.
§ Meaning
Determination, guidance, protection at sea.
Across much of Polynesia the shark, manō, isn't a monster but a guardian. In Hawaii it counts among the ʻaumakua, the family spirits that protect a lineage, and offending it brings bad fortune.
The hammerhead adds a note of its own: eyes set at the ends of the head give it a field of vision no other reef animal has. Hence its link to anticipation and to the determination of someone who knows where they're going.
It's a long, narrow motif by nature, so it asks for elongated areas: ribs, calf, forearm or the full run of a sleeve. Forcing it into a square shape blurs it.
§ How it's drawn
An elongated S-silhouette with the characteristic T-shaped head. The body is filled with hexagons, shark teeth and spirals; the caudal fin ends in a sharp point.
§ Works well with
Interested in a piece with the hammerhead shark?
In the consultation we work out how it fits your body and your story.
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