Solomon Islands
Traditional Tattoos of Ontong Java Atoll
November 2006
Ontong Java Atoll is a remote Polynesian outlier in Malaita Province, Solomon Islands. The atoll is also known as Luangiua, although Luangiua more precisely names its principal inhabited island and one of the two dialects spoken by the community. The neighboring island of Pelau supports the atoll’s other main settlement and dialect.
The people of Ontong Java maintained close historical and cultural relationships with Nukumanu Atoll, now administered as part of Papua New Guinea. European navigators recorded the atoll from the 16th century onward, but its Polynesian community, language, and traditions developed through a much longer history of Pacific settlement and inter-island exchange.
Historical accounts document extensive tattooing among both women and men. The tattoos consisted of dense geometric patterns arranged across large areas of the body. The markings formed part of Luangiua cultural identity rather than a single standardized design shared by every individual.
Tattooing declined during the 20th century as Christian influence and changing community attitudes discouraged the practice. By the time these photographs were taken in 2006, the tattoos worn by older community members preserved visible evidence of a tradition that had largely ceased to be transmitted.
Current Context
A community-based cultural revival project reported the return of Luangiua tattooing in 2024. The initiative uses historical documentation and community knowledge to reconnect contemporary practitioners with a tradition that had been absent for decades.
