**THE HISTORY & REVIVAL OF TONGAN TATTOO (TATATAU)
- Kalia Tattoo
- Dec 13, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 11
A Timeline of Our Cultural Tattoo Journey — kingafa.com
(photos subject to copyright credit to King 'Afa)
Most of our 200,000+ Tongan people today do not understand the full journey behind the revival of Tongan Tattoo TaTatau. This cultural revolution did not happen overnight. It comes from decades of sacrifice, mentorship, cultural work, documentation, and advocacy carried out by specific individuals inside and outside the Kingdom of Tonga. This is the timeline.
1. The Samoan Tatau Lineage That Shaped the Pacific Islands Tattoo Revival
The late Sua Suluape Paulo, the Samoan tatau legend, is one of the most important figures in the history of Pacific tattoo. Sua Paulo Suluape was responsible for taking Polynesian tattooing to the world stage—appearing in New Zealand media and European media in the 1980s and 1990s, teaching traditional Samoan tatau internationally, and inspiring hundreds of tattoo artists across the world.
Sua Paulo Suluape tragically passed away in 1999. Out of respect for his aiga Samoa and the Suluape name, we acknowledge his tragic death with dignity. His contribution must always be remembered with honor. Read more here.
After Sua Paulo Suluape’s tragic demise, his younger brother, Samoan tatau master Sua Suluape Alaiva'a Petelo, continued the Suluape tatau legacy. Sua Petelo Suluape later trained his son, Sua Suluape Peter, who carried this traditional Samoan tatau lineage into the modern era. Watch more about this legacy.
In 2011, Sua Peter Suluape was a guest tattoo artist at Kalia Tattoo when he visited New Zealand. He gifted a tatatau to Carl Kalia, honoring the cultural relationship between Samoa and Tonga. Papa George was introduced to Sua Peter Suluape by Carl Kalia at the New Zealand Indigenous Tattoo Convention.
In 2019, the Sua Petelo Suluape family invited George “Papa” Cocker and his wife to a feast in Samoa while attending the Pacific Games in Samoa. This event honored Carl Kalia’s friendship and acknowledged our Tongan tattoo family’s contribution to the revival of Pacific Islands tattoo.
Their friendship strengthened the connection between our two tattooing traditions. Historically, the Suluape family comes from Samoan aiga tufuga tatau who tattooed Tongans in ancient times. Records show Tongan men were still traveling to Samoa to receive tatatau into the 1800s and early 1900s. This is why the Suluape name is culturally connected to Tongan tattoo history.
2. The Beginning of the Modern Tongan Revival (1997–2006)
In 1997, Māori tā moko artist Inia Taylor, trained by Paulo Suluape, opened Moko Ink, the first Polynesian tattoo shop in New Zealand owned by a Māori tattoo artist. Inia Taylor was the Assistant Art Director of the 1994 New Zealand Film Once Were Warriors.
From 2002–2006, Carl Kalia Cocker trained under Inia Taylor at Moko Ink, learning both Māori tāmoko tattoo art and the Samoan tatau art lineage of the Suluape family. !Tongan Tattoo Kalia Tattoo Tongan Kupesi Carl Kalia Cocker
In 2005, I traveled to Auckland, New Zealand, to train and mentor Carl Kalia and Inia Taylor at Moko Ink in Grey Lynn. This experience became part of the cultural lineage and foundation for the revival of Tongan tattoo.
3. The 2006 Tahiti Breakthrough — Tongan Representation Begins
In 2006, Carl Kalia Cocker represented Tonga at the Tattoonesia Tatau i Tahiti Polynesian Tattoo Convention—the largest tattoo event in the Pacific Islands region. There were no other Tongan tattoo artists present. At only 25 years old, Carl won 1st Place Overall, bringing global attention to Tongan tattoo culture for the first time in the tattoo industry. This moment helped establish Tongan tattoo as a respected style worldwide. !Tongan Tattoo Kalia Tattoo Tongan Kupesi Carl Cocker Brisbane Australia
4. Creating Cultural & Economic Value (2000s–2010s)
Carl Kalia attended numerous tattoo conventions across New Zealand and Australia, winning awards and elevating the cultural and commercial value of Tongan tattoo. In 2010, he revived Fijian tattoo by winning the Sydney Tattoo Expo with a Fijian masi chest tattoo. This was the first time modern Fijian people saw a Fijian masi tattooed on a Fijian person. This moment marked the beginning of the modern Fijian tattoo renaissance.
The first ten years (2000–2010) were foundational. I created a new price structure, introduced cultural tattoo protocols, refined traditional art styles, and educated clients on the differences between authentic Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Māori, Micronesian, and Melanesian art. !
In 2006, I became the first Tongan tattoo artist in the United States to officially work in a professional tattoo studio with a W-2 paycheck, earning USD$200 an hour at Zulu Tattoo in the Hollywood/Beverly Hills area. At that time, every other Polynesian tattoo artist was still charging garage-sale tattoos. The value of a Tongan tattoo was often reduced to a box of cigarettes and a case of beer.
I had to create value from the garage-sale market, and my pricing forced the entire Polynesian tattoo market in the U.S. to rise. We established a price point for the Polynesian and Tongan tattoo markets. !
While I built value in the Northern Hemisphere, my brother Carl KĀLIA Cocker was doing the same in the Southern Hemisphere. Together, we built the Tongan Tattoo Renaissance. Today, Tongan tattoo artists in Tonga charge TOP$200–TOP$1,200 for forearm sleeves—prices that could never exist without the 20 years of foundation we built.
Tattooing has become a legitimate career in Tonga, supported by tourism, Tongan diaspora clients, and cultural demand. However, in the early 2000s, none of this existed. The negative stigma was strong, there was no local market, and nobody believed tattooing could be profitable or respected.
5. The First Tongan-Owned Tattoo Shop in NZ, Australia & the Southern Hemisphere (2009)
In 2009, Carl Kalia officially founded Kalia Tattoo in Papatoetoe, Auckland—the first Pacific Island Polynesian tattoo studio in New Zealand, Australia, and the entire Southern Hemisphere owned and operated by a Tongan tattoo artist. Visit Kalia Tattoo. This legal tattoo studio became the center of Tongan tattoo innovation, training, and mentorship for years to come. !Tongan tattoo kalia tattoo george papa cocker tonga kupesi tatatau
6. Making Tattoo Business Legal in Tonga — The First Licensed Tattoo Business (2011)
Tongan Tatatau and all tattooing were outlawed in Tonga in 1839 under Taufaahau King Tupou I’s first legal code. For over 160 years, Tongan tattooing existed underground. !
In 2011, for the first time in Tongan history, a tattoo business was officially registered. George Papa was operating a tattoo from home in 2009, but it was never registered with the Tonga Government. Carl Kalia encouraged George Papa to pay TOP$600 to register Kalia Tattoo in Tonga in 2011. Initially hesitant, George Papa did not believe that tattooing could be a viable business in Tonga.
King 'Afa and Carl Kalia recognized the market potential and cultural responsibility to bring tattoo culture back into the Kingdom as a legal private sector and fine art. George Papa later met with the Tonga Ministry of Tourism to recognize tattooing as cultural tourism. As a result, Kalia Tattoo has been featured in the Tonga Visitors Bureau brochure for several years.
King ‘Afa and Carl Kalia supplied tattoo ink, needles, knowledge, and supplies for Papa George Kalia Tattoo Tonga from 2009 to 2022. !Tongan tattoo kingafa tonga tatatau kupesi kalia tattoo
7. The First Tongan Tattoo Website (2002)
Carl Kalia registered TonganTattoo.com in 2002—the first Tongan tattoo website in the world. King ‘Afa registered PolynesianTribalTattoo.com in 2006, and developed, designed, and launched kaliatattoo.com and kingafa.com in 2024. This platform preserved, archived, and shared Tongan Tattoo history, art, and culture.
8. Training & Mentoring the Tongan Tattoo Community (2008–2022)
George “Papa” Cocker’s Training (2008–2009)
Carl Kalia sponsored and mentored Papa George at Kalia Tattoo in New Zealand after the official launch of Kalia Tattoo in 2009. Papa George later mentored several Tongan tattoo artists, including:
ʻOfa Tupou (Happy Sailor Tattoo, Nukualofa, Tonga)
James (founder of Sailor Tattoo) who rented our home in Houmakelikao Maufanga from 2016 to 2017.
King ‘Afa Contributions to Tongan Tattoo: Tattoo Artists Inspired, Mentored, or Trained, supplied free tattoo supplies + free tattoo training:
Trained twice, mentored, and gifted a tattoo machine and equipment—free of charge—to Tongan tattoo artist Vili Ngata (2009 - 2010). He later worked at Frost City in Salt Lake City, Utah, but sadly passed away in 2022 from a drug overdose.
Taki Vea aka Fala-o-NiuVakai - Salt Lake Utah (2007) Visit Fala-o-NiuVakai.
King ‘Afa and Carl Kalia mentored and provided tattoo equipment for Tongan tattoo artist Fautasi Vea (Tasi Waiouru Tatatau) - Melbourne, Australia, founder of Nukualofa Tattoo Shop (2017), now operated as Otu Felenite Tattoo and Barbershop by Tongan tattoo artist Taleta Maka Visit Taleta Maka.
Numerous other artists have been inspired and mentored through our efforts, including:
Willy Foketi (2009) Visit Willy Foketi.
Nia Raas (2010)
Tomasi Manuatu (2010)
Samoan Tattoo artist Pe’a Man (2017)
Sam Taungakava Visit Sam Taungakava.
Bou Bully (RIP)
Maika Vaeno Tava (Inglewood, Los Angeles)
Feti Unga (Rancho Cucamonga, Southern California - Las Vegas)
John Vamanral (Utah)
Mathaias Vanisi (Utah)
9. Tongan Tattoo Artists Who Inspired King ‘Afa and Carl Kalia (1990s)
Piliote Vea (Haʻateiho Tongatapu) Visit Piliote Vea.
Duke "Tiuke" Tukuafu (Houmakelikao, Maufanga Tongatapu) Visit Duke Tukuafu.
Vilisoni Kaivelata (Kanokupolu Hihifo Tongatapu) tattooed King 'Afa in 1999 in Halaleva TongaTapu with childhood friend Soni Vaka.
10. Introducing Tongan Artists from Tonga to the Tattoo Industry (2011)
George “Papa” attended his first tattoo convention at the Kalia Tattoo booth in New Zealand in 2011, alongside Carl Kalia. This was his first exposure to the global tattoo industry and convention culture.
11. The Impact of This Movement
This revival has:
Opened the tattoo market in Tonga
Created economic opportunities for Tongan artists
Reestablished Tongan cultural pride
Connected Tongan tattoo to Samoan, Fijian, Māori, and Micronesian lineages
Restored Tongan Tattoo not Tongan Tatatau after 160 years of suppression
Built a new generation of Tongan tattoo professionals
Established legal and commercial pathways never seen before in Tonga
This is the genealogy of influence:
Sua Paulo Suluape (Suluape Tatau Samoa) → Inia Taylor (Moko Ink NZ) → Carl Kalia (Kalia Tattoo NZ & Australia) + King ‘Afa (Kalia Tattoo Los Angeles US) → George Papa (Kalia Tattoo Touliki Tonga) + Mana Fifita (Doko Ink - Germany) + Maikolo Mafi (Culture Ink - Sydney NSW Australia) + Tasi Waiouru (Melbourne) Australia + Taleta Maka (Otu Felenite Tattoo Nukualofa Tonga) + Taki Vea (Fala-O-Niuvakai SLC Utah USA) + Stanley Lolohea (NZ) + Terje Koloamatangi (Small Axe Studio NZ) + Matiah Koloamatangi (Small Axe Studio NZ) → the next generation.
This is how Tongan tattoo returned to the world.
For Education & Cultural Reference
Authentic Polynesian Tattoos, Tongan tattoo, Pacific Island art, and contemporary tribal art:
🌐 kaliatattoo.com – Brisbane & Sydney, Australia
🌐 kingafa.com – West Los Angeles & San Jose + San Francisco Bay Area, California
Our mission has always been to preserve the integrity of Polynesian Tattoo art, create value and market for Polynesian Tattoo, Tongan Tattoo, Micronesian Tattoo, Fijian Tattoo, and now refined Tongan tattoo cultural art without the practice of the traditional ancient Tongan Tatatau, leaving that sacred ritual tradition for Samoan Tufuga Tatau artists.