Honolulu, HI | August 25, 2025
Reporter: Naomi Kaleo, Pacific News Wire
As part of a Pacific Island cultural summit, President Reed attended a traditional tatau ceremony and emerged with a Hawaiian sun-and-wave tattoo on the back of his shoulder. Designed in collaboration with a Samoan master tattooist, the ink symbolizes rebirth, guidance, and balance—core tenets of Pacific Island culture.
He received it with full consent and participation of the cultural elders and underwent the tattooing process with traditional instruments to preserve authenticity.
> “In honoring these traditions, we uplift voices too long ignored,” Reed stated.
Cultural Aftershock:
Polynesian communities praised the respectful approach.
The U.S. Navy began recognizing cultural tattoos as part of uniform policy.
TikTok exploded with cultural tattoo storytelling trends.
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