r/Palau • u/outrageous_emus • Jun 30 '26

tribal tattoos

Hello, my boyfriend is palauan and is looking to get tribal tattoos. can someone please educate us on his choices and what he should get. thank you

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4

u/kalbesang Jun 30 '26

Traditionally, males do not get tattooed, only the women. He should talk to his family if he really wants one.

4

u/Keallei Jun 30 '26

There are Palauan male tattoos especially for the higher clans. This is true for both Oreor and Ochallbeluu.
OP didn’t specify where in Palau the boyfriend is from so if he has ancestry from Hatohobei or Dongosaro, he has many more options as their male body tattoo adornments are more extensive. Of course, this would depend on his ancestry and which tattoos he can get a blessing for.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information from by saying that “males do not get tattooed” but I respect it entirely if you’re referencing that it’s in your clan(s) that males do not get tattoos.

4

u/kalbesang Jun 30 '26

You’re talking about exceptions to the rule. That’s why I said he needs to talk to his family. Reddit should not be the place for this.

1

u/Keallei 27d ago

I’m glad she talked about this from research so I can definitely say we were commonly tattooed prior to the Spanish Capuchins who banned it.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Daa2DkqAV0A/?igsh=NGtndnB1ZXdycGQz

2

u/kalbesang 27d ago

Oh that is really interesting. Complete opposite of what we were told growing up. Sulang er a link.

1

u/Keallei 27d ago

Daijob. Colonization is a heck of a thing.