Hula, Pirate, and Sailor Girl Symbol

The dancing hula girl tattoo is embedded in the legend and lore of tattoo imagery and has many connections to martime symbols. Because tattoos in the West were popular early on with mariners, the hula girl tattoo meant that a sailor had been to Honolulu or Hawaii. At the same time, whether she’s wearing the typical hula outfit or in the buff, she’s also a type of pinup. In a related way, any tattoo in a port of call was occasionally also simply the result of peer pressure, the desire to be one of the group, or just a way to remember the visit.