# Looking for a leg tattoo **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997 "2001-08-05T16:41:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997/1 "2001-08-05T16:41:13Z")
This will probably die on the vine, but it is worth a shot. Does anyone know where I can find a picture of a Micronesian leg tattoo of a stylized dolphin jumping out of waves? It is a very specific tattoo mostly done in the outer islands of Yap District. I am thinking about getting it, but I can’t find any tattoo artists who have seen one, so I am looking for a picture. I have done all the standard searches: “Leg tattoos”, “Micronesian tattoo”, “Yappese tattoo”, “Tattoos of the South Pacific”, etc. and no luck. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997/2 "2001-08-05T17:26:23Z")
I ran a “Google” search for “dolphin tattoo yap” and got [http://life.csu.edu.au/marshall/html/tattoo/tattoo2-test.html](http://life.csu.edu.au/marshall/html/tattoo/tattoo2-test.html) It was loading slow, and since it wasn’t for me anyway, I didn’t wait it out. If you haven’t been there, it’s something. Also, if I read it right, the Yap called a dolphin “koko”. It might help your search. -Rue. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997/3 "2001-08-05T17:53:56Z")
Here’s another link for you: > **[Dolphin Yin Yang Tattoo Design](https://luckyfishart.com/products/dolphin-yin-yang-tattoo-design)** > > Tribal dolphins based on ancient Polynesian tattoos jump happily in a yin-yang pattern, representing duality and union of opposites. It’s based on traditional Hawaiian design, it might be close. Also a “Google” search, “tattoo dolphin polynesian” This is kinda fun in a geeky sort of way. I’ll probably post more as I find stuff, till you tell me to stop. Or I get bored. You just can’t tell. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997/4 "2001-08-05T18:13:26Z")
My third and final post. Today anyway. [http://www.justpacific.com/fiji/fijianart/cliffart/cliffpaintings.html](http://www.justpacific.com/fiji/fijianart/cliffart/cliffpaintings.html) Halfway down there’s a Proto-Polynesian dolphin. It’s rock-art, but it might be close to an image you want. [http://www.myriahs.com/publishnewstuff2/temptattoos1.html](http://www.myriahs.com/publishnewstuff2/temptattoos1.html) Hawaiian inspired art. It has a line of dolphins A site synopsis says the Samoan word for “dolphin” is “masi-masi”. It might help a new search. Good luck with your search and tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Jorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997/5 "2001-08-05T19:23:54Z")
“Masi-masi” is Samoan for “mahi-mahi” not dolphin [the one you’re thinking of, i.e. marine mammal]. ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997/6 "2001-08-05T22:10:29Z")
How’re you finding these very cool pages? I’ve been looking for a good Celtic dog symbol to tattoo on the small of my back…found not much online, even visiting Book of Kells sites. And libraries seem fairly devoid of good Celtic art books. Sorry for the hijack. This is actually a blatant plug to get Rue to look for good resources for me. 🙂 I’ll send ya a photo of the finished design! 😉 **TV Time** , good luck on your search…I think I know the sort of tattoo you’re talking about. I’ve seen them in Hawaii & they look really classy. Especially on smooth brown skin. woof. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-leg-tattoo/74997/7 "2001-08-06T04:41:59Z")
Rue: Thanks so much for the help. My server has been down for most of the day so this was the first chance to catch up. I haven’t had a good chance to read through the information yet. I just glanced at the sites hoping that I would not be cut off again. Once again thanks for all the help. You’re great. Everybody else thanks, too. …and Carina, you gave me an idea. I’ll check the web sites of tattoo parlors in Hawaii and Guam. TV