The central turtle of this Polynesian half sleeve tattoo represents
Jose and his wife (surrounded by a sun for joy and eternity), coming
together after following two different but similar challenging paths
(the identical two paths of Kamehameha around them).
The flower of
hibiscus represents her beauty and femininity, with her initials
included nearby as a maorigram, and it´s connected to the warrior by
braids and flax leaves (family union), with chasing birds showing mutual
support.
The two tiki on the front flippers protect their family, as does the
manaia above the turtle, the guardian angel, with one daughter´s name as a
maorigram written on its body.
The manaia protects the turtle and
the turtle protects the manta ray (beauty, elegance and freedom)
representing their other daughter (with a J maorigram included, and a dot
nearby for importance).
Both turtle and manta swim towards a sun with a Marquesan cross inside symbolizing harmony and balance in the future.
The hammerhead shark at the bottom is a symbol of the warrior, of strength and tenacity.
On top, the ani ata motif that encircles the shoulder represents the
ancestors guarding on the family and the mountains above are for
stability.
The row of birds symbolizes voyages and watching the world
from a higher perspective, while fish symbolize prosperity.
The colored image below helps identifying the main elements within
the tattoo: