Anyone looking for a menacing and often very meaningful animal tattoo design should look into getting a shark tattoo. Not only do these animals look amazing on the skin, they you’ll also find that there are quite a few shark tattoo meanings that people like to use. Below you will find out why so many people choose to get shark tattoos and some of the more popular meanings that are used with them.

For centuries, sharks have been part of many Polynesian mythologies as gods and goddesses featured in popular tales. In Hawaii, there are multiple shark deities most of whom preform good acts in order to help humans rather than harm them. Kamohoalii was known for helping guide sailors back to land when they found trouble while Ukupanipo helped control how many fish could be caught by a fisherman. In mythologies from Fiji, Dakuwaqa is a shark god that protected fishermen from the dangers of the sea.

Not so friendly, the Hawaiian shark god Kauhuhu of the island Molokai is supposed to be a vicious, man-eating creature with a bad temper. He demanded the respect of the people who lived on the island lest he unleash a throng of dragons who served as his guardians. Even in this tale, the shark itself is not the greatest threat.

Shark imagery is incredibly significant to Polynesian beliefs and mythologies, specifically in Hawaii. Although the mythologies tell of benevolent sharks, the image is still one of a predator that commands to be treated with respect. They are a metaphor for the dangers of the open sea and the unpredictability of the large body of water.

Outside of cultures that have their own shark tattoo meanings, sharks also have inherent meanings that people from all over the world often use. You might find that there is one specific meaning that you want to use with your shark tat, or you might choose to use multiple meanings since they all make sense for you. What’s kind of cool is that you can choose one meaning now and maybe down the line you will realize that another shark meaning works equally as well.