In February, the Samoan officer became the first soldier to receive Army approval to possess such tattoos on her hands, a mark of recognition of the diverse communities that comprise the force and ...

The significance of the Samoan tattoo and its cultural roots Sialega-Fili got the tattoo in May 2024 to honor her father, who has been dealing with severe health problems. A significant aspect of ...

A Samoan Army Captain is the first soldier to receive approval to have traditional “tatau” or tattoos on her hands. This move not only honors Captain Isis Sake’s cultural heritage ...

She recently got a tualima, a traditional Samoan tattoo on her hand, after her father became seriously ill. "I basically got it for cultural beliefs and traditions," Sialega-Fili said.

The tattoo, Sialega-Fili said, is similar to the type of tribal markings used by Hawaiian Airlines in their own designs. “It’s plastered on our planes. It’s plastered inside of our planes.

Capt. Isis Sake, breaks ground as the first soldier of Samoan descent to gain permission to display traditional hand tattoos in religious uniform accommodation.

Army Capt. Isis Sake is the first soldier to receive a religious accommodation for traditional Samoan hand tattoos. (Jon Simkins/Staff) Small arrows, birds and stars adorn the tops of the soldier ...