Seeing as he has (in-direct and direct) knowledge from Mary Abigail Kawenaʻulaokalaniahiʻiakaikapoliopelekawahineʻaihonuaināleilehuaapele Wiggin Pukui and is very much into his (your) traditional culture (which, apart from Hula, also consists of language among other things), I don't doubt much that he says. I wasn't referring to inspiration from Tahiti (in a way, yes but not in the way you assume I meant). Do you think Kanaka's should get tattoos without knowing what is behind what they got?
I agree with you, getting something sacred is a serious matter and I personally prefer people to do their HW about it. I have many Polynesian friends (Hawaiian/Samoan/Tongan) here in Hawaiʻi that could draw the most beautiful poly designs, but ask them what it means and they have no clue. People today don't realize (Hawaiians included) that tātau is more than a fashion statement, and the markings can have many meanings. Some markings used today were only worn by nā ariʻi but people don't realize. I myself don't have any tattoo's because I feel like I didn't earn them yet, according to my ancestor's standards.
