Help Me Embark on My Malu Journey – I am now ready at 50

Talofa lava, my name is Stella

, and I’m from the beautiful village of Falelatai in Samoa. This year, I turn 50 — a milestone that has stirred something deep within me. I feel that I have truly come of age, and now is the time to mark this chapter of my life with something sacred and powerful: my malu.

The malu is the traditional female Sāmoan tattoo, worn on the legs and sometimes extended to the hands. It is a sacred cultural practice that represents service, strength, and connection to heritage. My malu will be done in the traditional way, using hand-tapping tools (au) by master tattooist Lawrence Ah Ching and his team, following the customs passed down through generations.

The malu is more than a tattoo — it is a symbol of service, humility, strength, and identity. For Samoan women, it represents our connection to culture, to land, and to those who came before us. It is a physical embodiment of values passed down through generations — respect (fa’aaloalo), service (tautua), and grace under responsibility.

As I step into this next season of life, I want to honour my heritage, my village of Falelatai, and the journey that has brought me here. Receiving the malu is my way of standing in my truth as a Samoan woman — embracing who I am, where I come from, and who I continue to become.

If you feel moved to support me on this sacred journey, I would be deeply grateful for any contribution towards the cost of this traditional blessing. Fa’afetai tele lava for walking beside me as I take this step.

All funds raised through this GoFundMe will go solely toward supporting the tattooist, Lawrence Ah Ching, who is travelling from New Zealand, along with his two assistants who will help with the stretching process. I will personally cover all travel and accommodation expenses to Holland, so every donation will go directly to the artist and his team in recognition of their time, skill, and cultural contribution.

With love and gratitude,