Cruise ship visitors enjoy a day ashore at Tatau Festival Amerika Samoa

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Christopher Adolfo Krieg — Eris Tattoo and Barber Shop (Apia, Samoa) smiles for the Samoa News Camera while tattooing a tourist from the biggest cruise ship to dock here this year in American Samoa — the Emerald Princess.

Tourists were able to enjoy something not too many visitors have seen first hand: the “samaga” ceremony that officially celebrates the completion of the pe'a or malu.

The event hosted and coordinated by tattoo artist Whitey Chen and his sister Blue Chen-Fruean saw an awesome turnout starting with the live tattooing and corporate table event Friday night featuring Fiji and Tenelle, and on Saturday, more live tattooing and a concert featuring the artists, and finishing with a special showing for cruise ship tourists yesterday afternoon.