Malu
For other uses, see Malu (disambiguation).
A Samoan woman with malu
Malu is a word in the Samoan language for a female-specific tattoo of cultural significance. The malu covers the legs from just below the knee to the upper thighs just below the buttocks, and is typically finer and delicate in design compared to the pe'a, the equivalent tattoo for males. The malu was traditionally applied to young women in the years following puberty. In the olden days, only the chief's daughter would have a malu but nowadays many young Samoan women do.
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