Why did Samoans preserve tattooing when missionaries opposed it?

While Christian missionaries in the 19th century opposed tattooing, believing it conflicted with biblical teachings, Samoans maintained the tradition because it serves as a vital rite of passage within their culture.1

Unlike many other Polynesian islands where missionary influence successfully eliminated the practice, Samoans preserved the art form, which involves a prolonged and often painful process performed by a local tufuga (tattoo artist) for males at age 12 or 13. By upholding this tradition, Samoans not only protected a core element of their cultural identity but also eventually helped revive the practice among other groups, such as the Tahitians, in the late 20th century.1