polynesian headstones
Polynesian Headstones & Memorials in the Bay Area
Custom Samoan, Tongan, Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Memorials
We are honored to work with Polynesian and Pacific Islander families throughout the Bay Area, including Samoan, Tongan, Hawaiian and other island communities.
A memorial should tell the story of the person it honors
For five generations, our family has helped Bay Area families create meaningful granite memorials designed to preserve a loved one’s memory for generations. We specialize in custom memorials and can incorporate family traditions, cultural artwork, faith, photographs, inscriptions, tribal patterns and other personal details into a one-of-a-kind design.
Whether your family has a clear vision or needs help creating one, our designers will work with you to create a memorial that feels personal to your loved one and your family.
Samoan & Tongan Headstones and Memorials
We work with Samoan, Tongan and other Pacific Islander families to create custom memorials that reflect the individual being remembered and the traditions important to their family.
A memorial can incorporate cultural artwork, family names, photographs, inscriptions, scripture, tribal patterns and other meaningful design elements selected by the family.
Because cultural traditions and artwork vary between families and communities, we don't assume what should appear on someone's memorial. Instead, we listen.
If your family has a particular pattern, symbol, saying, photograph or piece of artwork that is meaningful to you, bring it to us. Our designers can work with you to determine the best way to incorporate it into the memorial.
Faith, Family & Heritage
For many families, faith is an important part of remembering a loved one.
Mattos Monuments creates memorials for families from many different faith traditions, including Latter-day Saint, Catholic and other Christian communities, as well as families who prefer their memorial to focus primarily on family, culture and the individual's life.
Depending on your family's wishes, a memorial may include scripture, religious inscriptions, crosses or other faith-appropriate imagery, along with photographs and cultural artwork.
Every memorial is individually designed so your family can decide which elements best represent your loved one.
Custom Polynesian Memorials
No two families are exactly alike, and we don't believe their memorials should be either.
Many of the Polynesian memorials we create are highly customized. Families often combine traditional monument design with photographs, tribal artwork, religious elements, floral designs, family names, personal sayings and imagery representing the person's life.
Your memorial can be simple and elegant or highly detailed. Customization options may include:
- Polynesian-inspired tribal artwork and borders
- Family and cultural designs
- Custom photo bronzes
- Hand and laser etching
- Portraits
- Ocean and island imagery
- Tropical flowers and foliage
- Religious artwork and scripture
- Family names
- Personal sayings and inscriptions
- Custom lettering
- Ceramic photographs Custom monument shapes
- Multiple granite colors
- Companion and family memorials
Custom Photo Bronze Memorials
One of the most personal ways to customize a memorial is with a custom photo bronze. A photograph of your loved one can be reproduced as part of a beautiful cast bronze memorial plaque and incorporated into the overall monument design.
Photo bronzes can be combined with granite, inscriptions, family names, tribal artwork, flowers and other personalized elements to create an exceptionally detailed tribute.
Families may choose a formal portrait, family photograph or another favorite image that captures how they want their loved one remembered.
Our team can help you select an appropriate photograph and determine the best size and placement for the bronze on the memorial.
Custom Etched Polynesian Memorials
Etching provides another way to create an extremely personalized memorial. Detailed artwork can be etched directly into polished granite, allowing families to incorporate imagery that may not be possible with traditional sandblasting alone.
Depending on the design, an etched memorial may feature:
- Detailed portraits
- Family photographs
- Polynesian-inspired artwork
- Tribal patterns
- Island and ocean scenes
- Landscapes
- Tropical flowers
- Religious imagery
- Personal objects
- Hobbies and interests
- Custom scenes representing the person’s life
Etching is particularly striking on darker polished granite and can become the visual centerpiece of a custom memorial. Our designers can help determine whether etching, sandblasting, bronze or a combination of techniques will produce the best result for your design.
Polynesian Tribal Designs
Review our booklet of Polynesian Designs. See something you like? Simply tell your Mattos Monuments representative the design number.
Choose a design or create something custom. Tribal artwork can be incorporated into a memorial as a border, panel, centerpiece or smaller design element. Below are examples of Polynesian-inspired tribal patterns that can be incorporated into a custom memorial.
Have Your Own Tribal Design?
If your family has a specific pattern or piece of artwork you would like incorporated into the memorial, bring it with you. Our design team will review the artwork and determine whether it can be adapted for granite, sandblasting or etching.
We can also create custom tribal artwork specifically for your memorial.
Please note: Custom or highly detailed tribal artwork may require additional design and production work. Additional design charges may apply. Any applicable custom artwork charges will be reviewed with your family before the memorial is produced.
Some families know exactly what they want when they first contact us. Others simply know they want something special. Both are completely fine.
- photograph
- sketch
- existing family memorial
- tribal pattern
- favorite flower
- Bible verse or scripture
- saying or nickname
- picture of an island or landscape
- artwork representing a hobby or occupation
- examples of memorials you like
- or simply an idea
Our designers will help you develop those ideas into a memorial that can be produced in granite, bronze or a combination of materials. You don’t have to design the memorial yourself. That’s what we’re here to help you do.
We Work With Your Cemetery
Every cemetery has its own requirements. Rules can determine the permitted monument size, granite dimensions, foundation requirements, installation methods and even the type of memorial allowed in a particular section.
Mattos Monuments works with cemeteries throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and can help determine the requirements for your family’s cemetery before your memorial goes into production. Our team can assist with:
- Cemetery requirements
- Monument sizing
- Cemetery approval
- Design approval
- Foundation coordination
- Delivery
- Professional installation
This helps ensure that the memorial you design can ultimately be approved and installed at the cemetery.
Five Generations of Memorial Craftsmanship
Mattos Monuments has been helping families create lasting memorials since 1897. For five generations, our family has worked with families throughout the Bay Area during one of the most meaningful purchases they will ever make. We combine that experience with modern memorial techniques including custom granite fabrication, detailed sandblasting, etching, photographs and bronze.
But our approach remains personal. We’ll help your family understand the process, explore your options and create a memorial that honors your loved one in a way that feels right to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Custom memorials are a large part of what we do. We can incorporate photographs, tribal artwork, inscriptions, etching, bronze, religious elements and other personalized designs into a memorial.
Yes. We can work with families to incorporate Samoan, Tongan and other culturally meaningful artwork into a custom memorial. If your family has a particular design or pattern, bring it with you so our designers can review it.
In many cases, yes. Our designers can review your artwork and determine the best method for reproducing or adapting it for the memorial. The artwork must be suitable for reproduction and available for your family to use.
There may be. More complex or individually created tribal artwork can require additional design and production time. If an additional artwork charge applies, we will discuss it with you before the memorial is produced.
Yes. Depending on the memorial, photographs may be incorporated using custom photo bronze, ceramic photographs or etched portraits. We can help determine which option will work best with your design.
A custom photo bronze incorporates a photograph into a cast bronze memorial element. It can be combined with a granite monument and other artwork to create a highly personalized memorial.
Yes. Detailed portraits and other artwork can be etched into polished granite. Etching is especially effective when a family wants a highly detailed image incorporated into the memorial.
Yes. We work with families from many faith traditions and can incorporate appropriate scripture, inscriptions, crosses and other religious elements selected by the family.
Absolutely. You don’t need to have a finished design before contacting us. Bring us photographs, ideas or examples you like, and our designers can help you develop a memorial that fits your family, your cemetery and your budget.
Mattos Monuments can help coordinate cemetery requirements, approvals, foundations, delivery and professional installation. Requirements and fees vary by cemetery.
Let's Create Something Meaningful
A memorial doesn’t have to come from a catalog. It can tell a story.
Bring us your photographs, family traditions, artwork and ideas, and let our family help yours create a memorial that will preserve your loved one’s story for generations.
MATTOS MONUMENTS
Contact Mattos Monuments to begin designing your custom Polynesian memorial.
26359 Mission Blvd
Hayward, CA 94544
510-581-5833
