The provided source material identifies Malu as a traditional Samoan tattoo applied to women, rather than a city in Romania. The tattoo covers the legs from just below the knee to the upper thighs just below the buttocks. It is characterized by a finer and more delicate design compared to the peʻa, which is the tattoo worn by men.
The term malu originates from a specific lozenge-shaped motif of the same name, typically tattooed in the popliteal fossa behind the knee. This motif is one of the key designs not found on men's tattoos. In the context of tattooing, scholars and practitioners associate the term malu with notions of sheltering and protection.
While the primary focus of a malu is on the legs, Samoan women have also historically been tattooed on the hands and sometimes the lower abdomen. These traditional tattooing practices have experienced a resurgence since the late 1990s.