The Pacific Ink & Art Expo: Hawaii’s First Ever Tattoo Expo Breaks New Ground
By Danny Claser
In 2009 I was free and clear from break-up with a female tattoo artist who was on the show LA Ink. In the time we were together we spent a lot of time traveling the world doing tattoo conventions. I fell in love with the atmosphere and the people who attended these expos. It reminded me of being on Warped Tour when I was a traveling musician. I think I connected to this messed up, chaotic, yet beautiful carny way of life where nothing had stability yet it was stable in the storm. I missed being surrounded by people the world looked at as weirdos or circus freaks. The musicians life is not that far off from the tattooers lifestyle and somehow porn stars and gypsies all seem to fall under that umbrella as well… (more…)
*NEW* Pictures Added to the TAM Blog Gallery
Tattoos By Tattoo Rich
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Waipahu, Hawaii
Molly Skobba: Pacific Soul Tattoo
By Molly Skobba
Man, Pacific Soul has it all: personality, style and most of all talent. Steve and Paulo can tattoo everything from American traditional to Japanese to what they’re most famous for, their Polynesian tattoos. in addition, they’re located two blocks from Ala Moana beach in Honolulu, Hawaii… (more…)
Dave Gibson: Bird’s-Eye View of a Pig’s Ass in the Moonlight
By Dave Gibson
My uncle used to tell this story about when he was in the Navy… He and his small group of friends liked getting tattoos and talking about them. One shipmate in particular had an unusual tattoo, and he never wanted to talk about it. My uncle described it as a pig with a tree behind it, a bird in the tree and a moon in the sky. No matter how much coaxing, the sailor didn’t want to talk about it. Finally, one day he gave in and said, “Alright, you wanna know? It’s a ________________.”
Molly Skobba: Pacific Soul’s Renowned Paulo Manabe
By Takahiro “Horitaka” Kitamura and Molly Skobba
I was really excited for Molly to meet Paulo and Blaise Manabe and even happier that she wanted to blog about my Hawaiian braddah! Paulo is an amazing artist, and an even more amazing person. I always work with him when I am in Hawaii and am continually impressed with his tattoos. He is a true master of the Polynesian-style (though he would never let you call him that) and is constantly working to improve his work. He is a great father and has the coolest kid ever. You can find him at Pacific Soul Tattoo or at Zippy’s…
-Horitaka
Mike Brown (RIP) Vice Magazine Art Talk (VIDEO)
Courtesy of Vice Magazine: Mike Brown is a tattoo artist who, if you know your history, always comes up when people talk about those who pioneered tattooing in the late 1970s. He worked at China Sea (formerly owned by Sailor Jerry), ground zero for traditional American tattoos, and at the birthplace for black grey penitentiary-style tattoos, Good Time Charlie’s Tattoo Land. His life has had some ups and downs over the years, and they’ve made him a little hard to track down if you’re looking to get a Mike Brown tattoo. But we had the chance to visit Honolulu in January and made sure to stop by the shop Mike works at to ask him about the old days. He still tattoos five days a week, and we’d wager that most people who see him have no idea about his pedigree. His portfolio alone is a history lesson in tattooing, with everything from the most beautiful Cholas, Pin-Ups, mean-ass biker skulls, and touristy sea turtle tats. Mike Brown still does it all, and does so with the most humble manner… (more…)
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