Licensed Tattoo Shop’s in Hawaii

Here You can find a list of all the Tattoo shops Licensed by the Department of Health .

16282 THUMBS TATTOO, LLC 98-044 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY, #D AIEA OAHU 2 THUMBS TATTOO, LLC December 31, 2010
1268202 TATTOO STUDIO 120 KEAWE STREET, #202 HILO HILO DENNIS BRADY HOLLOWELL December 31, 2010
179350TH STATE TATTOO 1122 KOKO HEAD AVENUE, #2 HONOLULU OAHU DOUGLAS WHEELER December 31, 2011
1072808 TATTOO 46-018 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY, #205 KANEOHE OAHU 808 TATTOO, LLC December 31, 2010
1438808 TATTOO 46-024 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY, #211 KANEOHE OAHU 808 TATTOO, LLC December 31, 2010
1215AFTERLIFE INK 150 HANA HIGHWAY KAHULUI MAUI AFTERLIFE INK, LLC December 31, 2010
1602AHUI HOU TATTOO, LLC 143 LAHAINALUNA ROAD LAHAINA MAUI QINK, LLC December 31, 2010
1629ALOHA TATTOO 318B KUULEI ROAD KAILUA OAHU ODYSSEY TATTOO GALLERY, INC. December 31, 2010
1241ANEW TATTOO 111 HANA HIGHWAY, #202B KAHULUI MAUI NANCY VALERIO December 31, 2010
1527ARTISTIC CREATIONS TATTOO STUDIO75-5799 ALII DRIVE, #C2 KAILUA-KONA KONA DAVID A. MEIER December 31, 2011
1539ASSEMBLAGE POINT STUDIO 98-020 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY, #203 AIEA OAHU YVETTE DETERA December 31, 2010
1216ATOMIC TATTOO 113A PRISON STREET LAHAINA MAUI YVELLE EMPIRE, LLC December 31, 2010
1720AUMAKUA TATTOO CO. 79-7591 MAMALAHOA HIGHWAY, UNIT 1 KEALAKEKUA KONA DAVID C. GAGGERO December 31, 2010
572BANZAI TATTOO 945 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY, #9 PEARL CITY OAHU STEVE BEDFORD December 31, 2010
1504BANZAI TATTOO 475 KINOOLE STREET, #201 HILO HILO JEAN-PAUL MARQUEZ December 31, 2010
294BIG ISLAND TATTOO 74-5583 PAWAI PLACE, #D120 KAILUA-KONA KONA ROCKWOOD December 31, 2010
1431BLACK CAT STUDIO 1157 BETHEL STREET HONOLULU OAHU BLACK CAT STUDIO December 31, 2010
1540BLUE TIKI TATTOO 5-5190 KUHIO HIGHWAY HANALEI KAUAI DON T. HEITKOTTER December 31, 2010
1541BODY ART TATTOO OF HI 2 92-8617 PARADISE CIRCLE OCEAN VIEW KONA BETTY ADALSTEINSSON December 31, 2010
1633BOTANIQUE SANCTUARY 4363 KILAUEA AVENUE HONOLULU OAHU ORGANIQUE CO., LTD. December 31, 2010
1368CATHERINE MILLER BEAUTY SHOP 62B BALDWIN AVENUE PAIA MAUI CATHERINE MILLER December 31, 2010
1713CHULALA BEAUTY SALON 1750 KALAKAUA AVENUE, #2604 HONOLULU OAHU CHULALA BEAUTY, LLC December 31, 2010
1723CRAYON INKED 2064 YOUNG STREET HONOLULU OAHU JEANETTE MATSUDA December 31, 2011
1269CUSTOM TATTOOING, LLC. 434 ENA ROAD HONOLULU OAHU ADAM R. SIEHR December 31, 2010
121DONNA’S COSMETIC TATTOO ARTIST 81 SOUTH HOTEL STREET, #208 HONOLULU OAHU DONNA DOAN REED December 31, 2010
79DRAGON TATTOO, INC. 10 NORTH KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY WAHIAWA OAHU LANCE MCLAIN December 31, 2010
1714EASTERN CLASSICS TATTOO 75-6082 ALII DRIVE KAILUA-KONA KONA MATTHEW AHN STOLOWITZ December 31, 2010
1715EASTSIDE TATTOO STUDIO, INC. 337 ULUNIU STREET, #201 KAILUA OAHU EASTSIDE TATTOO STUDIO, INC. December 31, 2010
1630ELECTRIC PARADISE TATT 2146 KALAKAUA AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR HONOLULU OAHU ELECTRIC PARADISE TATTOO, LLC December 31, 2010
1012ELEMENT SALON 4424B PAPALINA ROAD KALAHEO KAUAI GALACIA PETERSON & NANCY ROLAND December 31, 2010
937ETERNAL BODYART, INC., A 1033 SMITH STREET HONOLULU OAHU MICHAEL PORJES December 31, 2011
1707FACE IT, LLC 99-128 AIEA HEIGHTS DRIVE, #505 AIEA OAHU EDINE SWAIN December 31, 2010
1788FACE IT, LLC 99-128 AIEA HEIGHTS DRIVE, #102A AIEA OAHU EDINE SWAIN December 31, 2011
1800FACE IT, LLC 1441 KAPIOLANI BOULEVARD, #1902 HONOLULU OAHU EDINE S. SWAIN December 31, 2011
1365FACIAL FITNESS INSTITUTE 74-4910 HAOKUNI PLACE, #8 KAILUA-KONA KONA MARTY DEAN December 31, 2010
1627FARSYDE TATTOO 5330 KOLOA ROAD KOLOA KAUAI JAROD A. POWELL December 31, 2010
1509FLAWLESS PERMANENT MAKEUP 750D KAPAHULU AVENUE HONOLULU OAHU GEORGE DAVIS JR. December 31, 2010
1631FOREVER STAINED TATTOO 340 HANA HIGHWAY, #D KAHULUI MAUI BRAD WARD December 31, 2010
1690FOUR 29 THREADS & TATTOOS 810 KOKOMO ROAD, #148 HAIKU MAUI FOUR 29 THREADS & TATTOOS, LLC December 31, 2010
371FRANCOISE BEAUTY SALON 3362 CAMPBELL AVENUE HONOLULU OAHU FRANCOISE ARRISGADO December 31, 2010
1130GARDEN ISLE TATTOO 3501 RICE STREET, #112A LIHUE KAUAI GARY KOBAYASHI December 31, 2011

Coalition for Safe Tattooing in Hawai ‘ i in support o f SB1263 with specified revisions

A Few years back Tattoo Adam was apart of Hawaii’s Tattoo History . Here you can see how Tattoo Adam helped make part of history .
,.
O
LINDA LINGLE
VERNOR OF HAWAII
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
P.o. Box 3378
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96801-3378
Co mmi t t e e on Fi n a n c e
CHIYOME LEINAALA FUKINO, M.D.
DI RECTOR OF HEALTH
In reply, please refer to:
File:
S. B. 1 2 6 3 , S.D. 2, H.D. 2, RELATING TO TATTOO ARTISTS
Testimony o f Chiyome Le i n a a l a FUkino, M.D.
Di r e c t o r o f He a l t h
Apr i l 1 , 2 0 0 9
2:00 p. m.
De p a r t me n t ‘ s Position: The Department appreciates the changes made to this bill but cannot
2 support it at this time due to the fiscal implications and budget uncertaincies.
Fi s cal I mpl i cat i ons : Approval o f additional positions and training funds will be needed in order
4 for the Department o f Health to administer this bill.
5 Pu r p o s e a n d J us t i f i c a t i on: The bill seeks to provide licenses to unlicensed tattoo artists
6 participating in tattoo conventions or events outside o f tattoo establishments and proposes to allow
7 temporary tattoo establishment permits to be issued to these conventions and events. The bill also seeks
8 to rectify deficiencies in statutes that regulate tattoo artists.
9 As requested by t he legislature the department collaborated with the tattoo industry in
10 developing and establishing the changes in this measure and many o f our suggested changes were
11 incorporated in the current amendments, and for that we are very grateful. I f the bill moves forward, for
12 clarification purposes we would like to suggest the following additions to the bill: On page 4, line 16,
13 add “or suspended” after unrevoked. On page 6, line 2, add “or suspended” after unrevoked.
ILl In light o f budget cuts and the aforementioned fiscal implications the department cannot support
15 this bill at this time. The department regrets it would not be able to adequately implement the changes

S. B. 1263, S.D. 2, H.D. 2
Page 2 o f 2
~ecessitatedby this measure and add new responsibilities to exi st i ng programs that will be affected by
2 these budget cuts.
3 Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Dear Finance Committee:
I am writing in reference t o SB 1263 which is an update of t he current Hawaii Tattoo
Regulations. As a licensed tattooist , a board member of bot h t he Alliance of Professional Tattooists and
t he National Tattoo Association and a 28 year veteran of t he trade I am in support of this bill.
As part of t he coalition t hat penned t he original bi l l I believe our regulations are long overdue
f or updating. The health issues of today coupled with t he popular i t y of tattooing war r ant adapting
our state’s obligation t o protect t he health of our people.
This bill covers all forms of tattooing: modern electric, traditional (hand tap) and cosmetic. As
blood born pathogens know NO boundaries i t is imperative t hat we give t he Health Department t he
proper authority t o oversee body invasive procedures.
This bill increases licensing and inspection funding f or t he Department of Health t o alleviate
costs incurred f or site inspections, testing and other expenses. I t allows f or trade shows and
educational exhibits under t he right health related constraints. There are allowances f or visiting
practitioners t o meet our state requirement s which not only will bring in added revenue in licensing but
also allow guest appearances which abide by t he law t o which we follow.
Thank you f or your considerations,
Peggy Sucher
Hawai i Licensed Tattooer
Board Member , Editor, Lecturer, Health Instructor
Alliance of Professional Tattooist s/ National Tattoo Association
Columnist, www. aroundhawai i . com
Purdue University, BS, ‘ 79
Registered Voter, Landowner, Taxpayer State of Hawaii
o
Testimony
Fi n a n c e Co mmi t t e e He a r i n g
2:00 pm, We dne s da y, Ap r i l l , 2009
Ch a i r : Re p . Ma r c u s R. Os h i r o
Vice Ch a i r : Rep. Ma r i l y n B. Lee
Su p p o r t o f SB1263, SD2 HD2 Relating to the permitting o f tattoo shops and licensure o f
tattoo artists.
Su b mi t t e d by:
Tricia Allen, PO Box 61967, Honolulu, HI 96839, 808 734-8677 tattoo(Zl::lava.net and
Peggy Sucher, 2l 28 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, 808778- 0117 ladytattoo@h_(ljvaiirL(~9m
on be ha l f o f the Coal i t i on f or Safe Ta t t o o i n g i n Ha wa i ‘ i (see attached partial roster).
Thank you for hearing this bill and for the opportunity to testify. This testimony is on behal f o f a
coalition o f twenty two licensed tattooists, five medical practitioners, and twenty five community
members.
The Department o f Health (DOH) has questioned their ability to regulate tattooing in light o f the
State’ s current fiscal condition and possible st aff cutbacks. We strongly believe that due to the serious
health risks involved, tattooing must be properly regulated, and that the current regulations must be
brought up to date. In order to help compensate for likely budget cuts, the tattoo community is in
support o f substantial increases in fees for both permits and licenses. In addition, new revenue will be
generated from temporary licenses and permits.
The increased fees we have suggested for tattoo permits and licensure will generate approximately
$55,000 annually, whereas current fee structures generate about $15,000 annually. This is an increase
o f approximately $40,000 annually. Also, new measures proposed in this bill will allow for alternative
tests and courses in lieu o f the State administered exam, whi ch is now a requirement. The alternative
test options for licensure will reduce the current workload for DOH staff. Therefore, we believe that
this bill will ensure public health while providing funding to administer the program with minimal
impact to the operations at the DOH.
Although we are quite pleased with the bill as it now stands, both our coalition and the DOH
st af f would like to see one addition, i f at all possible. On page 6, following line 10, as part o f
Section 321-376, the fees for licenses are not included. Perhaps the following could be added as
a subsection:
(1) The fee for initial licensing is $125 to be submitted by the deadlines
established by the Director.
(2) Renewals are due biennially in even numbered years, and is $75 for the 2 year period.
These fees may be increased by not more than $10 annually.
Currently the fees are $75 for initial licensing and $7.50 biennially for renewals and are
specified in administrative rules, but this is substantially below the licensing fees in any other
state, and we unanimously believe should be increased.
We tremendously appreciate your time and consideration, and urge you to pass SB 1263.
1
Coalition for Safe Tattooing in Hawai ‘ i
in support o f SB1263 with specified revisions
* indicates primary contacts for the coalition
LICENSED TATTOISTS
*Peggy Sucher, Licensed Tattooist.
2128 Ka1akaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 (808) 778-0117 Iadytattoo({l{hawaii .rLcom
*Tricia Allen, Licensed Tattooist
P.O. Box 61967 Honolulu, HI 96839 (808) 734-8677 tatt.QQ@lava.nct
Steve Looney, Licensed (traditional) Tattooist, Shop Owner
320 Wa r d Av . #215, Honolulu, HI 96814, 808- 589- 1996 pacificsoultattoo@hotmail..com
Dave Sucher, Licensed Tattooist
2128 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 (808) 778-0117 cueman(ilJ,hawaii.rLcom
Bill Whitney, Licensed Tattooist, Shop Owner
46-018 Kamehameha Hwy. #205, Kaneohe, HI 96744 808 234-1504
Adam Siehr‘ Licensed Tattooist, Shop Owner
434 Ena Rd. Honolulu, HI 96815 (808) 391-8287 adam@tattooadam.com
Rodney Powell, Tattooisst/Behavioral Health Service Coordinator, Uni t ed Behavioral Health
541 Pohakulani Street Hilo, HI 96720 (808) 754-8966 tongan tattoo!Zi)yahoo.com
Tinomana F. E. Hoffmann, Licensed Tattooist, Shop Owner
1211 Nanakai St. Pearl City, HI 96782 808497- 4204 aitotattooCil)clearwirc..:.nct
Conor Haley, Licensed Tattooist, Shop Owner
2270 Kuhio Ave #B Honolulu, HI 96815 808-306-4659 arockstar@ihawaji.com
Cory Alameda, Licensed Tattooist
2128 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815 8 0 8 9 2 4 7 4 6 0
Scott Bender, Licensed Tattooist
2128 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 8 0 8 9 2 4 7 4 6 0
Ali Blevins, Licensed Tattooist, Shop Owner
2309 Kuhio Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815 no phone .schmonzicC(i)hotmaiLcom
Sergio Dowd, Licensed Tattooist
320 Ward Ave #215 Honolulu HI 96814, 808541- 7400
Dan Foerster, Tattoo Apprentice
2128 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 8 0 8 9 2 4 7 4 6 0
Rick Milligan, Licensed Tattooist, Shop Owner juggalolo13C(i)yahoo.com
66-590 Kamehameha Hwy # 1C Haleiwa, HI 96712
Dale Lee, Shop Owner
222 Papalaua St. #130 Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-8788 dale(il::lahainatattoo.com
Ryan Lau, Licensed Tattooist
94-871 Farrington Hwy Waipahu, HI 96797 (808) 678-3344
Michael Cacal, Licensed Tattooist
94-871 Farrington Hwy Waipahu, HI 96797 (808) 678-3344
Bernard Lacar, Licensed Tattooist
94-871 Farrington Hwy Waipahu, HI 96797 (808) 678-3344
Amanda Garcia, Licensed Tattooist
94-871 Farrington Hwy Waipahu, HI 96797 (808) 678-3344
Charlie Chintam, Licensed Tattooist
1667 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814 (808) 330-5612
2

Justin Lam, Licensed Tattooist
945 Kamehameha Hwy # 9 Pearl City, HI 96782 (808) 456-5034
Jordan K.Wolfe, Tattoo Apprentice
1211 Nanakai St. Pearl City, HI 96782
Mildred Schwarz, Tattoo Apprentice
320 Ward Ave #215 Honolulu HI 96814, 808 541-7400 sadlilstar((i)gmail.com
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Stephen E. Case, John A. Burns School o f Medicine, Biological Safety Officer
45-128 Alina Place, Kaneohe, HI 96744 8 0 8 5 5 4 – 1 1 3 6 B..tevec({i)hawaii.edu
JoAnn Johansen, RN, CNM, MSN,
P.O. Box 6329 Kamuela, HI 96743 808-887-0167 ioannj(mhawaiiantcl.net
Brigid Mulloy, RN CNM, ARNP
PO Box 280 Kaunakakai Hi 96748 808 553-3380 brigid(i7)mobctah.nct
Lisa Abbott, APRN-RX, nurse practitioner
3810 Claudine St., Honolulu, HI 96816 734-3439Iabbott(il)hawaii.rr.com
Peter Silva, Pacific Island Trainer, Life Foundation.
541 Pohakulani Street Hilo, HI 96720 (808) 333-5192
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
JoAnn Kahanamoku, Kupuna and Cultural Advisor
P.O. Box 4616 Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 808334- 0217
Claud Sutcliffe, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mediation Center o f Molokai
P.O. Box 1708, Kaunakakai, HI 96748 808:553-3844 c1aud((i)hawaiiantel.net
Patricia Lee Masters, Ph.D, Academic Program Officer, University o f Hawaii at West O’ahu
4741 Matsonia Drive Honolulu, Hi 96816 sumanatcri(aJaim.com
Carlos Juarez, Ph.D, Professor and Dean ofInt ernat i onal Studies, Hawaii Pacific University
7413 Makaa St. Honolulu HI 96825, 808.779.8004 s;juan::z(aillRJ,UX[U
Angela M. Britten, Director o f Corporate Development & Special Events, Bishop Museum
758 l ana Street, Kailua, HI 96734. w: (808) 848-4170
angcla.britten(a~bishopmuscum.org
Ephrosine Daniggelis, Ph.D, community support
2002 Hunnewell St., Honolulu, HI 96822, 947-5828 cphro(iuhotmail.com
Kimo Silberstein, Cultural Practitioner
2350 Palolo Ave, Honolulu, Hi 96816 808 737-9194 Km:D..1,1Ki.1.D.Q@J}Q}Y._<lji,xLGQm
P.F. Ski Kwiatkowski, Cultural Practitioner/Traditional Tattooist
P.O. Box 2250 Kamuela, Hi 96743 kakaukii((j)hawaiiantcl.net
Waimea Williams, community support
45-539 Pahia Road Kaneohe, HI 96744 808375-5036 williamswOll@hawaii.rr.com
Audra Sellers, community support
P.O. Box 13207, Lahaina, HI 96761 808-281-5280 audralC(iJ,hawaii.rr.com
Deyna Puckett, community support
P.O. Box 13207, Lahaina, HI 96761 808-281-5280 deyna(i7J,hawaii.rr.com
Kama Hazelhoff, community support
PO Box 858 Kamuela, HI 96743 kamahazclhoff((ikomcast.net
James Bayley, community support
3
2765 Round Top Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822 ( 808) 946-9669jimskalabim(d;hotmail. com
Sally Lundburg, community support
PO Box 244 Paauilo, Hawaii 96776 (808)776-1535 sallylundburg((l~hotmai1.com
Keith Tallett, community support
PO Box 244 Paauilo, Hawaii 96776 (808)776.1535 )<eithtallett2005(il),hotmail.com
Mimi Forsyth, community support
POBo x 970968 Waipahu, HI 96797 (808)-676-8261 forsythmOO ](li;hawaii.rr.con1
Janice Tumpap, community support
23 Poniu Circle Wailuku 96793 808205- 8068 tUl11papcCaigmail.com
Jim Patterson, community support
62 Hui Rd F Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761 808-669-0872 terpatterson(ajyE.ho(U;:onI
Tere Patterson, community support
62 Hui Rd F Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761 808-669-0872 terpattersonri{)yahoo.com
Dave Wethington, taxpayer
350 Ward Ave, #10622, Honolulu, HI 96814 8 0 8 2 3 9 7 7 7 6
Joyce Chun, taxpayer
350 Ward Ave, #10622, Honolulu, HI 96814 8 0 8 2 3 9 7 7 7 6
Carol Colbath, graphic artist, community support
45-539 Kamo'oali'i, Kaneohe, Hawai'i 96744 808 235-4828 ccdesign@hawaii.rr.com
Goro Sulijoadikusumo, community support
3810 Claudine St., Honolulu, HI 96816 734-3439 goro((7J,hawaii.rr.com
Lyza Sosa, community support
PO.Box 223682 Princeville, HI 96722 808-635-3586 ]3uJerf1.,YZa@yahoQ,com

Contact 434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

434 Ena Road
Honolulu , Hawaii
96815

1-808-391-8287

adam@tattooadam.com

Custom Tattooing In Hawaii

Here at Custom Tattooing LLC, we have 2 artists on staff, Marko and Adam . Both Licensed and qualified by the Department of health . The Shop is open 7 days a week . Its hours of operation are from 10am – 10pm .Please visit our website , http://www.434tattoo.com

434 Tattoo always welcomes walk ins and first timers. We specialize in Custom Tattooing and designing your ideas .Please feel free to drop on in and check us out .

Contact us :

434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

1-808-391-8287

adam@tattooadam.com

Sugarbox Interview 2008

The Sugarbox tattoo studio is located on Kalakaua Avenue- tucked away from the normal bustle of Waikiki. New and old artwork and photographs fill the walls, and tattoo magazines are spread across the desk. The white tile floors, sparse furnishings and large windows make the small studio feel spacious. And, in the middle of the studio, Sugarbox owner Adam Siehr designs custom tattoos.

Sugarbox is one of the few studios that focus solely on custom work, treating tattooing more as an art than a trend. Siehr has been a tattoo artist for 15 years, and for him, it is a lifestyle. Siehr said, “Graffiti art was my gateway.” However, at 17, Siehr discovered tattoo art. “I fell off a freight train I was painting on and sort of fell into tattooing. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Although he makes a good living creating custom tattoos, Siehr also has a second studio in Waikiki where he accepts walk-in customers. “Typically, in the winter, I get at least two walk-ins per day. In the summer, I get three or more. I work twelve ‘til twelve at the Waikiki studio and only come to Sugarbox for appointments.” On average, Adam Siehr tattoos eight to ten customers per day, but it wasn’t always that busy. Tattoo artists, just as any other type of artist, must establish their reputation in order to ensure a steady clientele. “If you move somewhere new you have to start all over again,” Siehr said. “After nine years living in Hawaii I don’t want to move somewhere else and try to establish my reputation again.”

Tattoo art has always had a following, and Siehr’s clients are adamant believers. “I think it is definitely an art. It has so much history to it, and as a person or a culture you just see it as an art,” said Haunani Rimmel, who visited the Sugarbox with her boyfriend Guy Heresa. Mark Christen Math has a similar opinion. “I would say tattoo art has as much, if not more so, legitimacy than any other kind of art. Art can be destroyed, in a sense, but tattoos live with you until you’re gone. It’s an expression of art on your body.”

Though tattoo shops, like Siehr’s, may be a common part of American culture, artists are still struggling to legitimize their work as true art. “Some artists don’t believe tattoo artists are real artists,” Siehr added. “They don’t take them seriously. I’d also like the public to be more accepting (of tattoos).”

There are a wide variety of tattoo styles and shops, just as there are a wide variety of customers. Some prefer walk-in shops for spur of the moment tattoos or in order to get a quick souvenir of their trip. Waikiki and downtown Honolulu are full of such walk-in shops. Some tattoo customers, however, believe that tattoos should be well thought out and meaningful to the individual. “I have my son’s name on my back,” said Guy Heresa, singer for local band Irie Souls. “It means ‘beloved child that will be looked upon with love and respect.’” For some, tattoos are an expression of their individuality. According to Felix Gabhardt, “It represents my two sides. When my parents saw my tattoos it was like seeing how they looked at me my whole life. Like they were shocked. It shows that I am kind of a rebel.”

Tattoo art has evolved tremendously in the past few years, and Sugarbox is one of the custom studios where people can work with the artist to create something that is unique. According to many, tattooing will continue to flourish. “I think the blending of styles is awesome,” Siehr said. “Things are always changing. Things are being put onto skin now that 50 years ago couldn’t be done.” Math agreed, “It’s more widely accepted now than ever, and I think it’s just going to progress even more.”

However, Siehr does believe that traditional cultural methods should not be forgotten. “All cultures have a different style. With cultural aspects, these things should be kept sacred and unchanged.”

Those with tattoos often develop a deep love for tattooing as an art. And Heresa described his tattoos as a memento of sorts. “It’s a rush. The noise of the gun, you know? It’s needles ripping into your skin, but what you get is art and it reminds you of something, a past time, a memory. I hope tattoo art lives on forever.”

To contact Adam Siehr, call 391-8287, or email adam@tattooadam.com.

434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Las Vegas Sun Article , 1998

Tattoo You

Thu, Oct 22, 1998 (10:08 a.m.)

We remember the snappy sailor’s uniform, whistling corn-cob pipe and chronically closed right eye.

But what really sold that purveyor of punishment, Popeye, was the tattoo: a macho, black anchor inked on his bulging right forearm.

But these days, in the ever-expanding and increasingly accepted tattoo industry, it’s anchors away. Customers have become veritable works of art, roving tributes to the tattoo practitioners who, justifiably, refer to themselves as artists.

The days when a simple heart bearing the word “mother,” are waning. Now a customer can have a bouquet of roses on his chest, American Indian tribal art on his back, a wedding portrait on his shoulder or even Wonder Woman on his rear end.

The artists are eager to oblige nearly any request.

“I’ve always been into art,” said 22-year-old Adam Siehr, a tattoo artist since age 18 and one of the busiest employees at the city’s largest tattoo shop, Diversity, on the Strip across from the Holy Cow Casino Cafe and Brewpub. “I’m a chronic doodler.”

And he’s armed with a rapid-fire, ink-filled needle gun and fertile imagination.

“This is a type of art form that’s permanent and we take what we do very seriously,” Siehr said. “I’ve always liked artistic impression.”

Siehr — a native of Milwaukee whose method of “artistic impression” once included decorating freight trains with spray cans — says he’s typical of artists who have turned eccentric artistry into a career.

“The difference is, there’s work here for us (in Las Vegas),” Siehr said. “Where I come from, there’s not a lot of work compared to here.”

A time for tattoos

Following a national trend that has resulted in tattooing becoming a mainstream fashion statement, Las Vegas’ body art industry has boomed in the ’90s. Lonnie Empey, the environmental health supervisor at the Clark County Health District, estimates that the number of Las Vegas tattoo businesses has tripled in the past five years.

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase,” said Empey, who monitors the shops’ safety and health records. “I’m up to my ears in work, and that’s one of the biggest reasons.”

Statistics provided by the Clark County Health District show a rapid rise in the number of permits granted to tattoo businesses. In 1993, the county issued 12 permits to businesses practicing tattooing and/or permanent makeup procedures.

In 1998, because of the swelling popularity of tattoos and other forms of physical embellishment such as body piercing and branding, the county issued 57 this year.

“Before I came here (in 1994) there was hardly any interest at all,” said Shahram Sheikhan, who owns Diversity’s three Las Vegas shops, as well as one in Walnut Creek, Calif. “Now there is a large number of young artists and we get all kinds of customers: police officers, lawyers, doctors, family people.”

One first-time subject who ducked into Diversity’s shop on the Strip was a tourist from San Francisco, 26-year-old Albert Rios.

“I was goaded into it, basically,” said the San Francisco State University graduate student, who was accompanied by a pair of giggling, tattoo-bearing buddies for a Friday night session. “My friends have been trying to get me to do this for a long time.”

Rios chose a maniacal court jester tattooed to his right shoulder for his virgin flight.

“I like it,” Rios said. “I’d better. It’s here to stay.”

Not necessarily. One of the evolving artistic methods in the tattoo industry is the “cover-up” — specifically, modifying a tattoo that has, for whatever reason, worn out its welcome.

“We do a lot of that type of work (on) people who after a while don’t want a name on their body anymore,” said a 26-year-old Diversity artist who asked to be identified only as “Tempt.”

Tempt then flipped open his portfolio — all of Diversity’s artists boast extensive and varied pictorial accounts of past masterpieces — and showed a woman who had a skull covered up to make a bouquet of roses that spread across both breasts.

Tempt said that his female customers outnumber his male subjects 60 percent to 40 percent.

“We get a lot of dancers, a lot of people in the entertainment industry who expose their bodies,” Tempt said, “but (the tattoos are) not always on the breasts or private areas. Only about one in 20 women will have their breasts done.”

Tattoo dos and don’ts

Tattoo sessions can last from five minutes to six hours. Rib cages and stomaches are usually the most difficult body regions for artists to navigate.

“They’re really fleshy,” Tempt said. “You have to be careful. There’s a fatigue factor, too. After a couple of hours you just get tired.”

Despite their adventurous reputations, artists have established ethical boundaries. Most won’t tattoo a certain sensitive area of the male anatomy, or service a customer younger than 18 (which is illegal anyway). And rare is the artist who will take the needle to a face, neck or hands.

“It’s not a good idea,” Siehr said. “If you’re in a job interview, you might not want tattoos all over your face or hands. That’s a big no-no because a lot of people don’t think it looks professional and want it covered up while you’re working.”

There are also specific tattoos — rendered hackneyed through popularity — the artists dread.

“I hate ‘Taz,’ ” Tempt said, referring to the Tazmanian Devil cartoon character. “I will not do ‘Taz.’ Don’t even ask for it. The whole ‘Taz’ thing got going in the ’80s, and it hasn’t stopped.”

In fact, it is a company-wide policy at Diversity not to do “Taz” as a form of artistic statement.

“I’d rather do custom work than anything people pick out of a book of samples,” Siehr said. “It’s like a musician. You want to create your own work instead of copying what someone else has done.”

Customers frequently present photographs for reproduction, or maybe a family crest. Some simply describe their request and turn the artists loose.

It’s not without risk, however. Prior to sitting with an artist, customers are required to sign a form freeing the artists from any “accidents.”

Accidents?

“If there are any mistakes or accidents with the design, we don’t want to be held liable,” Siehr said. “It’s up to the customer to give us the right spelling of a name or word they want.”

Keep it clean

The shops are quite clean, even clinical. The booths at Diversity look more like a dentist’s office than what one might expect from a tattoo parlor.

“People think we’re stinky and dirty, but we’re not. We’re very clean and professional,” Sheikhan said. “But there is that image, that we have only bikers, gang members and criminals in here. Whenever I try to buy property to open a new business, I go out of my way to show that it’s not what people have grown to expect.”

A glance around Adam Siehr’s booth shows that nearly every instrument is sterile and disposable. Needles are never used twice and used instruments are disposed of in a nearby biohazard container.

“We make sure the equipment is sterilized and they’ve maintained proper records of their customers to show that they’re not carrying communicable diseases,” Empey, whose department conducts random inspections every six months, said. “If there is a problem, they’re issued a warning and if they don’t comply, their permit will be suspended.”

However, Empey said suspensions are fairly rare. And the businesses continue to expand, with Sheikhan planning a new shop in west Las Vegas within four months and an additional outlet in San Diego early next year.

“It’s growing steadily,” Sheikhan said. “It’s a true form of expression and it’s becoming universal.”

The artists pride themselves on rich and famous customers who happen into Diversity’s shop on the Strip. Siehr points to a photo, dated April 30, 1997, which shows him servicing one of the more recognizable sports celebrities on the planet.

“There’s me with Mike Tyson,” Siehr said with a grin. “He got a big white tiger on his right forearm before the (Evander) Holyfield fight, when he bit him. But he was great to me. Tyson was really cool.”

And good for business.

Contact us :

434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

1-808-391-8287

adam@tattooadam.com

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Contact Us :

434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

1-808-391-8287

adam@tattooadam.com