In the Spotlight – Tattoo Apprentice Michael Amaral

Our Waikiki Tattoo Studio has welcome some new blood into the family here at 434 Tattoo and we’d like to introduce you to Michael Amaral aka Komb.  Learn more about one of the newest in our ohana here!

Michael was referred by none another than a former member of our team and family member Marko Livingston.  Marko has gone on to take on more solo work and has even opened his own Hawaii tattoo studio!  Michael, Marko, and Horiyume Tattoo Adam are all bound by a common love for painting, in particular, graffiti!

Over the course of his journey, which took him from Campbell High School to the University of Hawaii, Michael has done music and went to school for architecture, which led him to explore painting further. He began to develop a deep appreciation for tattoos and has been an apprentice with our tattoo studio in Waikiki for 3 months.

Fun fact: He is also serving this country as a member of the US Navy, which has taken him overseas for work in Italy and Japan.

A push behind his drive to tattooing is because he loves to experience new things, see the finished tattoo product, and wants to share that joy with people who are seeking to experience it through their own new tattoos.

Check out Michael’s artwork on Instagram (@_kombism_) and watch the progression of this talented young artist!

To get a tattoo with us, holla!

434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

 

Tattoos in Hawaii News

Our tattoo studio in Honolulu, is not a stranger to the news.

Led by Owner, Tattoo Adam, and the coverage he received while working as a tattoo artist in Las Vegas, doing custom tattooing for the likes of Mike Tyson, among many, we have been mentioned and featured in the news from time to time.  When you are the defending Best Customing Tattooing Studio in Honolulu for three years and counting, you find your way into the headlines.

While perusing Facebook recently, we saw that Marko Livingston was once again photographed for Honolulu Street Pulse.  But little did we know we would find these pearls…

Here we have tattooist, Andy Burley, striking a pose as Tattoo Adam and Marko do what we at 434 Tattoo do best in the background of our tattoo Parlor in Honolulu, located at 434 Ena Rd.

And here we have Mr. Burley reading your mind so that you get the best Tattoo  in Hawaii possible!  So come on down for your free consultation, get your mind read, and get inked by the best in Honolulu!

These pictures and the credit for the photos go to Honolulu Photographer Tony Grillo (Markoʻs Uncle) and the photos are from his Facebook.

Hawaii Tattoo Flashback: Viva Las Vegas…

Tattoo Adam, owner of Waikiki Tattoo Shop, 434 Tattoo, has seen his share of (insert here what there is to see) in the 20 years that he has worked in the Tattoo Industry.  His story, etched on the bodies of hundreds of thousands of people, has taken him from his humble roots of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, apprenticing at a shop own by One Percenters (Bikers), led to Sin City, Las Vegas, and ended up here in the Aloha State, a great fit for a self-described “peace loving Rastafarian” who is all about giving great service and custom tattoos to his clientele.

Today’s story takes us deep into Sin City as we flashback a little bit on some of the experiences that Adam had while deep in the Strip.  The telling of this tale all began with this Writer saying: “Dude, my parents told me they were in a tattoo parlor in Vegas and the charge was $175 for a tattoo the size of a quarter.”

“I’d believe it.”  Adam replies.  ” In Vegas, the prices are jacked up because of all the drunken tourists who just want to get something done.  Did I ever tell you about Carnies?”

Carnies is a reference I have heard many times in Life and it is meant to paint the picture of someone who will do just about anything for a buck, even if it includes cutting a throat, or marking up prices.

“Well in Vegas, this shop I was at, we had five booths with five artists, sometimes more, even though it was illegal, and everyone was hungry.  This one artist there, Oz, once took five clients of mine who had asked for me.  At the end of the day, the Owner, paid us out according to who made the most.  If you made the most, you got out of there the fastest.  I never forgot that and it made me work hard.”

“That guy was smart, when I first started, there was our shop, and the shop across the street.  The Boss bought the space next to us and made it into a Tattoo Shop to catch the people who left us so they didn’t have to cross the street.  It worked good.”

Though Tattoo Adam made a ton of money, owned a House with a Pool, a car, his dream of Custom Tattooing was going unfulfilled.

“Be careful what you wish for.” He says with a laugh.  “I said I would give up the House that I owned, the pool, all of that so that I could do custom tattoo work because out there, I wasn’t getting to do a whole lot of it.”

Most tourists just want a bit of Flash and I have seen Adam knock out Tattoo Flash pieces as quick 15 minutes.  The true mastery of a custom tattoo artist, even an artist in general comes when they are working on something original, that involves them putting the energy of their own Being into the piece.

“If I didn’t leave Vegas, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Where Adam sits today is as the President and Owner of his own Custom Tattoo Shop, the multiple award-winning Honolulu tattoo studio, 434 Tattoo.  Come check out Adam, Marko, Andy, and Karl today for your free consultation and to get your own bit of custom work.  You won’t regret it!

Hawaii Tattoo Updates / Tattoo Deals, Stories, & More!

Andy’s A Bad Ass

Andy may get a good ribbing every now and again from the guys at our Waikiki Tattoo studio, but make no mistake, the soft-spoken, friendly cat from Cali is a bad-ass! Not because he owns a motorcycle though that is pretty cool… And not because he is a member of a Motorcycle Club, Brethren’s Creed, which some would say is really cool as well…

Andy’s bad because he is getting his roll on!

Not like raver roll, we’re talking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rolling and grappling. Andy ‘may or may not’ have lived the lifestyle of an MMA fighter and coach back in the day in California. I write may or may not because see ‘soft-spoken’ above and well he doesn’t go around telling people about it. It just comes up, especially when he’s on the mat!

“I don’t like to talk about it.” Andy.

Despite his prowess on the mat and in the cage, he was bested though recently here at 434 Tattoo in Verbal Jiu-Jitsu when a homeless man asked if Andy could see him…

Oh the crazies!

In Other News…

Marko’s finishing up the tag he has been working on for a new Food Truck coming to a street corner or two near you! Stay tuned and we’ll be sure to let you know when this ‘Food Joint’ is up and running. But you’ll probably see it based on the awesome designs by Marko.

Tattoo Adam is back, live, and direct busting out the finest in custom tattoos and busy since his trip to the Philippines. A cool sidenote, Horioshi III, legendary Japanese tattooist, who Adam’s back piece is by, is featured in the newest issue of Hawaii’s 808 Ink Magazine on stands in Barnes and Nobles for sure and some other fine establishments selling such publications. Go out and learn about the Legend!

With that, keep on, keepin’ on and stay tuned for the best in Hawaii Tattoo Deals and Discounts.

434 Tattoo in the News

Image is from Honolulu Street Pulse and Photographer Tony Grillo

Waikiki Tattoo shop, 434 Tattoo, is no newcomer to the news.  Our multiple award winning Honolulu  custom tattoo studio just got another shout as one of our Ohana and Hawaii Tattoo Artist Marko Livingston was recently featured featured in Honolulu Street Pulse’s Tats and Tanlines on May 25, 2012!

Marko sports ink from artists around the world and you can catch this great shot as well as some other shots here.

Fact:  Marko’s Uncle is a well-known photographer, Tony Grillo, and “Uncle Tony” shot these and has some other great shots featuring 434 as a backdrop.

And in case you didn’t hear it…

Tattoo Adam is back in the building.  Adam hit the ground, tattoo machine in hand, and has been busy inking friends, newcomers, and more!

“My first tattoo back was a custom koi half-sleeve and I took it as a good sign to be back in the Flow!” He commented when asked how it felt to be back on the grind!

Congrats Marko and welcome back to the Boss.  Have a good one from your Homies who bring the real pain!

The sun sets on another month here in Hawaii and in the blink of an eye it is June and we are going to be deep in the year, like halfway over!  Despite that, the show must go on at our Waikiki tattoo parlor.

First up, Owner and President of 434 Tattoo, our award-winning custom tattooing shop, Tattoo Adam, is back in the building.  The President took his family for a respite in the Philippines for the better part of May but now he is back for the Summer Rush that we have been experiencing!

Please note that this Summer, in addition to our Custom Tattoos, 434 Couture, we are also offering a severed fingers special (Joke Alert!) to go with all our other amazing Hawaii Deals and Discounts.

Hawaii Tattooist Marko Livingston is hitting the ink hard in addition to some other artistic endeavors that he has going on.  Be sure to stop by and talk to him about all his work, he has a little something going on for everyone.

Andy Burley, another Tattoo Artist on our team, is a man of few words so he lets his crazy designs do the talking.  Come on down and get your Zombie on with the man!

Doubledown is working hard to finish up his apprenticeship and his style is growing by the day!  Needless to say, there is a little of something for everyone here at our Honolulu Tattoo studio.  So chickity check yourself, before you wreck yourself and come roll with the Good Guys here at 434.

And by the way, We Love you This Much!

Hawaii Tattoo Updates

Finally, the Sun has come back to Gemini.  This Gemini Editor is a bit stoked on that because the cycles of Pisces and Taurus were a bit rough at times…

Return of the Tattooist

You know who, what, why, and when is coming back!?!?!?

Tattoo Adam!!! 

Adam and his family will be returning from their adventure in the Philippines next week to Hawaii and our Waikiki tattoo shop.  The entire 434 Tattoo Familia is excited and I’m sure all of our friends are stoked for his return as well.  While Adam is probably excited to see everyone too, please be sure to call to set up your appointments because this summer season is already busy and with Adam’s return, it will only pick up!

Did Someone Say Food Truck?

In addition to plying his trade as a Custom Tattoo Artist in Hawaii, our team member, Marko Livingston, is hard at work on some other artistic ventures.  You can find some of his handcrafted work, which is available for purchase on Etsy.

And coming soon to a corner near you…

The Tropical Tribe lunchwagon!  Marko started tagging this exciting new meals on wheels machine last week and should be finishing it up soon.  To get a sneak peek, stop on by Jazz Minds Cafe, to see Marko’s work in the lot.

And in Other News

Doubledown celebrated his birthday earlier in the Month and to mark the occasion he tattooed himself!  It’s not the first time he tattooed himself but he did have a few comments to share after doing the deed.

“I think it hurts a little less because I can ease up if it gets too sore.  When someone else tattoos you, they don’t know what you’re feeling as it’s going on.”

Ouch!  Well, the Dude is almost suited so it’s safe to say he enjoys tattooing and getting tattooed.

Joe Moore Moment

“And finally, did you know…”  To borrow from long-time Hawaii News Anchor Joe Moore at the end of his broadcast “That we had the Eric Minugh, son of an Old-Timer drop in?”

Lee Roy Minugh is an Old School Tattoo Artist and Eric stopped by to share some pics of his Dad and Tattoo Flash.  Eric shared stories of how Lee Roy got to do a Tattoo live on The Today Show years ago and also tattooed the numbers on monkeys who were used in research.

“He got bored with numbers so he started putting roses and other designs on them.”  Eric shared.

With that, you should drop in and get some monkeys and roses tattooed on you!  We are open 7 days a week from 10a – 10p.

See you soon!

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287

 

Summer of the Custom Tattoo

It’s almost the Summer!

In Hawaii, we pretty much are blessed with Summer weather nearly year-round.  The official transition to Summer is still a month away but with school out, graduation, and people on vacation, we are feeling the surge in business at our Waikiki tattoo parlor.

We are very grateful for the upswing in business and have been doing lots and lots of tattoos!  Maybe everyone wants to show off their new ink at the beach?

“There’s been a high request for big pieces,”  Hawaii Tattooist Marko Livingston reports while finishing up a forearm piece for a customer at 434 Tattoo, “and we are taking care of many requests right now.”

During times like this, we would like to ask if you could, would you please call/schedule appointments ahead of time as much as possible.  While we do take walk-ins we like to do this so that we can best accommodate all your custom tattoo needs.

With that, stay tuned for more news and updates and if you do hit the beach, remember to sunscreen your ink because as cool as tans are, faded tattoos are no bueno!

Aloha!

434 Tattoo Ohana

Shout Out to the New Skool

A special shout out to Doubledown, apprenticing Hawaii Tattoo Artist, Helicopter Pilot, Boat Captain, and all around stand-up guy.  He is celebrating his success as Tattoo artist and today also celebrates his birthday!

Pictured above:  Tattoo Adam’s Dad, Tattoo Andrew, Tattoo Adam, Marko Livingston, and Doubledown in front of Hawaii Tattoo Studio, 434 Tattoo.

Congrats Homie!  The family says to chop it up!

And you should ink it up, Doubledown’s style is evolving but he definitely can be a leader of the New Skool in the years to come should he continue to work hard and grow.  Our Waikiki tattoo parlor is open 7 days week from 10a-10p.

Hawaii Tattoo Weekly: Home Alone

Tattoo Adam has left the building!  Was this his last Custom Tattoo forever?

Who knows how long he’ll be gone or if he’ll come back from the jungles of the Philippines…  What does it mean for our Tattoo Artists at our Waikiki tattoo shop, who are at Home Alone!

Marko’s Mark

Hawaii Tattoo Artist Marko Livingston has a number of items for sale online here on Etsy, including handcrafted pieces made from Top Secret bone found where only he knows…

Be sure to check out the page and be on the lookout for new things including: t-shirts, stickers, cell phone cases, skateboards, and more!

If you want to see Marko’s other artwork up close and personal, find him here at 434 Tattoo, online, or who knows, maybe he’s next to go to the Jungle!!!

Doubledown’s Corner

Doubledown has been tearing it up, the first day Adam was gone, he did 8 tattoos!  “I got the feeling of my hands being really sore, tight, after a full day of tattooing, it was awesome!”  He shared, the experience of growing as an apprentice Tattooist still exciting for him.

He has also been hard at work developing new Tattoo Flash, some of which you will soon see on a skateboard in in our Honolulu Tattoo shop soon.

Andy’s Ride

Andy’s been tearing it up Easy Rider style on the Harley while also getting back on the mat.  In another life, he may have been a professional Fighter.  You’ll have to ask him in person if he really used to train because he’d choke me out or arm bar me or roundhouse kick me if I were to say that in fact he did no such thing.  So I’m only implying…

In Closing…

Stay tuned for more happenings, updates, more, and if anything to see how the show goes on without the Captain at the helm!  We are open from 10a-10p, 7 days a week, rain, shine, floods, hail, and tornados (all of which we’ve had in Hawaii in the last year)!

On Behalf of the team, we miss this guy:

Adam Siehr, President and Proud Owner
434 Tattoo
Custom Tattooing LLC.

Directions:
434 Ena Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Contact:
mailto:adamsiehr@gmail.com
1-808-391-8287