There is very little that can compare to the tranquility one will experience on the shores of the Hawaiian Islands.
the soft breeze, the breaking of the waves and the smell of the sea are enough to take you to a deep state of relaxation and harmony…
For many, the Hawaiian Islands are home, a place of familiarity and relaxation, a surreal paradise like no other.
is a place you visit to ground yourself with mother nature.
a place to reconnect with yourself.
a place that freely accepts the burden of your tensions and frustrations.
a place that removes the hustle, bustle and monotonous struggle of daily life, if only for a while.
If you are someone who feels that the Hawaiian Islands have touched you in a similar way, then you might enjoy the company of a Hawaiian Islands tattoo.
In this article, I have compiled 19 of the most amazing.
Each artist is given due credit, so if you want to see more of their work or message them directly, their names and instagram accounts are all there.
Towards the end, I’ll also be answering some frequently asked questions about Hawaiian Islands tattoos, so keep reading!
Hawaiian Islands tattoos
Hawaiian Islands topographic tattoos
One of the best things about the Hawaiian Islands is their topography. each of the islands is rich with mountainous terrain, lush vegetation, and volcanoes!
there are 5 beautiful volcanoes in hawaii, 2 of which are active. all of these volcanoes play a central role in Hawaiian society.
Hawaii relies on them for geothermal power, agriculture, and tourism. volcanoes also have a lot of religious value to them.
then if you want to pay homage to the volcanoes of hawaii then consider getting a topographical hawaiian islands tattoo.
By illustrating topography, you can more easily immerse yourself in the beauty that is the ridges and valleys of the Great Hawaiian Islands.
by chantel chan. (@tattooschmutz on instagram).
by francesca weaver. (@bulllova on instagram).
by miguel. (@boobooflt on instagram).
Floral tattoos from the Hawaiian Islands
In many ways, flowers are important to the Hawaiian tradition. it has become a solid part of their culture and image.
In the Hawaiian Islands, necklaces made of flowers called lei are given to people as a symbol of welcome and farewell. flowers are the first to greet you when you enter the island and the last to say goodbye.
On special occasions, women often place a flower in their ears as a symbol of their availability. each island even has its own official flower, each representing a different idea.
If you want to decorate and personalize your Hawaiian Islands tattoo, flowers will always be a great idea. they add to the whole tropical vibe and are significant too.
of jo’el acoba. (@jniahstylee on instagram).
by adam. (@100_percent_techno on instagram).
by fresh native. (@fresh_native on instagram).
Hawaiian Islands tribal tattoos
One of the most iconic parts of Polynesian culture is the tattoo. back then, writing was non-existent in Polynesian culture. instead, people expressed themselves through tattooing.
Using a special tattoo comb made from sharp boar teeth (called an au), they touched the flesh and created exquisite geometric patterns. these tattoos were signs of a man’s courage and loyalty.
The designs were incredibly complex and therefore required great skill on the part of the artist. Even now, the designs are very popular outside of Polynesian culture and are considered the classic approach to the tribal tattoo style.
To add a creative touch to your Hawaiian Islands tattoo, you can use the same geometric patterns used in Polynesian tribal tattoos. adds a lot to the aesthetics and meaning of your tattoo.
by sweet tattoo. (@dulcetradetattoo on instagram).
by sweet tattoo. (@dulcetradetattoo on instagram).
by francine walraven. (@francine.walraven.tattoo on instagram).
by brandon. (@mistah_b on instagram).
by brandon. (@mistah_b on instagram).
by middle pacific tattoo. (@midpacific_prison_street on instagram).
Hawaiian Islands tattoos in watercolor
Hawaii is known for its calm and inviting oceans, lush greenery, and laid-back people. It is an island paradise.
in the beautiful words of mark twain, “the good that dies in the islands of hawaii undergoes no change, for it falls asleep in one sky and wakes up in another.”
A fantastic way to capture the beauty and tranquility of the Hawaiian Islands is through the use of watercolor.
The light and fluid colors are perfect to illustrate the warmth of the sun’s rays, the calm of the breeze and the brightness of the seas.
by unknown artist
Hawaiian island tattoos in blackwork
If you’re not a big fan of colored tattoos, black work is a fantastic alternative. It’s not very flashy, but anyone familiar with the Hawaiian Islands will immediately recognize the tribute. and if you’re a fan of minimalism, a blackwork version will hit all the right notes.
by nano. (@nanoartbus on instagram).
by maui tattoo company. (@mauitattoocompany on instagram).
Hawaiian islands outlining tattoos
For some people, the blackwork versions may seem a bit vague. If the edges aren’t done very carefully, everything can look like a bunch of polka dots, so it’s important to pay attention to detail if you go for a black version.
but if you want to avoid this problem altogether, a great way to make your tattoo more recognizable is to do an outline. this helps clarify what your tattoo is. it also gives your artist more time to focus on detailing the outlines rather than completing the shapes.
Below, you’ll also see some unique takes on this type of tattoo. others fill only a specific island while others assign colors to each one. the most unique uses skin-colored tattoo ink for the outlines to contrast his island-shaped birthmark.
The outline approach is definitely one of the more minimalist ways to do this tattoo, but it still leaves a lot of room for creativity.
by unknown artist
by unknown artist
by unknown artist
by unknown artist
Hawaii Islands Tattoo FAQ
why should i get the hawaiian islands tattoo?
The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most beautiful places in the world. each is abundant with tropical vegetation and exotic wildlife. Even if you’re not originally from the Hawaiian Islands, it’s hard not to love the place.
Many people who get Hawaiian Islands tattoos have a special place in their hearts for Hawaii. It’s not just patriots who make them, but also tourists who fell in love with the place.
If you feel like the Hawaiian Islands have made a similar impression on you, then you’ll love getting a tattoo to remember your most memorable moments on the islands, even while you’re away.
Where should I put my Hawaiian Islands tattoo?
People often get the Hawaiian Islands tattooed on their upper body, where they are most easily seen. These tattoos often act as emblems of loyalty and love and reminders of the good old days, so visibility is an important factor.
If your career path allows for visible tattoos, then you should consider getting the Hawaiian Islands tattoo on your forearm.
In addition to being highly visible, the forearm is also perfectly shaped to fit the design. Since the Hawaiian design is longer than it is wide, you can easily orient it along your forearm. the same logic applies to the calf, although it is much less visible.
But if your career path doesn’t allow for visible tattoos, then you should consider placing your Hawaiian Islands tattoo anywhere on your upper body. Placing it along the upper part of the body helps the tattoo to be visible only when you need it. hides when you’re at work, but shines when you’re at the beach or playing sports.
A popular location for this design is above the shoulder blades, which also works well for slim designs.
Anywhere on the back is also a great location for this design. But since there is so much space, getting an islands tattoo can only make the piece look bare and unfinished. in such a case, try playing with different elements that emphasize the tropical environment, such as tropical flowers and nautical elements.
will it hurt?
This is usually the first question we get from newbies. The short answer is yes. tattoos hurt. but it’s not as bad as some people make it out to be.
what you want to know is how much it will hurt. this usually depends on a couple of factors:
- size & design complexity
- tattoo location
- pain tolerance
- experience
now these factors are highly variable: what might hurt jim might not hurt emma at all.
We’ll discuss each factor in detail so you can better understand how much pain you can expect when getting a tattoo.
size and size design complexity
The first factor that determines the pain of your tattoo is the size and complexity of the design.
On its own, size and complexity don’t really affect pain intensity. what it does affect is the length of your session. Naturally, a small tattoo will take much less time, while a large tattoo will take much more time.
If you have a high tolerance for pain or if you placed your tattoo in a place that doesn’t hurt, then you’ll be fine. otherwise, however, you should expect an increase in pain. a longer session means you will have to endure the pain for longer.
The body adapts to this pain by releasing adrenaline and endorphins. During this high, you will feel the pain begin to numb and you will feel much less stressed.
If you have a very low tolerance for pain, a smaller tattoo is ideal, as the high numbs the pain long enough for it to last. In such a case, try opting for an outline or blackwork Hawaiian Islands tattoo to finish quickly.
but if you can usually take a bit of scratching, then you shouldn’t worry too much about it, especially if the tattoo placement is good (we’ll talk about that in the next section). decent pain tolerance means you can get a larger, more complex design, like tribal or topographical.
Normally, however, the pain is not that bad. You only need to worry about this if you have a skin condition or recent emotional trauma (which can make the pain worse).
In any case, be honest with your artist and come up with a design that is appropriate for your pain tolerance. too much pain will be a problem for both you and your artist.
- tattoo location
Another factor that affects the intensity of pain you will experience is where you will place your tattoo.
The most popular place for tattooing in the Hawaiian Islands is the forearm. the length is perfect for the size and shape of most designs, plus it’s highly visible.
In terms of pain, the forearm is doing pretty well compared to other places. you have a lot of fat and muscle to cushion the impact of the tattoo needle, so you’ll be very well protected.
just be careful of any overlap with your wrist or elbow. You will notice that as you raise or lower your forearm, the fat and muscle become significantly leaner and bonier. You should avoid these areas if you can (unless that’s where you originally planned to place your tattoo) as tattooing thinner areas is often more painful.
Another popular location for Hawaiian Island tattoos is above the shoulder blades. in terms of pain, these generally vary from person to person. there’s a decent amount of fat and muscle, but some people say his shoulder blade tattoos were the worst.
Everything varies greatly, but it’s a good idea to measure how much fat and muscle you have in a given area to predict the intensity of pain. For a full discussion of which parts of the body hurt the most when getting tattooed, check out this healthline article on tattoo pain.
- pain tolerance
Some people have a naturally low tolerance for pain. this could be caused by a skin condition, thin skin, or recent emotional trauma. Pain tolerance varies from person to person, so it’s a good idea to find out how well you’re doing before you make an appointment.
But if you’ve already committed to getting a tattoo, here are some practical ways to ease the pain:
- get enough sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep before getting your tattoo, you will hamper your body’s natural healing process. (important!)
- stay sober. if you drink before getting a tattoo, be prepared for some pain. alcohol is classified as an anticoagulant. when your blood is diluted, it is more prone to bleeding and bruising. (important!)
- stay hydrated. drink enough water before getting the tattoo. It will help your skin stay supple throughout the session. it will also help your tattoo heal faster after the session.
- moisturize. Hydrating your skin doesn’t just mean drinking lots of water. you should also take the liberty of applying moisturizer to keep your skin nice and hydrated from the outside.
- take breaks. There will be times in your tattoo session where the pain will be too much to handle. this is normal. when this happens, feel free to ask your artist for a short break.
- experience
According to research, a person’s pain tolerance is directly affected by their experience with tattoos. This means that if you’ve had tattoos in the past, you’ll likely feel less pain.
conclusion
Sometimes it helps to keep our minds off the constant hustle and bustle of the big city. it can help to remember a part of the world where you’re not bombarded with constant deadlines and expectations.
The Hawaiian Islands tattoo is a great way to remember this part of the world. looking at your tattoo will take away all the stress and frustrations of daily life, if only for a while.
Did you enjoy these x tattoo designs or are you looking for more inspiration? Check out the links below to see more designs from talented artists.
- phoenix tattoos
- moth tattoos
- scorpion tattoos
- hammerhead shark tattoos
- tree tattoos of life
- yggdrasil tattoos
- watercolor tattoos
- forearm tattoos
- chest tattoos
