I cannot ever say enough to give what Josh has given to me which is truly in my opinion a gift!  This was my first tattoo at the age of 46 and let's just say I was obsessed with finding the absolute best! To know me is to know I get nuts and do a ton of background and homework especially when it comes to something permanent.  I currently live on the big island of Hawaii and could not find anybody even close to Josh and to compare would be insulting to Joshes gift.  The cool part is Josh is from the big island as you know. For me this is extremely important and Josh is so blessed with an amazing gift and it is my belief that it comes from his ancestry and is seen with his tattoos and the final work. Josh is truly humble and gets in this zone and is a master of his craft. I walked into his studio and immediately thought I was back home in the islands. Peaceful, serene, and a true Polynesian experience.  What is even more exciting is the connection that you get with Josh and is illustrated on your body. It's not a tattoo it's a gift from him to you.  I cannot ever say enough to thank him! I can't imagine my tattoo not being there on my body! I spent 14 hours between back to back days and let's say I was new and asked a lot of questions and both Josh and John are extremely humble and so easy and understanding to work with.  If you are looking for an out of this world Polynesian experience and have any connection to the islands which ever one it is. You owe it to yourself to go to the best! It's your body and evolve and you will never go anywhere different because it's da bomb.  Much love brother... Aloha.... Mahalo Nui Loa..... Read Less

Amazing experience and a highly professional shop. Refreshing to have a group that understands customer service in a market where most shops simply don't. With my own roots in the islands, I booked with Suni, whose skills are amazing, to start a new sleeve based off a small piece I had done in Hilo. Not only did it come out incredible, but the craftsmanship Suni displayed in creating it freehand was exceptional to watch. Cannot say enough about him, the shop and more importantly, the delivery of a great experience from scheduling to completion. Will definitely be back to complete the sleeve and highly recommend this group. Read Less

I am late with my review. I got my tattoo in July 2017. My artist was Manu, and he was visiting from Tahiti. The studio itself is clean. The experience was awesome and so was my artist. I really liked that I was able to watch netflix on  a tablet while I was being tattoo. It took my mind off of the pain and it was a nice bonus. I will be going back to finish my sleeve :) Read Less

Got my first tattoo this past weekend with Suni. I told him the basics of what I was looking for and he basically put it down better than I could've imagined. Can't wait to come back and add on to it. The place is small and quiet, at that time one other person was getting their first tattoo also, I think with Big John, as I overheard them chopping it up the whole time. Suni and I walked for a bit but i let him focus on the work as I watched Power on my phone (they provide a small tablet with Netflix!) for a couple of hours. Before I knew it, he was done!  I'd say emailing them is the best way to get contact with them because they're always busy, and someone always replies within 24 hours. Read Less

Josh is a true Artist.His work, creativity, exceeded my expectations. He knocks out complex work faster than I ever expected. Might be the nicest/easy going guy in the world.I needed a cover up done, gave him a few idea's and let him loose.Extremely pleased with the results. Read Less

Josh was excellent and extremely talented. He was able to bring my story to life. This being my first tattoo, I had no anxiety because I knew I was in good hands. My experience with everyone else in the store was positive too. They were kind, welcoming, and made me feel at ease. I would highly recommend him and his colleagues to anyone looking for a tattoo full of meaning and symbolism. I will definitely be back for another! Read Less

What a great tattoo experience!!!! From the first contact, to setting up the appointment, Islandtat was extremely helpful. The appointment itself was all I could have asked for. The consultation was in-depth and resulted in truly unique artwork. A quick and painful 8hours later, I look at a true representation of who I am. Mahalo nui loa. Read Less

More than impressed and so glad I went with Josh at Island Tat. I've been wanting to get a Polynesian tribal sleeve for awhile to represent the Hawaiian side of the family but wanted to also represent my Chinese side also. One theme is extremely constant throughout the process....Customer experience and satisfaction is number 1 priority!My first impression of the outside of the shop gave me a pause as there was no obvious "Island TaT" sign. I later found out that with a sign out front, people without an appointment would walk in and 2 things would happen, 1- Artists would have to break concentration, stop the tat to talk to customer. 2- Turn the customer away. Both are not great customer service. Customer sat #1!When you walk in the shop, everything is professional from their own clothing line, own art, music playing and the shop is clean...even the bathroom. You know if someone takes the time to ensure the bathroom is clean and shop is organized, they care. They even took the time to print their tat designs from past clients in many hardcover professional photo books. Not a three ringed binder with photos but a hard cover book I would buy in a bookstore. Takes time and money to do that. Shows they care. Everyone in the shop is super chill. Josh welcomed me and we sat down for about 30-40 minutes taking notes as he asked me questions about my family history, what means the most to me, married, how many kids, brothers, career.....took me by surprise when he started to show his vast experience educating me on certain symbols and styles that I may like to represent me, family and life's journey in my tat. What is Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian...What he came up with is nothing short of amazing. He had a symbol for my wife, daughter, son, father, mother, 2 brothers, me, my career and even placed Hawaiian spears over the scar from when I got injured in Iraq. Customer sat #1. The thing that completely blew me away is that with many repeating designs of spears, triangles, braids, birds, water....Josh never once used a computer drawing to ensure he drew it even and straight. He drew it FREE HAND straight on my arm with a blue surgeon marker! Then saw him tat triangles perfectly straight and even with no markers even. That shows you the experience he has. I see why Polynesian chiefs ask for him by name to tattoo them. Absolutely incredible. Absolutely worth it. If you want professionalism, knowledge, experience and a shop who's Customer satisfaction is #1.....Island Tat is the only place to go. I'm going back when I get back from deployment to finish the back piece. Check out their TatTalk. Super funny and informative. Read Less

First visit here this weekend. Suni was amazing. He took my thoughts and designed a great tattoo. It was better than I had hoped for! I will definitely return and have already bragged about him to my friends. Would recommend to anyone for sure! Read Less

First tattoo here and the experience was excellent. Josh spent his time to understand what I was trying to get and why I was doing it. Will return here without a doubt and recommend others to pick this shop. Read Less

First tattoo here and the experience was excellent. Josh spent his time to understand what I was trying to get and why I was doing it. Will return here without a doubt and recommend others to pick this shop.Very comfortable shop and he has personal iPads to watch Netflix etc. Thank you! Read Less

Josh is one of most talented tattoo artist out there. There's a good reason people fly in to get tattooed at his shop. He is professional,  and he can translate your ideas, into an amazing tattoo. Can't recommend enough. Thanks Josh! Read Less

No words can describe how amazing Josh is. He helped create my dream tattoo and he drew it straight onto my skin. He asked me questions to get to know me better and then matched the tattoo closely to who I was as a person. I am very grateful to have THEE Island Tat guy create such a beautiful and wonderful piece of art. I recommend Island Tat 100%!! Mahalo nui loa!! Read Less

Island Tat has to be one of the best shops I have ever been to. I first came in by recommendation from two of my friends, but I was still nervous about going to a different shop than what i'm used to. I Set up an appointment with Suni and he took look at what I already had done and said he knows what to do. I put down my deposit a a month later i came in. It was a pretty cool experience, for such a big guy hes hands were very light that i fell sleep twice, He even let me take a small break and had some snacks so i can get some food in my system so i wouldn't pass out (not that i would). They had an ipad set up so i would be able to watch shows as he worked on my arm, overall it was an amazing experience. Read Less

I'd been itching for a new tattoo, yeah y'all know what I mean... and thinking and overthinking designs and researching ideas and coming up with nothing other than I don't want an object and I want it to have geometric qualities. I started investigating polynesian style and was captivated by the idea of how the symbols and flow represent your story. Came across Island Tat website and instantly liked everything about it, but particularly Joshawa's artwork. The way the designs fit the body, proportion and scale, individuality, and the attention to detail. Made an appointment but had to wait several months, which was good since I still had no idea what exactly I wanted or where. The day came and I still had nothing other than general size and placement on hip/thigh, but I trusted Josh and his artistic skills.This is when the fun began. We started talking story, our background and values and experiences. He listened attentively while taking notes. Afterward he FREEHANDED a design to tell my story, and when I saw it I was simply amazed, it was perfect! He did the outline work next and yep, it hurt, a lot. Was able to take a break and grab a snack and the iPad provided with netflix was a nice option for distraction, but I chose to chill to the calm and breezy island tunes instead.  Six weeks later, last night, I went in for the shading to finish the piece. The funny thing is I'd mostly forgotten about that part and was loving my outline on it's own. This session was surprisingly not painful at all. My son came along to share the experience, and although I couldn't see the work while it was being done, the expression on his face told it all. I knew it was going to be good. When I saw the finished work I couldn't believe how it had transformed and how much I absolutely love it! Already know I'll be back. Found my inking home in San Diego! Read Less

Had my tattoo done by Soane Paninia nice man, make sure your not in a hurry to leave. Soane ask you about yourself, then what you are looking for put your story on paper then on the tattoo, did beautiful work I love it. It was painful you can watch Netflix to keep your mind off the pain. Great work. I love there pen, they gave it to me. For got my key chain. They offer water and snack if you want. Read Less

I am not sure how he did it but he got exactly everything I talked to him about and made it original. Definitely worth the drive for me and recommend it to any wanting a piece that tells not just a story but your story. Thank you guys for so much. Read Less

AMAZING EXPERIENCE.This experience and journey with them was so great, it merited my first ever actual Yelp review, and I definitely frequent yelp to check out reviews on anything I can. So that already speaks to how pleased I am with everything.Josh and the team at Island Tat really immerse you and involve you with creating such a unique piece that really embodies who you are as a person. Even with this review I will not be able to do this team justice for their talents as well as experience but Ill try.Communication- I had been referred to Josh from my best friend Ryan, who he also did an awesome rhino piece for. Talking with my girlfriend, it was important to incorporate a tattoo that was really important to me, and could tell a story about a part of my life, and really who I am. So I emailed Josh, and we communicated a few times trying to coordinate a time that would work. Even with Josh having commitments and working through his wife being pregnant, it was very evident he was very passionate about his clients, and tried to place their time and need above his own. I can really appreciate that. While I waited a few months to finally get tatted, the wait was definitely worth it, as this an investment you want to love forever.Tattoo process- WOW. literally the rough sketch to the finished product is NIGHT and DAY difference. It's pretty amazing because Josh talks to you, to understand what is important to you. Why you want a Polynesian tattoo. Who you are as a person, what values do you hold close to your heart. He then creates that story you tell him, onto your arm. I cannot begin to describe how different the rough sketch to the finished product looked. I had no idea what to expect, but honestly, I trusted Josh and from all those reviews, it was obvious he knew what he was doing. Josh really gets in the zone, and has laser focus when he is working on you. It really is amazing to see an artist in his zone, working on you and nothing distracting him. I went back to back days to get it completed, and while some places hurt a little more than others, it was definitely worth doing. I spent roughly 12-13 hours with him with the sketching and actual tattooing, and it was worth every month and dollar spent. I could not be happier.Finished tattoo- The pictures will speak for themselves. I absolutely recommend Josh and the team at Island Tat for creating a work of art on you that you will be proud to show off and tell your family and friends about. I really can not say enough about Josh and the team at island tat. I honestly didn't want the experience to end, and was ready to have the rest of my arm tatted. Needless to say, I am sure we will meet again and continue his artwork on me. Thank you again Island Tat! You guys truly are masters at your craft Read Less

Island Tats process is definitely the way I would like all my tattoo experiences to be. Josh took the time to get to know me, my life, and my story. He was then able to translate this into a tattoo that fit my body. I would suggest that you check out their Instagram page and research their work. Every piece is an original. I highly recommend Josh and Island Tat if a Polynesian design is what you are looking for! Read Less

Words cannot explain how much love i have for this shop. I been searching to get a tribal tattoo for about 3 years now and been doing a lot of research. I contacted a few shops and some out of state and just was not satisfied with the work I seen. So I found Island tat both on FB, and yelp was blown away by the work. I emailed Josh and within 2 days hit me up to come in the following weekend since someone canceled and I went in. The shop is a bit hidden and if your not paying attention you will miss it like I did the first time showing up. When you enter the shop it's like a island vibe to the max. The shop is very clean and well kept with sanitation. The lobby is nice they have shirts and etc for sale. So when I met Josh he was very chill not rude or anything. We talked about for 20 minutes on what I was trying to get tatted and do and some back ground info about my culture. I was impressed on how much he know about the Samoan culture. I was very hesitant about getting tatted but he took that ease off by telling me about the culture and all the patterns. By the way this was my first tattoo ever done. So we started off and must i say he makes sure your relaxed with a comfortable working chair/bed and also he has a tablet with movies or music to keep you entertain. It took me about 3 sessions to finish up my chest and half sleeve piece. All his needles are clean and can I say he is so precise with lines it looks like a robot with a laser did my tattoo. I plan to go back to get more work from Josh. I definitely recommend Josh at Island tat if your looking for a serious detail tribal tattoo that will stand out from others. Josh thank you for my tattoo and everything you have done. Your a very humble person and I would recommend this shop to do your next tattoo.  Thanks Uce-Joshua R Read Less

This was my first tattoo and this experience was very important to me. Josh from the first email was very professional and did a great job making me feel at ease with the entire process. I live out of state so initially we communicated via email.Email is the best way to get ahold of him. He took the vision that I had and brought it to life. I felt like I was Josh's one and only client. He made me feel like I was the only tattoo he was working on or had been working on every time I had a session with him. You can really feel his passion for his craft. He involves you in the process as much as he can so that he can understand you and your vision. Taking his time was important and it was so worth it. The shop itself is very very clean and quite. There is an iPad for your entertainment to take your mind off of the pain, very very helpful when you've been sitting for a few hours. If you have music you can listen to that. He also provides snacks and water,also nice when you have been sitting for hours.  The art itself is flawless look at my pics and every other clients.I get compliments on my sleeve very often and truly love it. Josh is the best in the business and I would recommend him above any other artist out there. Thank you Josh! Looking forward to our next session! Go see island tat!!!! Now!! Read Less

I have thought about getting a tattoo for a while now and after months of thinking about it, I decided to get one. I had actually heard about this place at work from a customer. He really recommended Island Tat Evolve and after reviewing numerous places through Yelp; I decided to come here. Boy, long story short- I left more than HAPPY with the outcome.First off, my artist was Suni Lesu! He was very nice and welcoming from the moment I walked through the door of their shop. He displayed impeccably exquisite customer service! He consulted me through the process and made sure I was comfortable the entire time. As soon as we finished talking about what I wanted, he went ahead and drew the outline on my body to have an idea of the size and how it would somewhat look like. As he was tattooing me, he had netflix available for my entertainment and to help ease the pain. I'm glad they had netflix available because it helped distract me from what was going on. I also got hungry in the middle of my session so he gave me a nutrition bar that I was able to snack on! If you don't want Netflix, they have three other options for you. You can tell Suni cares a lot about his clients and gets to know them very well. He wants to ensure that you leave feeling happy about your tattoo especially because it will be with you permanently. Very nice guy and I would definitely recommend him to others! I am just very happy with the outcome and don't have any regrets whatsoever about the decision I made.As far as the store, it is a little bit hard to find but I was told they are working on getting a sign! Their store is very clean and smells good as soon as you walk through the door! Parking's not that hard to find. Also as soon as you open the door, they have a lot of merchandise for sale from t-shirts to key chains. Definitely check that out! Suni's price is also super reasonable in comparison to that of other locations I've seen. If I do get another tattoo, I would definitely come back here. Although I just got this done two days ago, I have already thought about saving up for another one in the near future. I trust Suni and glad I came to him. Come here and you won't regret it. Thanks Suni! Read Less

I was referred to Island Tat by several people so I decided to send an email asking to stop by and walaau (talk story) before scheduling an appointment. This was my first tat experience and I didn't know what to expect; I needed to make sure I was going somewhere I would feel comfortable. Josh was mellow, welcoming, and professional- exactly the vibe I was looking for. AND he has roots in my hometown of Kona so that was a plus :) On the day of my appointment, he spent about 20 minutes consulting with me about ideas for my piece. He was very patient to answer all of my questions and get a thorough understanding of the vision I had in my head. As for the piece itself - IM IN LOVE. Josh incorporated everything I asked for while at the same time doing a freehand design. It came out so beautifully and even better than I envisioned. People have even pointed out their interpretations to my tat that I haven't noticed before, which makes me love it even more. Needless to say, I'm obsessed and will be back! MAHALO JOSH!! Read Less

I wanted to add a tribal design below my already existing tiger tattoo on my chest and right arm. Emailed Josh and within 2 weeks, I was already sitting in the chair getting the tattoo started. Super speedy turnaround time and the results were fantastic.Took about 3.5 hours over 2 sessions to knock it out and really satisfied with the results.A nice aspect is when he sends out his initial email, he tells you the exact hourly rate and charge so that there's no surprises when it comes time to pay.He also talks to you about what it is exactly that you want based on your background and life experiences and sketches on you before beginning the actual work. It's pretty crazy that he's able to freehand his designs and have them turn out as awesome as they've turned out.Eventually, I'd like to get a half-sleeve done on my left arm and would definitely come back to Island Tat and Josh to get it done! Thanks again Josh! Read Less

Josh was beyond amazing. My family came down from Oregon to get family tattoos, we came with vague ideas about what we each wanted, but Josh definitely made us think about what we wanted the tattoo to mean to each of us personally. He did a pretty indepth consultation before even drawing up ideas. This worked out in the best way because he is so versed in the culture and style. He then drew up his interpretation of our ideas and what we shared about ourselves, explaining the meaning of each design. We learned a lot about our ancestry that we never knew, and now we have a beautiful piece of art on our bodies forever as a reminder. Mahalo nui loa! Read Less

He's monoatomic gold! Holistic Soul Provider healing through art & tattoo spiritually inhanced with deep roots and culture and true personal relationship straight from the Puuwai (heart). One person I'll never forget the rest if my life. Read Less

I've been looking to get a tattoo for the longest time but could not find the right tattoo artist. I actually had another artist lined up and booked but Josh's work kept growing on me. I decided to have a consultation with him earlier this year, and not only did we just talk about what I wanted, but also the understanding of the Polynesian culture and how it would relate to my tattoo. He is very knowledgeable. After leaving his studio I knew he was the right tattoo artist for me. I then went ahead a forfeited my deposit with the other artist.For my tattoo piece, I went in and did a total of about 9 hours split up between two days.  During my tattoo session, Josh made me feel at ease with his calm demeanor and attentive manner.  Unlike other shops I've seen, where there is a lot of people going in and out, socializing, etc. he gets in the zone and devotes 100% of his attention to your piece as a true artist would. It also helped that you have access to an Ipad/headphones while getting tattooed. In the end, I was blown away with my half sleeve. His attention to detail, shading technique and line work is phenomenal.I would highly recommend this shop to anyone looking to get some Polynesian work done.  Josh and Suni are humble and amazing artists.  One last thing I forgot to mention is that he got a little caught up with some things during my session but still provided my girlfriend and I lunch on both days we were there. True ALOHA spirit.As a side note, he gets very busy and is usually booked months in advanced, in addition to running his clothing company so don't get offended if he doesn't respond to your email or phone call right away. Read Less

This is THE SHOP to go to. The atmosphere of this place is very welcoming and it gives you that island vibe. Sunni was my artist and he did an AMAZING leg piece. He sat me down before my session and really talked me through everything, asking what I was looking to get. Lines are spot on and shading is second to none. I will definitely be coming back in the near future.Side note: For those who don't do well with pain (like myself) they have netflix and music available to help you get through your session. Professionalism at its finest. Read Less

"Welcome to the family" is what you get with Island TAT. My first tattoo with Josh was almost 8 years ago. He has blown up since then and still remains one of the most humble down to earth people I know. I just wrapped up another session and couldn't be more thrilled with the result. The shop is unassuming from the outside. Nothing about it says "a tattoo shop is right through this door". There's no flash. In fact, you'd have to walk up to the door to see the small Island TAT and honu sign. If you have ever been to the islands you'd find that this makes sense. If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a trip to the islands. Island TAT cares about their clients. They want to hear your story, they want to understand you so that your tattoo represents the things that are important to you. This isn't your pick a pic out of the book tattoo experience. Every design is unique to the individual. Yes it takes longer, but that's the way it should be.Traditions all together represents a blend of pacific tattoo symbology with the modern artistic flair of the artist. You can do many things with a tattoo gun that you couldn't do with an au and sausau. Enjoy. Getting a tattoo at this shop is also an educational experience. Ask questions, they do their homework. I can't imagine anyone ever being dissatisfied with any of the work. If you want to contact the shop- email them. There isn't a bunch of people hanging out that can answer the phone. If the artist is at the studio it means they're working. Phone tag makes communication difficult. Send an email, get a response. If you want an appointment - be prepared to wait. At one point Josh was running booked for a year at a time. It's just something you'll unfortunately have to deal with. It's worth it. Ho'onānea. Bookings are made for only three months at a time now. Get your email in and offer up to be on the on-call list to fill cancellations if you're close enough and available to drop what you're doing and head over. Read Less

I have no words that can truly express how I was treated and how the work came out..  First I read all the reviews, best line of communication is via their email.  Ask everything you can they will answer it all.  Suni answered my question and was beyond nice when I met him in person very patient man and super humble and nice... I choose joshawa for my tattoo for the reason I loved his style.  This tattoo was to remember my younger sister who passed away a month ago.First it's hard to figure out where the studio is at but ask in advance how to find it.  It's not a walk in studio you have to make an appointment for consultation.  Don't let the exterior of the shop fool you it's very nice inside.  The lobby makes you feel like you very relaxed with the music and the nice stained floors.  I was lucky enough that someone canceled and I got to take their spot a few days after my consultation.. I'm from out of town so time was an issue.The tattooing area is split so you have full privacy, super clean and organized, relaxing environment and a nice touch of island feel.  They give you a tablet to watch net flicks which truly helps.. I choose this shop after doing a lot of research and the reason is they specialize in modern and old school Polynesian tattoos... they ask many questions about your life before they tattoo to make sure the symbols tell a story and resembles your life... my tattoo means the world to me and it resembled a lot of who I am.  Joshawa is very talented person very nice and humble beyond words.. he likes to clearly explain the process even though you have had experience before with tattoos.  Very to the point and organized.  I told him my story and he did an amazing job explaining each detail of the tattoo and why.    His background is amazing g to here and very approachable in conversation.  His art portfolio and clientele is pretty impressive. In all I'm very satisfied and my tattoo came out amazing even though it's not even done... it's missing some details.  I will be traveling from a far to finish my piece and that speaks words especially when you live in Puerto Rico and Florida.  I again would like to thank suni and joshawa for everything and can't wait to see you guys again. Read Less

I've been coming to to island to get my arm done. Josh is amazing with the tattoo gun. His lines are freaking clean. And on point. He made me feel very comfortable when I first walked in. He was able to squeeze me in about 3 months from when I emailed him my plans. I started out with a little shoulder piece. He collaborated it into a 3/4 sleeve. So recently i wanted to make in to a full sleeve after getting my 3/4 2 years ago. You still on point and better clean work. I wouldn't go anywhere else for a Polynesian tattoo. Read Less

The best. Period. If you are looking for artistry and a uniqueness to your tattoo...look no further...this is the place you want to go for your tattoo!Joshawa Elsas is the best!I couldn't wait another year to write this review, so here's what I can tell you so far: For the past 4 years Josh has been my tattoo artist for the progressive tattoo on my back that depicts my doctoral journey and the whole process has been such a beautiful thing. Josh is such an artist and a professional, so amazing to work with! When people ask me what I'm getting for my next tattoo, I always tell them "I don't know. Whatever Josh draws on me! He's the artist." And he is an amazing artist who I trust completely to do what he does best. Inspired by my story, he takes what I say and turns my words into art. Each and every addition to my tattoo tells a story and flows from one year to the next. As I enter my fifth year in my doctoral program, I'm sad and excited to be at the end, excited to be done with school but sad to be finishing up this tattoo. I'm going to need another excuse to go back to Josh for a future piece, but for now...there is one more on the horizon and it will be the perfect way to mark the end of my PhD journey. Read Less

If you're looking for the best Polynesian, Hawaiian, Islander, or Filipino tattoo artist, this is the place! I've looked around at other artist but for me, Joshawa is the best. "NoKaOí". His prices are right on because his work is unmatchable. Read Less

Session 1 of many: I wanted a tattoo and came across Joshwa's work randomly. I immediately connected with it. I made an appointment(the worst part was waiting two months to see him). On the day, I had some ideas of what I liked and didn't like, which Joshwa was receptive to. He spent quite a while getting to know me, my history, my fears and victories, because he wants to create a piece that is "not only unique, but unique to me". What a philosophy and want an amazing find. After getting to know me, he spent a long time drawing and erasing and drawing and erasing, until he felt it was complete. Reportedly, using my story as the inspiration for the design, hence it uniqueness to me. He spent four hours working in the outlines. It is amazing. It was exactly as I imagined that I wanted it, with actually having nothing specific in mind. He actually even incorporated a symbol that meant a lot to me without my telling him. Just an amazing experience, an amazing shop, and an amazing tattoo.  Joshawa is a professional who Cares about what he does and cares about connecting with his clients. I can't wait for the next stage.Update:Four sessions and twenty hours later my sleeve is done. What an experience and what a professional Joshwa is.  I have never been so happy with the work that I have had done. It is a one of a kind piece designed and executed for me. Well done, clean, and incredibly thorough. No a hint of infection, barely any scabbing.Do yourself a favor and go see him. I drive from Los Angeles two hours to meet with him. Read Less

I had my existing tattoo reworked by Joshawa Elsas this morning and it was such a great experience. Josh was patient and his artistic ability to make my vision possible was wonderful. The shop is quiet and they have made every attempt to have a peaceful and relaxing experience. I can't say enough. Thank you! Read Less

Thank you once again Islandtat for your ohana touch. Such a great experience at every session! My first tat was in honor of my siblings who passed away one year apart. Suni did an amazing job on a poly shoulder piece that has such profound meaning. Since then Josh has been adding his creative talent to the story of my life. His talent is undeniable! If you are interested in a clean, relaxing tattoo shop with an ohana touch then ISLANDTAT EVOLVE is the place to come! Email Joshawa ElsasCheryl Martinez Read Less

LOOK NO FURTHER!  If you're anything like me, you are picky and try to research as much as you can when it comes to a big commitment like this.  I mean you should be for a tattoo right? Especially an Polynesian Tattoo with meaning.  When I say Josh is the best and a MUST for your Polynesian Tattoo, I mean HE ...IS ...THE ...BEST... From the attention to detail, to the ease of the process, to the respect & true island experience, everything simply felt and went "right" / perfect.  I came from LA to get this done and I'm so happy I did.Consultation: Nothing but great vibes.   Professional & inviting.  I emailed him some references & my concept / story and we set the date.  They are busy, but for good reason. If there's an opening, JUMP ON IT. Shop: Very clean & well kept, filled with amazing Polynesian Arts.  Day of session: Cathartic.  Josh truly embodies the Aloha spirit.  He keeps it very intimate so it's just you and him.  No distractions, no loss of connection towards the process.  Before we even started, we shared and bonded through our stories.  And to me this made / makes all the difference in the world.  He out lined what my / our story would be on my body, then went straight to work.Overall: I've been wanting to get this done for some time.  I can honestly say Josh exceeded anything I could have hoped for.  I'm more than just happy with my tattoo, I'm humbled and honored to have his work tell my story.  This is without question, the only place I could have had this done.  Aloha Josh.  And many, many thanks. Read Less

Joshawa has given me everything I imagined my tattoo to be and more. Initially I decided 2009 to get Polynesian tribal around the islands I have on my left shoulder blade. It's 2016 and I live in Hawaii and still come out to SD to get tattooed by Josh. The attention to detail and designs are second to none, and he's a professional when it comes to his craft.  I've done 3 sessions with him, starting with my back, to the half sleeve outside the arm, to inside the arm. All experiences were painfully pleasurable.The shop is located in an area where it feels like there's not much going on, so you feel comfortable while you are getting tatted. I've found that at tattoo shops where there is a lot of traffic, generally that adds extra stuff that may make the experience a little uneasy. The place is cool, quiet, and offers an ipad with pandora and netflix for you while the work gets done. He also offers food and snacks as you need to take breaks. The shop is also filled with nice artwork on canvas, metal, and wood and all are available for purchase.  Josh is a really nice guy with good vibes. His shop is the best, and I'll keep only coming to him for Poly work/art! Read Less

I met Josh several years ago and we became very good friends instantly.  He has since done a full left sleeve. I just completed my 2nd sleeve with Josh yesterday (3/31/16).  I am still amazed at his attention to detail and his full attention he gives to his canvas (your skin) . His lines or so straight,  as if he used a ruler. The shop is approximately 15 minutes from downtown San Diego. It is quiet and private. During your session,  you have the comfort of listening to island reggae, watch a movie,  or engage in conversation. Both Josh and Suni will translate to canvas what you want your tattoo to mean and produce a one of a kind masterpiece.  I highly recommend this shop to anyone interest in Polynesian Tribal tattoos. Read Less

IslandTat is an experience unlike any other. Great vibes and very relaxed environment. If I could give my honest rating it would be 10 stars out of 5, but this will have to do. Shout out to Josh thanks my braddah. Can't wait to come back soon. Keep doing what you doing with the masterpiece work! Read Less

High quality tattoo from an amazing tattoo artist and the best customer service. From my initial inquiry 4 months ago to the current. post-tattoo healing process, it's been a smooth process thanks to Josh.When I decided to get a polynesian sleeve (my first tattoo), I went through the usual google/instagram/pinterest/yelp searches and found several amazing artists. I live in San Francisco and there were much closer artists to me than Josh in San Diego.However, Josh's work caught my eye and stood out in a way that was so different and beautiful I had to go with him as my artist.After emailing him some questions, he quickly responded and we booked a December appointment. From the time he opened the door, everything was very comfortable and professional. Despite his amazing work, this guy has no ego whatsoever. We had a long discussion to design the look and meaning of my tattoo. He described his style, his knowledge and we worked together to collaborate on telling my story with breathtaking imagery.The space is clean, ipad keeps you busy, and Josh let me know exactly what to expect the whole time. Next thing you know, he's done and telling you how to care for your tattoo.It's only been a week, but one of my favorite compliment so far came from my boss who is not a tattoo type person at all. "wow, that's not a tattoo, that's art"Thanks for everything Josh! Read Less

Amazing designs for their clothing. I bought the commemorative Seau shirt and the I thought it would take two weeks to arrive. The shirt arrived in four days. I am stoked for the shirt and I am extremely impressed in Island Tat's support and love for Junior and his family. Read Less