Thad is an incredible artist! We communicated well before we came over to the island and he was great. He puts his head down and gets it done. Love his artistry. The vibe is super chill and history of the (Seto) bldg is very cool. read more

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Kalin killed it! My wife and I decided to get tattoos on our honeymoon. I worked with Kalin who collaborated with me on the design. I gave him a few ideas, some feedback - and then gave him permission to be an artist. I got emotional when I saw the result! This tattoo perfectly represents my spiritual beliefs and is loaded with amazing and inspired symbolism. Working with Kalin was a pleasure and I very much enjoyed our conversation while he filled my arm with ink. read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Tree of life octopus. - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

I would give a 0 if possible. Don't schedule with Samuel Shaw we scheduled and put a deposit months in advance. We arrived on the island and he rescheduled. No big deal for us. Then day of and he calls to cancel sudden family tragedy just like the other guy. Sure hope I get my deposit back. I guess inshould have asked the local we were visiting who to go to. read more

FANTASTIC! I have a unique art piece that noone else will ever have. Samuel's work exceeded my expectations. I reached out a couple months before my visit to Kauai and had no problem scheduling my appointment. The shop is ultra clean. Do not expect to just show up, you do have to make an appointment in advance. I provided pictures of ideas, style, and the elements I wanted in my design. Samuel showed me 4-5 Honu ideas he created. After choosing the design I preferred, he actually hand drew the rest of the design on my arm around the Honu design, then started inking. The process was nearly painless as compared to my other tattoo experiences. I would strongly recommend Samuel for your next piece if you're planning to visit Kauai. Mahalo Nui Loa Samuel I will be sure to reach out if I have the opportunity to return to Kauai. read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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BEWARE of this place. If you're a local or a friend of Samuels, then he's probably great. Tourist or out of towner....... Good luck. He has the upstairs unit called Kulture Collective Tattoo and his name is Samuel Shaw. Had two appointments while on vacation. 2 different ones, both appts were canceled on me without him letting me know at all. I reached out to him on both and he only got back to me timely on the first one after I reached out to him. 1st one we had all set up before I left. Reached out the day before and he let me know he couldn't. Family tragedy, totally understood and still do. Very sad and understandable. It meant so much to me I said you keep my deposit, I'll come back to you for it. Arranged another appointment two months later for July 2023. Verified it a couple weeks before. (I also only came back for this appointment. 2 day trip all for this specific appointment). I show up about 30 minutes early, no big deal no one's here yet. Noon arrives, still nothin. I text him to let him know we're here......nothin. I call, text, send messages to him on ig since we communicated on both........nothin. But then, at the same time I see he posts on Twitter about peewee hermans death that same morning. Then he even posts a new story on his ig. All while neglecting all of my attempts to reach him. I then am still relatively cool about it but questioning him saying wtf is going on. No responses at all. Sat there for hours to be stood up and no call no showed. Spend $1,278 with flights and a hotel/car for two days to see him and got burned. 2 days and one entire day of the two consumed up by him not communicating a word with me. And he has had these reviews before so no surprise. He then finally late the next night responds and just said sorry and he had a concussion the day before. But he wasn't concussed enough to tweet about peewee at the time I was waiting and put up Instagram posts. So I call him out on that. He responds by telling me his posts are "scheduled". Which is total bs because posting about peewee hermans death that morning was not "scheduled". I caught him in a lie and he didn't have much to back it up with. He then later made a post ranting on about "some people" (me) need to stop being so detective like and chill out. Basically didn't like being called out for a sh**head move. Which deserves to be called out as a business and business owner. He then told me no and blocked me after I asked if he would meet me in the middle on the costs I went through for his appointment that we had lined up. Locals love him I'm sure but people on vacation, I'd stay clear and not line up any appointments with him. Best of luck if you do. read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Upstairs tattoo shop. Horrible. - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Samuel is amazing! He's precise in his work and quick! My hubby added to his tats that Samuel did years ago and now feels complete! I wanted something to honor my mother and grandmother I lost years ago. Samuel was patient with me and drew mine out first to be sure it was what I wanted and it was perfect! If you're going to Kauai, don't just see anyone for a tattoo, go with the best! He's located in Hanapepe and it's a short drive from Lihue and well worth the drive from any side of the island! Mahalo Samuel and we'll see you again soon!! read more

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Thad was amazing! He did tattoos for both my wife and I. I reached out a week before traveling and he was able to accommodate us. I'll travel back to Kaua'i just to get another tattoo from Thad! read more

BEWARE of this tattoo shop! We scheduled our tattoos on the final day we were on the island about a month before we traveled with Samuel. I sent our two deposits and text him the day before our appointment that we had arrived on the island and he responded with the address. The day of our appointment, 30 minutes before he text and said he had to cancel because he had a family emergency and he would refund our deposit when he got to the hospital. We found another artist to do one of the two tattoos and I text him several hours later asking for the deposit to be refunded to pay the other artist. No reply. I text the next morning and several hours later he replied and said he would refund it once he goes to the bank- which makes no sense since the deposit is made through square and he can simply refund it. The entire day goes by and no refund again. I text the evening asking for an update and crickets. The next day I text AGAIN asking for a refund and late at night he replies and says he can't find my deposit on square so I send my full name and email. No reply. I text again asking for a refund AGAIN and he sends it as a business transaction for $10 less then we paid and then I was charged a fee so I received almost $20 less then the deposit I paid - and here is the response: Jenn Clayton: The total owed is $210 and you sent my refund as goods and services so I was charged a $5 fee. I am going to refund your payment and please send $219 as friends only so I'm not charged a fee. You can also simply refund me through square. I just refunded the payment- please resend Samuel:you could have just asked for 20 more. jesus!! Jenn:I don't want to pay taxes on my deposit. I run a business through PayPal. Samuel: you told me to PayPal you yesterday. wtf Jenn: PayPal is fine if you send it correctly. Without a fee to me. No reply and later that day he finally refunded the deposit - I was still charged a fee but can't deal with his rudeness and unprofessionalism. Apparently it's my fault he canceled 30 mins before and I wanted my deposit back- not 3 days and several emails later. It seems to be a pattern that he has a "family emergency" with visitors and is very unprofessional. We had a GREAT experience with the tattoo artist that actually did the work and we are SO glad he had a "family emergency" because I wouldn't give him my business! Stay clear if you're a tourist!! read more

Amazing work. I was tattooed by Kalin around a year ago and it was a wonderful experience. He does all freehand drawing when it comes to the layout of the tattoo. A very comfortable and safe environment to be in. Love the tattoo! read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Side tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Sam is absolutely the best tattoo artist ever!!! He is so talented so kind and works so fast!!! I have several pieces from him and two of my adult children also got their first tattoos from him!!! He is the only person I would trust with my kids. We feel lucky to have a piece of his art forever!!! Absolutely amazing!! I highly recommend Sam and Kulture tattoo to anyone lucky enough to experience them!! read more

Awesome place. Thad was great. Will go back again on the next trip to Kauai. Service and price were great.

Big mahalo to Thad. He created a very meaningful design for my first tattoo and did exactly as I asked and more. The time he spent and attention to detail was amazing. The entire experience was one to remember. I will definitely be returning. read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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Thad is an awesome artist. I made an appointment before traveling to the island on vacation with the family and explained to him I was looking to get my first tattoo at 56 and that Honus (sea turtles) and the island of Kauai are two of my favorite things in life and I wanted a tattoo that represented both in a Polynesian design. He booked me with no issues and even booked me for the last night of our vacation so I wouldn't miss out. Man did he deliver! He had a design ready that incorporated my desired look but with his creative artistic license and it turned out perfect! He spent 5 hours putting in all the details and I couldn't be happier with getting my first tattoo. Mahalo Thad! read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Tattoo by Thad Nakao - Honu tattoo with island of Kauai on the shell back in a Polynesian design - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Thad at kulture is always pleasant to hang out with and does amazing work! We have been here 3 times over the last couple years and will be back again!! Recommend giving him a call if on the island and looking for your next tattoo!! read more

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Ola did an amazing job with my tattoo. With it being my first tattoo I was kind of nervous at first but he made the whole process relaxed and comfortable. It turned out even better than I had envisioned! I got the tattoo to honor my uncle that passed away and I know he would love it if he could see it today. Mahalo! Will be back again soon read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

I made an appointment with Sam who was initially very helpful but he rescheduled my appointment the day before then no call and no show the day of! would not recommend booking with this shop as they are unreliable read more

Tony is AMAZING. His commitment to quality and his many deceases of experience assisted me in deciding to cover up a 30 year old Tattoo and it is amazing. I would recommend this place and Tony to anyone. read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

We are avid tattoo collectors. Anytime we take a trip to the islands, we like to add to our collection. Therefore, with this being our first trip to Kauai, as usual, we did a ton of research before choosing Kulture Tattoo. When we arrived on Kauai we went straight over to chat and make an appointment for the night before our departure. We met with Kalin, who although was with a client, was kind enough to step away and talk to us without making us feel rushed. Today we went in for our appointments, both my husband and I got ink from him. All I can say is AMAZING! Not only was his work phenomenal, HE was outstanding! So nice. Made sure we were comfortable. Very accommodating. We literally felt right at home, and a part of his Ohana. The shop location is beautiful, it sits right on the river, and the little town of Hanapepe is just steps away. While my husband was getting his work done (2.5 hours worth), I sat on their back lanai and walked down to the shops. The shop is super clean. And all the other artists that were there, or came in while we were there were just as nice as Kalin. We will most definitely be back to see him next time we visit the island. I would 100 % without hesitation encouraged anyone wanting to get work done to go see the guys at Kulture. You won't be disappointed! read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Top is mine. Bottom is my husbands. - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Contacted Thad on short noticed and he was able to fit me in before I left the island. Thad is a cool dude and is a great tattoo artist. I'd recommend him to anyone. I'll be back! read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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Another master piece by Sam! Sam worked his magic on my arm and the results are outstanding. I highly recommend Sam and his cohorts when you visit Kauai but plan ahead and make your appointment early as Sam is in demand., read more

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Great guy, really good artist, but really bad at keeping appointments. I've known Sam for a long time and he has done most of my tattoos but it can take weeks or months to get a appointment due cancellations on his end. It's incredibly frustrating and Disappointing. read more

Samuel Shaw at Kulture Tattoo has mad skills. He accommodated my appointment request and worked with me to bring my ideas to life on my body. (That sounds dirty but I'm talking about the art.) I paddle and dance hula so we were able to connect on Polynesian artwork like "click click click". I'm in love with my new artwork! The shop is clean and air conditioned, as well. read more

Kulture Tattoo Kollective - Sam made my ideas come to life & marked the 11 year anniversary of my brush with death. Hula & paddling helped me heal. - Tattoo Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

....Waited for my first tattoo to be created by Sam. My Husband spoke highly of him, and promised I would not be disappointed. He was right! Sam did my Honu (turtle) 2011 as well as my Husband arm sleeve. He work is meticulous. We returned in 2014 to get more, and will see him again upon his visit to So. Cal. read more

This place is legit. Bruddah Ola is an amazing artist and created a piece that was far better than I had imagined. He listened to what I wanted to incorporate and took his time to make sure it was perfect. Would definitely recommend Ola and Kulture Tattoo Kollective! read more

I only have one person that I trust to do my tattoo at this shop. Thad. He is awesome and he never failed me. Love the fact that he looks for what you want comes up with the artwork and tries to get your opinion first before doing the work. And he takes his time and dies a perfect job! Thanks Thad! read more

My review is slightly different than most. I did not end up getting any tattoo. I planned ahead (over 30 days)and made the deposit and sent my ideas to Samuel. The transaction was perfect and had no issues. This was going to be a husband and wife tattoo session. We got to the island and communicated several times before the appointment time. All seemed to be a go. Unfortunately Samuel experienced some unfortunate circumstances and could not perform our tattoo's. This was an act of god and was out of his control. We were disappointed but understood. What I want other potential clients to know is that he acted honestly and with integrity. We got a full refund in a very timely manner. If the timing was to ever work out again I would definitely go back again. Hopefully to leave 5 stars because his tattoos are as good as his character. read more

After living in Hawaii for about 5 years and seeing tattoos from all over Polynesia, I fell in love with the tattoo style. I wanted to get something in the Polynesian style, but wanted to use symbols from Ghana which accounts for a large amount of my ethnicity. Sam loves culture and symbolism, and was very excited to mix my home (Hawaii) and my bloodline into a work of art. I couldn't be happier with the result. The experience was great, and I won't let any other artist else touch me! read more

Would have loved to get a tattoo at this location but had three appointments cancelled on me. I called to make an appointment for a consult and also an appointment for the actual work done the day before I left. First consult appointment was cancelled the day I arrived on the island. Went in the next day and my original appointment to get the work done was cancelled/rescheduled. Day of the appointment comes and it is cancelled with an hour notice. read more

My fiancé and I got tattoos from Thad and we couldn't be happier! I've gotten tattoos from several different shops on every island and this place is by far the best in Hawaii! Thad is a phenomenal artist. He was incredibly accommodating and we really had a wonderful experience. read more

We just returned home, after seeing Thad, he is the best,he did an awesome addition to my husband arm Tattoo, and added a few little details to my existing tattoo. Thad is very conscientious and the pride in his work shows. If you want something different done, with the expertise and experience of tribal/ Polynesian work. Then Thad is the man. Make sure you call for an appointment, as he just doesn't say sure sit down, he ,study's what you have, and what will compliment any existing work. read more

Beau was super professional and does great work. The studio is really clean and comfortable. I will definitely go back the next time I'm in kauai! read more

Kulture is absolutely amazing to say the least! I had my tattoo done a few years ago and there isn't a day that goes by where I wish it was done differently in anyway. It still looks stunning 2 years later with ZERO flaws, line work is perfect! Sam did an amazing job and I get compliments on it all the time! He has amazing line work and an even more amazing artist eye! I would never want another tattoo artist to touch me because anyone compared to Sam can't even come close! I compare other people's tattoos to his all the time and I always see flaws but with his there are none. If you are wondering if you should get one done here there's no question this is the BEST place. I ALWAYS recommend Sam just look at all his work on their instagram! Absolutely stunning! Getting another one done soon! Just look at the "cartoon style" that other tattoo shops do on the island, if you want a stunning and visual appealing tattoo that looks realistic this is as close as it gets. It may be pricey but it will be on your body for ever and you can't put a cheap price on that! read more

Had a wonderful experience! Sam did a tattoo on my husband and me, and wow, they both turned out incredible. Clean shop, easy to find. Specializes in custom work, especially in "tribal" or "polynesian" design. I stopped in the day before the appointment, threw out some ideas, and came back the next day to find he had drawn up a custom tattoo. Excellent! read more

My complaint isn't about the shop itself-because it's great, it's about a particular artist named Beau. I was tattoo'd by Beau back in 2010 I believe, back when he was tattooing at a shop called Farsyde. My family also had tattoos done by him. None of us were satisfied with his skills but, he seemed like a nice enough guy. HOWEVER, I decided to get another tattoo about a year ago and because I wasn't impressed with his skill I decided to go to a whole different shop to avoid having him be my artist so I went to Kulture Tattoo. And what do you know, Beau was my artist. When I got there he was still tattooing and I was fine waiting....however, he didn't get to me until three hours after my appointment was schedule. He didn't apologize ONCE about it, just said, "Yeah that happens sometimes. That guy wanted more work done than he said." Which again...I get that. But a phone call would have been nice or simply telling the other guy he'd have to wait until he was done with my quick tattoo. To be frank, he was a dick about it. While doing my tattoo he was highly distracted because his girlfriend was there and they were talking about their plans that night so he was also rushing. I thought maybe his skills would have improved over the last three or so years but they haven't. If you're asking for something remotely difficult to do or position, Beau won't even try. He's very lazy and puts in the minimal effort. read more