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    Packing Ink Tattoos

    5.0 (66 reviews)
    ModerateTattoo
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Response time

    10 minutes

    Response rate

    100%

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    Before shading
    Allix P.

    My husband and I came to the Big Island for our first anniversary and decided we wanted tattoos. I came across this place on Yelp and saw it had so many 5 star ratings so we decided to make appointments here. I can see why everyone rates this place so high. First of all, they were so fast to respond to my request for an appointment and it was so easy to make an appointment during our vacation. My artist was Kahanu and he did an amazing job. It was a time consuming piece but I could tell he cared about every detail because he really took the time to make sure the tattoo turned out so nicely. He was kind and cool to talk to while he did his work. I am very happy with how this turned out. If I ever come back to visit the Big Island, I would definitely come back here for future tattoos.

    Got a plumeria
    Jessica M.

    So I decided to get a tattoo while I was on vacation visiting my family. Last minute thing so I was glad I could find a place to do it for me that recommended an artist that I liked for what I was getting done. Jen did my tattoo and it came out so pretty. She did just what I wanted. She was super friendly and very professional. Thanks Jen! I definitely recommend her. The shop was clean and had great vibes. I definitely recommend this place. It was easy for us to get to and the owner was very responsive!

    Tattoo the next day

    I had my first tattoo with Kainoa about 4 years ago and last week he added on to it. Not only was the experience at Packing Ink terrific as usual, the tattoo itself is AMAZING! Kainoa is such a talented artist. And his skill level is off the charts, the tattoos heal so quickly and without issue. I have gotten so many compliments on my tattoo. Thank you Kainoa!!

    Added a turtle to an existing plumeria tattoo
    Ryoji O.

    We contacted through Yelp and got a reply right away. We got an appointment the next day. Luke did our tattoos, he understood what we wanted and gave us great suggestions. We were very happy with the results! Highly recommend!!

    Mark's tat (kahanu)
    Angie P.

    My husband and i, along with our friends Jen and Andy visited Packing Ink Tattoo on Thursday for tats during our anniversary trip to the big island. My sitting was with Kainoa (shop owner), the guys both worked with Kahanu, and Jen did Jens tat. The entire team listened to exactly what each of us wanted and completed our designs (marks was drawn on him by hand). The whole process (from remote scheduling, design, tat completion) was seamless. For my husband and friend Jen this was their first tats and could not have asked for a better experience for them. Team so friendly, shop laid back but extremely clean/hygienic. Highly recommend and will revisit if/when back in Kona

    The shop on a quiet Thursday afternoon.
    Tiffany T.

    Garry is an amazing artist. He listened to all my requests and implemented them perfectly. This was my first tattoo and a memorial to my little brother who passed away.

    Rob D.

    Made my reservation with Kainoa before my trip to Hawaii through his wife. She has top notch customer service skills and is able to communicate effectively. She was able to set up my appointment easily with ease and give my idea to Kainoa. Kainoa has such a light hand, for the first two hours of my session i forgot i was even getting tattooed and even began dozing off!!! I was that comfortable. He is extremely friendly and made me feel welcomed. His work is exceptional, if you're looking to get tattooed here on the big island book with Kainoa! His wife and him are the best !!!

    Final result after the tattoo artist magic. Note that all  the designs between the main black lines were free handed. Truly impressive
    Marcello T.

    I have been thinking about getting my first tattoo for ages but I was stuck in finding a good artist that was available on a reasonable timeframe in SF. I also did not want to stress about the design and instead trust the tattoo artist to come up with it. I always liked tribals because of their cultural origins so as I was visiting the big island with my girlfriend, I decided the best souvenir would be to carve a little bit of that culture on my skin. After Yelping a bit I found a bunch of tattoo shops that could do the job but packing ink caught my eye because of the tattoos being free hand draw, no stencils, and some of the photos showed incredibly crisp patterns. Still, I was a little bit on the edge. So while eating out we started asking locals for recommendations and just by chance we ended up at a nearby place that highly recommended packing ink (Umekes, some of the best food in Kona). There was no more reason to idle, we walked there and asked if they accepted walk-ins, set up an appointment for 2 days later and left. They were super accommodating with the timing and the limited flexibility we had between doing water activities and flying out only a couple days later; the tattoo artist also stayed well after closing time to finish the piece, without rushing the job. Well a picture is worth a thousand words but let me tell you the only guidance I gave was a couple of images of tattoos with a wave pattern the day I set the appointment (because I am a surfer, waves are especially cool to me). It is mind blowing to me what emerged from that simple initial sketch. The contrast, the patterns, shading, clean lines, no ink bleeding. And I must repeat, all free handed. The artist even designed the tattoo so that it could be extended in the future. This is, simply put, a master piece. Mahalo Note: if you open the location of the place from Yelp app it will send you to the wrong location to another tattoo shop in downtown Kona (lost coast tattoos); that is not correct, the location is close to the mentioned restaurant above (and kona brewery among other things) as correctly displayed by Apple Maps or Google maps.

    Polynesian upper thigh wrap
    Shawn F.

    Kainoa is a tremendous artist! I've sat for him twice now and couldn't be more happy with the result. Beautiful and unique artistry from a humble man. Lindsey is his wife and manager at the shop and she is so professional and sweet. Always looking out for the client. The shop (Packing Ink) is clean, easy to find and is home to some great artists. I am so glad I found Kainoa, Lindsey and Packing Ink tattoos! The best on the island in my opinion. If you need some awesome work done, this is the place!

    Turtle

    Well I could not stay away!! Told Jen what I wanted & she created this beautiful seahorses kissing. They form a heart! Love it & Thank You Jen!! I'll be back to get more!!

    Our tattoos
    Kimm B.

    Great job from Kahanu! So easy and almost painless. Thanks for using the painless needles haha. Me and my fiancé got a matching tattoo and they are awesome!! We couldn't be happier. Thanks again!

    Isabel M.

    Jen did an amazing job with my small palm tree. I love it. Highly recommend her! Very friendly and nice.

    Thank you, Kahanu!
    Chris R.

    I decided to get my first tattoo to commemorate a two month sojourn in Kona, the single greatest trip of my life. I was a little nervous walking in and had just a vague idea of the tattoo I wanted. I met the artist, Kahanu, and he instantly eased my mind with his unbridled confidence. I asked him to put his own spin on my design and I was blown away by the art he delivered. I am overjoyed at the result. I would recommend Kahanu to anyone and everyone, especially those getting their first art. Oh, and much less painful than I expected. Thank you Kahanu!

    Tattoo by Kahanu

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Packing Ink Tattoos

    When is Kainoa's next availability?

    Aloha! Please text 808-937-9176 to check Kainoa’s availability. Mahalo!

    Do you have any openings on 2/13 or 2/14?

    Aloha! Please text 808-937-9176 to schedule an appointment. Mahalo!

    Can I request Kainoa to do a cover-up?

    Please go ahead and text 808-937-9176. Mahalo!

    Are there any available spots through out the week of 4/2/22-4/9/22?

    Please text 808-937-9176. They can help you there. Mahalo!

    Do you guys do stick and poke tattoos?

    No we don’t.

    Currently, what is your waiting list like? I'd like to get a tattoo before Christmas if that's even possible.

    Please go ahead and text 808-937-9176 for any tattoo appointments and inquiries. Mahalo!

    Is there a website? I'll be on Kona from the 15th - 20th and I'm looking to get my next tattoo. I have a picture of what I'd like, but it needs some modifications.

    Aloha Robert! Please text or call (808)937-9176. We can help assist in any questions and/or scheduling there.

    If someone is 16 or 17 will you guys tattoo them? Do you just need a paper saying that they're allowed to get the tattoo, or does the parent need to be there?

    The parent needs to be there with a picture ID

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Packing Ink Tattoos

    Kudos to Lindsey for the thorough aftercare instructions and squeezing me in before my vacation ended!

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Lady Luck Tattoo & Body Piercing

    Lady Luck Tattoo & Body Piercing

    4.7
    (122 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Anthony did an incredible job on my husband's tattoo. We came in with an idea, and he took the time…read moreto really understand the meaning behind it and elevated the design in a way that made it even more impactful. The line work is super clean, the shading is smooth, and everything is perfectly balanced--especially with the detail in the Ironman symbol and heartbeat line. It looks amazing on his calf and fits the space perfectly. Beyond the artistry, Anthony was professional, easy to talk to, and made the whole experience comfortable from start to finish. You can tell he genuinely cares about his work and his clients. If you're looking for someone who combines skill, creativity, and attention to detail, I can't recommend Anthony enough. We'll definitely be back.

    Joel met us day 1 and helped us fall in love with this shop. He was very friendly and…read moreprofessional. He seemed excited about my daughter's design and encouraged us to send more ideas over the next couple days until our appointment. Oh my goodness, our appointment was fantastic. My daughter asked Joel to put his spin on her angelfish and WOW, incredible. (She ended up getting many compliments everywhere we went as our trip continued.) I was a bit more unsure of my design. Gavinn designed something far better than I could've imagined. I love my fanciful little fish. His fins remind me of flowing material...which coincidentally was my profession. He must be part psychic! I also ended up getting the owner to give me a piercing and purchased some jewelry for existing piercings. This day ended up being a memorable moment with my daughter, that we both cherish. This is by far our favorite tattoo shop! We will return as we already have ideas swirling...

    Photos
    Lady Luck Tattoo & Body Piercing
    Lady Luck Tattoo & Body Piercing
    The hoop they tried to put in to fix the other girls damage

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    The hoop they tried to put in to fix the other girls damage
    Big Island Tattoo

    Big Island Tattoo

    4.7
    (70 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Time for my first tattoo!! Mid life crisis, hmmm, who knows?!?! Ive always wanted a tattoo, but I…read morecould never think of anything that I'd want to have permanently embedded in my skin. Well now I have it. I know what I want to do. But it seems to me that the design, along with the personalization that I wanted my be a little complicated. I went in to the shop to have a little impromptu consultation. I met Rockwood and his wife Becky. They were both awesome. I brought my concerns to Rockwood's attention and he confidently told me that if he couldn't do it, it couldn't be done!!! The next thing I know, Rockwood has imported my artwork into his iPad, he re-drew (not just traced - redrew) the picture. While I stood there he embedded the writing into the artwork, which he then superimposed onto a picture of my arm so I could get a feel for how it would look on my arm. I was so impressed. He basically completely changed the design I brought him to something amazing and he incorporated the writing into the design. I came in for my appointment and Rockwood and Becky were amazing. Everything was kept clean and sanitary. Rockwood has lots of stories to tell and even had some friends come around to tell me stories about Rockwood. Once the tattoo was done I was so impressed with how clear the lines are and how detailed the design is. When I'm ready for my next tattoo I'm definitely going back to Big Island Tattoo to see Rockwood and Becky.

    Rockwood and Becky were excellent! Rockwood took my old tired tattoos and made them alive again…read more He fixed some mistakes made by a different tattooist and made them look so much better. Becky was great with her communication and scheduling. Choose better than I did at first. Choose Big Island Tattoo!

    Photos
    Tattoo
    Tattoo
    New one
    New one
    Old one

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    Old one
    TC Tattoo Hawaii

    TC Tattoo Hawaii

    4.2
    (41 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Walked in here right after a terrible experience at Lost Coast tattoo and it was the best decision…read moreof the day. The gentlemen here were very friendly and helpful. The whole transaction was smooth and enjoyable. I was able to express my vision and they put it together for me perfectly. It was a simply request and with a little professional guidance and creativity from the artist at hand. I walked away with the biggest smile and the best story. My "Hapa" Cherry Blossom tattoo I am half Japanese and half "white". Hapa is the terminology used for such a mix and I am proud of my heritage. Cherry blossoms are an obvious symbolism for country and culture. Simplistic. Impactful with meaning. I love it. Mahalo!!!!!!

    Make sure to look at the pictures of the horrible job TC did…read more Please, stay away. I rarely write reviews, but I feel it is necessary. You be the judge. I'm working on a full sleeve and this was NOT my first tattoo. TC added ink to my forearm which already had flowers on it. Everything in color was already done. If it is in black TC did it. Hr COMPLETELY messed it up. Look, the lines are crooked and he didn't even keep the shading within the crooked outline. I swear he has never done this before. I don't know about the other artists, but stay away from TC. I tried to contact him about a refund. I live in phoenix and it is not practical for me to fly back to Kona to get it touched up. No, he will not offer me a refund for the amateur work he did. I got the work covered up...but you can see the difference in a quality tattoo and what TC did. Stay away!!!

    Photos
    Tattoo by Kai
    Tattoo by Kai
    Tattoos by TC
    Tattoos by TC
    Tattoo by kai

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    Tattoo by kai

    Packing Ink Tattoos - tattoo - Updated June 2026

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