Steven Lam is truly one of a kind. I came to him with a vision, and he brought it to life with precision and artistry. Despite running a busy one-man shop, he was incredibly helpful during the planning process and made time to guide me every step of the way. Steven is not only talented but also one of the kindest, most welcoming, and patient people I've met. Our conversations were as meaningful as the tattoo itself--I learned so much about Hawaii, its culture, and its people through him. He's genuinely one of Hawaii's best-kept secrets when it comes to tattoo artistry. The entire experience felt like a private session--no crowds, no lines, just focused, quality work in a peaceful space. I did a lot of research before choosing him, and he absolutely lived up to the glowing reviews and articles I'd read. The lines are clean and sharp--honestly, it's the best tattoo I have. My partner and I each got a piece done right before our flight back to the mainland, and each session took about two hours. The time flew by thanks to our great conversations and the incredible collection of art and books he has in the studio. There was always something fascinating to look at. Steven's specialty in Japanese art really shines through in his work. When I return to the island, I'll definitely be back for more read more

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I had a tattoo that needed some extra TLC. A friend recommended Steven and I sent him a picture of my tat and what I hoped to do with it. Steven scheduled a consultation, and he was able to do a quick mock-up of what he thought was possible. I scheduled my session, and paid a deposit. Tattoo day: I arrived and stayed about 3 hours, taking short breaks in between the tattooing. Very happy with the results, and plan to schedule some additional coloring to complete my upgrade. Steven's got a clean and interesting shop, and is a great artist. read more

Steven was professional, personable and caring. I felt very comfortable being at the studio and with the tattoo process. I will be definitely going back. He is a true artist! read more

Working Class Tattoos - Mickey Sketch Tattoo - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Clean shop. Knowledgeable and skilled tattooer that provides creative collaboratives for unique and well done tattoos. Convenient location in a good neighborhood. The best. Always a privilege to visit Steven and get tattooed. read more

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I took a very long time trying to search for and select a Tattoo Artist and was very fortunate to have chosen the absolute most Best Tattoo Artist ever, Steven Lam owner of Working Class Tattoos. He is amazingly talented and a true professional. Everything he does is so well thought out and he helped me every step of the way with great patience. He was very honest and straight forward and guided me regarding design, size, placement, colors and after care and he answered all of my many questions without ever making me feel uncomfortable. I could not be any more happier with the outcome. His studio which he built himself is stunningly beautiful, and very unique. The area that his business is in is very convenient, lots of parking all around and none of the congestion as in waikiki or the downtown area. I felt well cared for and am now super spoiled and would not ever want to go anywhere else. If you want a great experience and want to have some amazing work of art on you, see Steven, you will be so pleased and happy as I am. Thank you Steven. I love my tattoos. read more

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A tattoo at Working Class is unlike any other I've ever had. This man, this professional, transcends his craft. You become his friend instantly in a respectable manner. His private shop offers you intimacy, where your voice and idea is highly valued. You're not an ordinary customer here. You're more than a guest. If you're looking for a unique exceptional experience for your first tattoo or your 20th. Steven Lam will deliver a service like no other. Words fail to boast his skill. This man will patiently work with you and unite his vision with yours to bring you the most perfect tattoo possible. If you enjoy nosy settings, and inconsiderate obnoxious banter, this isn't the place for you. If you're looking for a place that will value you with Hawaiian Aloha; this home eagerly awaits your next tattoo. Getting this tattoo before my departure from this island solidified my entire experience here in Hawaii. I hope that you, whomever you are, may consider this place, this professional artist. They say actions speak louder than words, but here words and action become one. read more

Working Class Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My husband, sister-in-law and myself booked appointments with Steven. But this review will be solely based on my experience. After combing through all the different tattoo places in Honolulu, we decided we definitely wanted to set up an appointment with Steven/Working Class Tattoos. All his reviews, (yelp: "working class tattoos" too..) were great and consistent. Working Class Tattoos moved to a new location. Which was cool since the new place seemed like a shorter drive from Waikiki and the building had a dedicated parking lot. The studio was nicely decorated and clean. Pretty cool artwork is displayed on the wall, along with shelves of design books. The big plus: good old school music played throughout our visit. Onto Steven.. He is an overall very chill (and professional) guy to work with. The day of our appointment, we came a little early to go over fonts and designs. Steven was very patient with our ideas. I wanted to change up what I had originally wanted, and Steven quickly readjusted things for me. He worked on my husband and sister-in-law's pieces first. They came out great and exactly what they wanted. My husband got his last name tattooed on his bicep. I noticed that Steven had a really good eye, when he brought up that the design was slightly off due to regular arm movement. He considered the placement really well and took different factors into consideration and gave his opinion before the session started. Other places, the moment you tell them it's good with you, they would most likely go with it and not care much. Steven was quick and kept his work station extremely clean and organized between sessions. Now for my piece! I picked a rose and vintage key with a chain for mine. I already had a rose near the area I wanted the two pieces to connect somehow. Steven worked with it and was able to make it all come together. Even when I kept thinking the design was missing things, Steven continued to give his advice and even free handed designs while the sketch was on me. That was awesome!! The area I got my tatt on was painful (at least for me). Haha! But Steven had a light hand, worked quickly but very efficiently. He always checked on me too, which was nice. His details are amazing!! Steven Lam is a true artist!! I'm so in love with my piece. You can really tell the difference in his work. So glad I went with him. I definitely recommend him for any tattoo needs when you're in the islands. Will most likely go back when I'm in the area. Forgot to mention: I appreciated the "by appointment only" policy. You didn't have random people walking in during your sessions, so there weren't any interruptions and you knew your piece got full attention. THANKS STEVEN!!! read more

Working Class Tattoos - The top rose and vintage key with chain is Steven's work. He added a leaf to the bottom rose to make things go together more. - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

When I first decided to get a tattoo last year, I was skeptical about who I would get inked by. I had a paranoia of someone messing up and leaving something on my skin I would regret for the rest of my life. That all changed.... Going to Steven Lam was one of the best decisions I have ever made in terms of getting a tattoo. He was more than helpful and understanding without making me feel under pressure or that any of my ideas were stupid. Not only is he outgoing and professional, his work speaks for itself and ultimately the term, "you get what you pay for" makes a lot of sense here. You won't be disappointed and you will have a tattoo on your body that you can be proud of and show off to the world. Make an appointment if you want a quality tattoo and a new friend! Follow him on instagram @steventattoos !!!!! I would type more, but the tattoo he just finished on my arm needs to be cleaned :D Thank you for reading and make the right choice for your tattoo needs!! read more

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I sought out Steven at the Art & Ink Expo after researching his work. I wanted to do a back tattoo to honor my mom's Okinawa heritage, including the family's crest. Talking to him I knew he was the right guy and made the arrangement to meet at his studio. Because he is the only artist, he takes his time and doesn't rush you like you were at Jiffy Lube. I showed him a rough sketch of what I wanted and he did the rest. His talents showed in his sketches and I was thrilled at what he had drawn up for me. It's very casual and he was patient in laying it out on my back. It took 3 sessions to finish my back and my wife and I love it. I thought his pricing was fair, even cheep at times so I tipped generously as you should for great service. I already have ideas for another tat and you know who will be doing the work. read more

Working Class Tattoos - Finished product honoring mom's Okinawan heritage including family crest. - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For a few years, I've been wanting to get a half-sleeve tattoo with something to symbolize my three kids. I had a vague idea of what I wanted (ocean themed, with three sea creatures), but didn't have a clear picture of how to represent them. I've checked out many artists work on Oahu, but nothing really stood out....until I came across Steven Lam. When I saw his previous work, his clean line work is what really set him apart from the rest of the pack. I saw a previous tattoo of his which represented ocean waves, and I knew that's the style that I had been looking for. I booked an appointment for a consultation, but was still hesitant because I didn't have a clear picture of what I wanted. Steven sat down with me and asked me a few questions, then laid out a vision of how he wanted to go. Ultimately, we decided on three goldfish with each colored with my children's' favorite color. Working with Steven is awesome! He has an unparalleled attention to detail and is extremely friendly and professional. While you are in his studio, you are his only focus. My complete sleeve took 12 hours total spread over four sessions, and in all that time, there were zero interruptions. No phone calls, no other customers, nothing! Stevens shop recently moved from Chinatown to his new location on Waialae and he renovated the whole shop on his own. His new place is clean, elegant and quiet. This man is a pure artist and a true master of his craft. If you are looking for an artist who cares about you and has the vision to make your ideal tattoo a reality, do not hesitate to give Steven Lam a call. You wont regret it! read more

Working Class Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Finally I found best tattoo artist. Steven is a great artist and very professional , friendly , polite gentleman. I really needed to cover up my old tattoo. Steven did for me completely covered beautiful tattoo!! Me and my husband love it so much!! We definitely come back to Steven again! read more

Working Class Tattoos - Before - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My husband and I checked out several websites, artist bios/artwork, and yelp reviews to find the right tattoo shop for us and found Working Class Tattoo. Steven is a wonderful artist and runs a clean, cozy, and respectful shop. My husband was getting his first tattoo and wasn't sure what to expect. Steven made him feel comfortable about the process. He made sure he knew what we were looking for during our consultation, then scheduled an appointment for us in the same week. He works efficiently, while not sacrificing the quality of his work. He seems genuinely passionate about his craft and developing a positive rapport with his clients. We will be returning again, as soon as we figure out what our next tattoos will be. Mahalo nui loa Steven! read more

Working Class Tattoos - My Hufflepuff tattoo, upper arm. - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Many words have been written in reviews to describe Steven Lam, owner of Working Class Tattoos, and his work. A few of them include... friendly... amazing artist... honest... true professional... amazing work... you become his friend... collaboration... artistic opinion... clean lines... gentleman... I would like to add that Steven is a man with a humble spirit. The energy that he exudes is calming and comforting yet filled with humble confidence in his vast knowledge of artistic placement, ability to tattoo as if simply drawing on paper and painting on a canvas, and his amazing talent as an artist to draw what it is you want. Whether you have a drawing of what you want...or if you just have an idea in your head... Steven Lam is the artist you want for your tattoo. Those who have had other tattoos done will surely be able to appreciate the quality of one's experience with Steven. Those for whom Steven will be doing their first tattoo...you will have chosen the best person to initiate you into the world of tattoo. The tattoo Steven did for me does not necessarily showcase the breadth of his artistic talent as I simply had sakura and a frame added to a 16 yr old kanji tattoo...but it does showcase what even his simplest work is artistic genius. I have had comments from friends as to how amazing my tattoo looks. I am not one to really post pictures of myself...or even write reviews... but I felt the need to express my appreciation by doing both. If you allow Steven to create and/or do your tattoo, you will undoubtedly be very pleased :) :) :) Thank you Steven!!! read more

Working Class Tattoos - My original tattoo is the kanji in the frame. Here are the flowers and frame just before Steven started... - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Steven is awesome! Not only is he a talented artist, but a customer- and service-focused local businessman. I got my first tattoo from him in 2013 and just returned for my second tattoo today. His studio is impeccable and well-designed. He does a great job listening to his clients and verifying that the design is exactly what they want before he begins. His warm and kind personality make it easy to feel comfortable. I love both of my tattoos! Thank you Steven! read more

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Steven Lam is an artistic genius! He truly has a gift and is passionate about his craft. I trust him whole heartedly with my tattoos and I know he will create something unique for me every time. Such a great location and amazing vibes coming from his work studio located upstairs in his corner building. Everyone needs to be checking out his art, for reals! Steven is very easy to talk to. His studio is well designed and tastefully decorated with tattoo art he has collected over the years. Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! read more

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Perfect atmosphere and world class artistry, best experience ever. Won't go elsewhere as long as Steven has this shop!

Got my second piece. Absolutely love the artistry and talent, Steven is amazing, he is professional, kind, and amazingly skilled at his craft. I am in awe of his work. read more

Working Class Tattoos - Second audrey Kawasaki inspired piece on thigh - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I spent months over the last year looking for the right artist for a small tattoo of my son's name. When I came across Steven's portfolio and Instagram account, I knew I had found "the one." I met with Steven back in May and I was taken away with his level of professionalism, shop cleanliness (honestly his shop is so bad ass) and his ability to capture exactly what I envisioned as he sketched away in front of me. Flash forward two months and I finally made the time to have the tattoo done. It's perfect. Simple, clean and he nailed the placement. Steven is the only artist I'm ever going to recommend on this island. read more

Working Class Tattoos - Small script tattoo on forearm by Steven Lam - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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It took me a while to find a tattoo artist that I felt I would like and Steven is great! His studio is really nice and clean (like with the clean smell). He helped me design my small, simple tattoo and didn't make a stencil until I was 100% comfortable with the size, placement, everything. The tattoo was done in maybe 5 minutes (granted I got something small). Thanks so much I can't wait to come back!! read more

It's hard to find someone who doesn't only do good tribal or Japanese style tattoos in Hawaii. So when I found Steven, I was impressed at his attention to detail & his overall style. The first tattoo I got with him was a simple typography on my wrist & me just turning 18, he wasn't condescending at all, he was very comforting & he's just an overall chill guy. I got more creative with my second piece & he brought my idea to life. Couldn't have asked anymore from him! His new location is a beauty & you pay for exactly what you get, QUALITY! read more

Working Class Tattoos - Inspired by Joy Division's album cover. - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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A big thank you Steven, I absolutely LOVE my tattoo! You do such an amazing job with everything..concept, placement & your beautiful artwork! I love the branch and I want to add more branches around my thigh thanks to you, so I'll be in touch again read more

Working Class Tattoos - Added the cherry blossom branch, more falling blossoms and my dad & mom's mon (Japanese family crest). - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Steven's studio is clean and comfortable. He's a super chill guy that will immediately put you at ease. He takes the time to go over the design to your satisfaction, and his work is efficient and professional. Being that my daughter was getting her first tattoo, our experience couldn't have gone any better. read more

Steven is a professional artist who takes much time and pride in his work. He is a caring and considerate individual who helped me feel calm and comfortable through the process. He is also very flexible with scheduling appointments. This was my first tattoo and he guided me to the direction of simplicity vs. a busy look that would take away from the actual art itself. He allowed my brother to come in and chat/photograph/video my quick session (under an hour) and was very welcoming. I had planned to have the art done last October but many things came about and a couple appointments fell through. Thankfully he still kept my art and the ideas that he'd sketched out and 4 months later, created my first tattoo. I definitely recommend Steven to anyone that has intricate ideas (I saw many detailed sketches of upcoming tattoo jobs in his work area), thoughts but need some guidance (I needed some help with simplicity), and for sure newbies. Thanks again Steven! read more

Steven is a great person and truly talented tattoo artist. This is my 4th tattoo and certainly the best design, experience, workmanship, service, and value for the final product. I met with Steven to discuss the design and he began asking me questions about myself to get to know me and help create the design. On the day of the tattoo, he free handed his idea and had me look over it as he worked. During the tattooing, I don't know how to describe it, but he has a gentle hand and uses fine needles so the tattooing itself was less painful than the others I've had. Also, he works fast so even though it was a big design, it was over quickly. And the art doesn't suffer from his quick work! Great artist, great talent, great incite, great experience! read more

Steven is a brilliant artist. Attentive, thoughtful and professional, he was great at guiding me through my first tattoo, what it would look like and where it should go. Highly highly recommended!! read more

Working Class Tattoos - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Steven's a true professional! From my initial consultation, to my first appointment with actual work done - great experience! Steven's shop is very personal and makes you feel right at home. He talks with you and it feels like you're working with an old friend. Not to mention, his work is truly amazing! I will recommend all of my family and friends to get their work done with Steven at Working Class, keep of the great work brother! read more

I love my tattoo by Steven! He is very talented and professional.

Best tattoo experience you'll ever have. High quality work, great customer service, comfortable digs. He's my guy. Go see for yourself.

Damn if I could give more than 5 stars. I started to want a sleeve in high school and after I graduated I decided that I was going to do it but I had no idea where to go. (This was 4-5 years ago, now). Somehow I stumbled upon Steven's tattoo shop on Yelp. Everyone had amazing things to say about his work. I checked out his website, did all the research, and decided to email him. I went in to chat about what I wanted and brought him 3 or 4 different pictures/ideas of things I wanted to be incorporated in my sleeve. I left and went back in about 3 weeks later? (My memory....I should've wrote this a long time ago) Steven had designed something that was just a million times more than I could've envisioned. It was great and I knew right away that that was exactly the sleeve for me. 4 years later (only due to my suckiness and laziness), it's finally done. The detail and linework is top notch, trust me I always hear about it when people look at my left arm. The compliments on his artwork are endless and an every day occurrence. Highly recommend if you want classy high quality really dope artwork. Plus he is a nice, chill guy! With great music. Thanks Steven! read more

I was surprised to see that Yelp does not carry over reviews once a business moves locations. It's too bad because Steven Lam at Working Class Tattoos is easily one of the most talented artists in tattooing today. I've been fortunate to have multiple tattoos done by Steven and have been more than happy with each result. His line work, shading and overall artistic skills are impeccable. He is an artist, first and foremost, and knows how to work with you to conceptualize your ideas onto skin. You know you are getting a good tattoo when the healing process is quick, painless and leaves you with no scarring of the skin resulting in a beautiful tattoo. As for the new shop, it is super clean, comfortable and private so there is never any issues with lurkers or other distractions. You as the client is the main focus. Guarantee you will be leaving with a smile on your face and most likely wanting another tattoo from this talented guy. read more

Working Class Tattoos - Steven Lam has talent. Design and color was all him. - Tattoo Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Steven is awesome!!! He did an amazing cover up on a ugly tattoo I had, now no one can tell the other existed. He has done mostly all my tattoos. He's professional caring and super talented. He's the only artist I will go to. And I'm not the only one who says that. Thank you Steven I'll be seeing you soon. read more

I've been seeing Steven for over 4 years now. I definitely can say he is an amazing artist and his work shows. The shop is located 9th and Waialae in the second floor of the green building. His shop is very clean and comfortable. If you are looking for a great tattoo artist and reliable shop, this is the place to go. He's reasonable on tattoo prices and does amazing work. I will definitely continue to go to working class and recommend anyone that wants to get a nice tattoo in hawaii. read more

Steven was really nice, has clean work and extremely sanitary. Really good place to get tattooed . Next time I visit Hawaii I am definitely coming back to Steven. It's a really good place to get tattooed. read more

Steven did a great job with my tattoo...he was super easy to work with in designing it and is also an ace artist :) I love my tattoo and if I ever get back to Hawaii, I'll definitely be back for more work from him. read more

very talanted very nice clean studio, check out his instagram to see more of his work. Appointment only.

Steven is the best! He is a true artist. I got two tattoos from him and I love them both. I had a quote on my back and his lines were nice and clean. He also told me his artistic opinion on the placement. I would recommend him to anybody read more

You MUST have your next tattoo art done by Steven ! He is amazing !! Being a cancer survivor, I wanted to have a simple related tattoo as a reminder of the incredible journey that I took to recovery. Steven met with me & instantly made me feel comfortable & relaxed.The actual tattoo day was the best experience ever. His shop is super CLEAN, he is very professional & caring all at the same time.Love my new tattoo & am even considering covering up my mastectomy scars with some of his awesome work.GO SEE HIM !!! read more

Okay, so for me to make a Yelp account just to review Steven and Working Class Tattoos says a lot in itself. Steven came highly recommended by my friend who has referred a lot of people to Steven based on his great work. I got a full back tattoo and I couldn't be happier with the job that Steven did and I would highly recommend Steven for anyone considering to get a tattoo whether its your first or your hundredth. Best thing about Steven, he's real cool guy and half the time I didn't realize I was even getting a tattoo because we were just talking story the entire time. With that being said, great tattoo artist, great guy, great location and all that equals to- YOU SHOULD GET YOUR TATTOO FROM STEVEN!!! read more

Steven is a true professional and a true gentleman. I went to see him yesterday to get my very first tattoo and I couldn't be more thrilled with the whole experience from start to finish. I found his shop on Yelp and was really excited because I knew him when we both lived in San Francisco but had no idea he was living here in Honolulu. I took it as a sign that it was finally time to get cut. His shop is super classy and very tidy. He was a pro at putting me at ease because I was definitely a little nervous! Steven knew exactly what I was going for and after chatting about the old days for a bit, we got started. It was over before I knew it and the results are absolutely perfect. My husband (who has several tattoos) keeps looking at it and saying "Dude, this guy is a real pro"! I'm already thinking up what I want to get done next. Thank you, Steven, for my beautiful new tattoo and a wonderful new memory! read more

Im a hollywood tattoo sleaze... Stephan nailed both la guns and motley crue as good as Sunset strip got my stones and clash back 30 years ago. My first tattoo that was not with greg from sunset and stephennailed it. Im in line now. That sucks though. I need one before the year ends FASTER PUSSYCAT~ read more