There’s no other place where art, music and culture come together like a tattoo convention. And now Maui is getting it’s own convention. In fact, this weekend the team responsible for Oahu’s successful Pacific Ink and Art Expo is bringing the expo to Maui.
Artists and tattoo royalty come from around the world to share their craft next to great music and food, all in a family-friendly environment. Tens of thousands of people typically attend the three-day expo on Oahu. It’s special because they focus on the Polynesian tradition of tattoos and wanted to share that from the beginning.
“The core team that started the expo is Kevin Read, Greg Frey, Tama Hall, and myself, Danny Casler,” says Danny Casler. “Growing up here in Hawaii we wanted to do something that was different than any other tattoo convention out there. That was creating an event that centered around Hawaiian and Pacific Islander culture. That is something we are really passionate about. Sharing the culture of the place we grew up in. When we threw out this idea to tattoo artists, we said, ‘Hey, this is what we are thinking of doing, would you support this?’ The support that came back was just overwhelming. People were like, ‘Absolutely, we don’t really have anything that showcases our culture or the traditional forms of tattooing.’ Modern tattooing has been the focal point, especially on the TV shows. So we did it and it was a huge success right off the bat.”
Casler had worked as a manager for a tattoo artist on LA Ink, and they had traveled to Sydney to work at a tattoo show. It made a big impression on him.
“When I was in Australia I noticed that this event had thousands of people and hundreds of vendors,” says Casler. “I thought, wow, this is really awesome to have this environment where everyone can come together that have similar interests in music, tattoo, motorcycles, cars and that whole culture. When I got home, I rounded up some friends and said we should do this.”
The team agreed, and started working out the details.
“It’s one of those things where it was all trial by fire,” says Casler. “We had to sit down with politicians and explain to them why this is important for the culture and for the state as a revenue source and why it’s good for tourism. They got it right away. They said, ‘this is a great idea and we’re going to support you guys.’ Last year, the State of Hawaii awarded us a plaque of excellence for being a small business that contributes to the culture of Hawaii. We wanted to do something really good for the artists of Hawaii and the people of Hawaii.”
Surprisingly, coming to Maui five years later has proven more of a challenge. Casler says the County of Maui’s permitting process is not as straightforward as Oahu, making planning their vision more difficult. He says the expo is already over budget from jumping through last-minute bureaucratic hoops. Nevertheless, the expo folks think it’s worth it and are happy to share their vision with the Valley Isle.
“Our goal is to do this every single year,” says Casler. “We would like to do this just like Oahu. We would like to say that we are going to be here for 10 years-plus. It really matters that Maui sees this as something they want to be a part of.”
The expo has three days of more than 60 tattoo artists coming from all around the world, a full line up of musical guests performing every day, vendors booths, food booths and keiki entertainment. I’ve attended the Oahu Pacific Ink and Art Expo in the past, and love the buzz that comes from seeing so much art, tattooing and music align. Having the expo here on Maui will be a great time to see artists from Maui I don’t get to see all in one place. It will also be a chance to seek out visiting artists and enjoy some great entertainment. Tattoo celebrities that will be here include Suluape Keone Nunes and Kelii Makua, Big Gus from Tattoo Nightmares, Jason Lawyer from Inkmasters and BMX motocross superstars Mike Castillo and Mike Metzger.
“The celebrities come to our show because they love being a part of this event,” says Casler. “The feedback we get from them–if you go to any other tattoo convention–is that celebrities are treated differently. They are put on a pedestal or used as props. For us, we don’t do that. We just say, ‘hey, you’re just a normal person here like anybody else.’ They love being treated like that. They love being able to share camaraderie with the other artists here in Hawaii. They love the fact that all the people in Hawaii are very grateful to see them, and don’t make them feel uncomfortable. I think that’s the Hawaii way. We don’t have that whole starstruck thing going on over here. They appreciate the normality of it. They are also gracious and tattoo guests and sign autographs, take pictures. They integrate themselves into the show.”
The expo is very involved in the community, wanting to emphasize that the Pacific Ink and Art Expo is a family-friendly outing. This year, the expo has teamed up with Lahainaluna High School and will give three $500 scholarships to deserving young students as well as donating to the the basketball team. They also work with the blood bank and food bank and many other local charities.
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ATTENDING ARTISTS (not all but most)
AARON SADOYAMA – https://www.instagram.com/arensado/
AKIU SALE – https://www.instagram.com/polynesianworks/
ANTHONY VICAR – https://www.instagram.com/vicar_iv/
BIG GUS – https://www.instagram.com/biggusink/
BILLY WHITNEY – https://www.instagram.com/billy808tattoohawaii/
BRANDON HOLOKAI – https://www.instagram.com/brandon_holokai_tattooer/
BRANDON RAPOZA – https://www.instagram.com/nativefleshbrandon/
CARLOS ORTIZ – https://www.instagram.com/k12tattoos/
CARTER MOORE – https://www.instagram.com/carter_moore_tattoos/
CHET DUVENCI – https://www.instagram.com/chetduvenci/
DAVID CORONADO – https://www.instagram.com/blue_hawaii_tattoo_maui/
DEBATE ONE – https://www.instagram.com/debate_one/
DESMOND ALEXANDER – https://www.instagram.com/m.i.a.collective/
EDDIE DIAZ – https://www.instagram.com/eddiediazarts/
ELIJAH LINCOLN – https://www.instagram.com/_eltattoos_/
ERIC TYLER – https://www.instagram.com/pacifictradetattoo/
FRED CALLEON – https://www.instagram.com/fred_calleon_tat2s/
GEORGE PERHAM – https://www.instagram.com/georgeperham/
JASN BASN – https://www.instagram.com/jasnbasn/
JASON EVANS – https://www.instagram.com/jdragon503/
JASON LAWYER – https://www.instagram.com/sketchylawyer/
JERIMIAH HELLER – https://www.instagram.com/hellboytattoobaxwar/
JOY ANTONIE – https://www.instagram.com/joyofinktattoos/
JULIE L’ECUYER – https://www.instagram.com/julielecuyer/
JUSTIN BLAKE – https://www.instagram.com/justinblaketattoos/
JUSTIN RASQUERO
JUSTIN WOOD – https://www.instagram.com/wood138/
KAIB KNIGHT – https://www.instagram.com/kaib_knight/
KELI’I MAKUA – https://www.instagram.com/kelii_makua/
KEONE NUNES – https://www.instagram.com/keonen/
KUAIKA QUENGA – https://www.instagram.com/inked_by_kuaikz/
KYLE KOPPEL – https://www.instagram.com/kylekoppeltattoos/
LAUREN MERRITT – https://www.instagram.com/laurentattoo/
LELAND GOMEZ – https://www.instagram.com/inked_leland13/
LHENA BROMMELZ – https://www.instagram.com/lhenalove/
LIBRA – https://www.instagram.com/og_libra/
MARCELO SOUZA – https://www.instagram.com/marcelosouzatattoosngraphx/
MARIO SANCHEZ – https://www.instagram.com/mariosancheztattoos/
MASAO FUKAYAMA – https://www.instagram.com/zentattoomaui/
MATT MYRDAL – https://www.instagram.com/mattmyrdal/
MEGAN JONES – https://www.instagram.com/meganjones808tattoo/
MICHEAL BEALS – https://www.instagram.com/tattoosbymikebeals/
NATHANIAL DAVIS – https://www.instagram.com/akaakamaitattoo/
NICK CABLAYAN – https://www.instagram.com/sokertattoo/
NICKEL – https://www.instagram.com/nickeltattoos/
NICOLE AYALA – https://www.instagram.com/wakeupbeautiful_24/
PAKZ – https://www.instagram.com/ink_by_pakz/
PEDRO BALUGO – https://www.instagram.com/p200e/
PEGGY JORDAN – https://www.instagram.com/peggyeptattoohawaii/
RACHEL GONZALES – https://www.instagram.com/exoticeyetattoo/
RICKY MURILLO – https://www.instagram.com/tattoosbyrickymurillo/
RYOMA UNO – https://www.instagram.com/ryomauno/
RYSON LAPENIA – https://www.instagram.com/art_by_ryson/
SAMSON HARP – https://www.instagram.com/pacificrootztattoo/
SHERRY ENDRESEN – https://www.instagram.com/wakeupbeautiful_24/
SMOKEY – https://www.instagram.com/kingtattoosmokey_1/
TOMMY TINGLE – https://www.instagram.com/tingleink/
TONY MUCCI – https://www.instagram.com/tonymucci/
YASMINE ANDERSON – https://www.instagram.com/yazzyfizzle808/
Vendors:
Na Koa Leather – leather wallets and goods in tattoo theme
Empire Barber Shop – creative tattoo and custom style hair cuts
Henna Lounge – tattoo inspired henna
Shave Ice Station
Bouncy Castle
I am Local Clothing Co
Armed and Dangerous Clothing
Cam Tattoo Supply
Eternal Ink
NeoTat Machines
Light Alchemy – sensory experience through light and music
Hawaii Hustle Clothing
Still Proud Clothing
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