Tattoo life

Full Circle: Cukui x Kaepernick x Humble Beginnings

TATTOOS was the first connection between Cukui and Humble Beginnings Tattoo owner/artist Orly Locquiao and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. What began as a collaboration, led to a coincidental success for both the brand and the athlete. After an eventful football season Colin decided to get tattooed before he leaves to start training in Atlanta.

Talks about getting new ink were in the works prior to his recent rise in popularity. When Colin asked Orly to tattoo him, he wanted to work on a piece around his existing chest tattoo that incorporates his journey and obstacles. What makes Orly’s tattoo style unique, is his ability to create freehand designs using contemporary South Pacific Polynesian patterns. Orly took Colin’s story and created a piece designed for him that represents his life; from family, inner strength, spiritual growth and humility.

It has been an honor and privilege for us at Cukui/Humble Beginnings to be a memorable part of Bay Area history.

(Kaepernick x Cukui t-shirts are available here)

The mark of gold.

#cukui #faithfuls @justmatic @loski229 @orlycukui #hbtat2

Shout out to the Cukui faithfuls @justmatic @loski229 @orlycukui. Follow them!

The Revival of Yapese Tattoo

Our brother from Hawaii, Aisea, recently came back from the Big Island where he tattooed using traditional Samoan tools. We are proud of Aisea for helping the people of Fai, Micronesia and bringing back a part of their culture that was lost for many years. Stay rooted. Stay humbled.

On April 21, 2012 i was honored to bless a once lost art which has been revived and awaken again to remind us of our ancestry and responsibilities as an individual. This day has been marked as a very important day in history for the people of Fais island in Yap for reviving their once lost art, Fais tattoo. Jeremy who has spend numerous hours shedding blood and getting ink tapped into his skin, wanted to honor his ancestors by awakening the Fais tattoo. I am very proud of you Jeremy, it was a honor to have met you and bless your “mak” and hopefully this will be the beginning for your people to bring back something that has been lost back to life.

I would like to recognize several people who had made this happen, Uncle Don who has been a close family friend and a great mentor to the people of Fais, an individual from Yap by the name of Ike (who first did it using the machine) and a pupil of the Tongan tatatau revival and a very close friend of mine whom I have been mentoring through traditional tatatau, Rodney Powell from manulua tatatau. I thank you Rodney for sharing your talent with the people of Fais. With this craft that we both are blessed with, we will continue to help other people to revive their tattoos that has been lost. To the people of Fais, may this be the beginning for the “revival of Yapese tattoo” to continue to live on.

Malo apuito,
Sua Suluape Toetuu Aisea

The creative space

If finding a tattoo artist worthy enough to disfigure your body wasn’t already difficult, landing one with a tranquil
shop conducive to spending a few painful hours in is just as hard. Luckily the people of Honolulu can now visit
the peaceful open space that is Lucky Olelo’s Tattoo Studio. Lucky just recently opened this private shop having worked previously with Soul Signature Tattoo and Art Studio, so be mindful of the sprawling space, as it is
certainly a work in progress. His artwork however, is anything but. With art and memorabilia lining the walls,
we offer a look at the various stations inside his bright workshop, from his drawing desk to tattoo station to
cleaning area. If interested, check out some of Lucky’s unparalleled work here.

Photography: Brandon Shigeta/Hypebeast

The homie Lucky can be followed here - http://www.hisuerte.com

Dylan Maddux meets Mr. Cartoon

During his recent visit to Bangkok, Thailand, Los Angeles-based prolific artist Mister Cartoon sat down with photographer Dylan Maddux for an interview. It was last year when Cartoon made a visit to Thailand for a
seven-day tattoo trip, hosted by his good friend Tatt who he met back in LA. Fascinated with the culture and
way of living in the City of Smiles, the legendary tattoo artist shares his insights about Thai boxing, walking
around the grandeur temples, the colorful Tuk Tuks and of course, tattoos.. Shout out to our good friend
Dylan Maddux!

The Double Life

Pulling a rabbit under the hat! Here at Cukui another thing that we do is specialize in Polynesian Tattoos (of
course other things too) , if your unfamilar with the brand this is where we started doing and will continue to
grow with. See you on the other side..TEN YEARS STRONG!