7 Best Tattoo Shops on Oahu (2023 Update)
Oahu is home to some of the best tattoo shops in Hawaii. There are many parlors to choose from, and deciding which establishment to trust can be tricky. Luckily, there are a few shops that stand above the rest.
The best tattoo shops on Oahu are:
- Monarch Tattoo Studio
- Tattoolicious Tattoo
- Rock Star Tattoos & Piercings
- Lilium Tattoo
- Soul Signature Tattoo
- Sacred Art Tattoo Waikiki
- Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing Waikiki
Each shop offers fantastic work and specializes in several unique tattoo styles. Plus, the staff at each of these establishments is friendly and professional.
In the rest of this article, I’ll compare each of these shops in depth. By the end, you should have a clear idea of the best tattoo parlors spread across Oahu so that you can make the right pick based on affordability, location, and expertise.
1. Monarch Tattoo Studio
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 days a week, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Price Rating | 3/5 (Decent prices) |
| Reservation | Friday-Monday (Walk-ins accepted) Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday (Appointments Only) |
| Address | 53-534 Kamehameha Hwy, Hauula, HI 96717, United States |
| Phone Number | (808)-293-7000 |
| Website | https://monarchtattoohawaii.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
If you want to get a tattoo while on the island of Oahu, I recommend visiting Monarch Tattoo Studio. The artists here produce fantastic tropical designs and other types of work. The tattoos are clean and well done. Additionally, this shop has fantastic reviews and often works with tourists looking to get a tattoo depicting their time on the island.
This shop is located close to the beach. It’s clean and nicely decorated, with incredibly friendly staff. Many of Monarch Studio’s clientele are return customers who visit during yearly vacations to get () work done there.
One of the artists, Laura, specializes in contemporary Polynesian and floral tattoos. She also does scar cover-up tattoos and large tattoo projects. The other artist, Mike, has studied most tattoo styles but enjoys Polynesian-style tattoos and sea creatures. They both are open to doing big tattoo projects.
Monarch Studio does accept walk-ins; however, appointments are preferred. Setting up an appointment for a consultation is always a good idea, especially if you want to get a more complicated project done.
Plus, it’s just good manners to let the artists know you will drop by ahead of time.
2. Tattoolicious Tattoo Waikiki
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 Days a Week, from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm ( Expect Sundays from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm) |
| Price Rating | 3/5 (Decent prices) |
| Reservation | Walk-ins entertained |
| Address | 1909 Ala Wai Blvd C1, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States |
| Phone Number | (808) 949-8287 |
| Website | https://www.tattoolicious.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Instagram. |
Another excellent option for getting tattooed while on Oahu is Tattoolicious Tattoo. This shop is a larger shop with several accomplished tattoo artists. Tattooliscious has been in business for over 20 years and prides itself on quality artwork.
This shop is luxurious in its layout and decor since it’s been newly renovated. A coffee shop is also attached to the building, where you can enjoy a cup or other treats while waiting for your appointment.
Each artist employed at Tattoolicious specializes in a unique style. There is an artist for every idea and tattoo you can think of. Plus the staff is friendly and professional.
However, to get tatted here, you must first fill out an application and set up a consultation. Apart from this, the rest of the procedure is seamless.
3. Rock Star Tattoos & Piercings
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 Days a Week, From 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm |
| Price Rating | 3/5 (Decent prices) |
| Reservation | Walk-ins Entertained, But Sundays are Appointment Only |
| Address | 841 McCully Street, Honolulu, Hi 96826 |
| Phone Number | (808) 791-7879 |
| Website | https://www.rockstarhawaii.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
Rock Star Tattoos has been in business on Oahu since 1999 and happily tattoos tourists and locals. The staff at this tattoo shop are friendly and highly talented, offering an array of tattoo styles. All artists are also licensed by the State Of Hawaii, and they adhere to strict sanitation protocols to keep their clients safe.
Rock Star specializes in these types of tattoos:
- Tribal bands
- Anime
- Lettering
- Realism
- Portraits
- Polynesian
- Asian/ Japanese body art
- Custom work
- Coverups
Along with being an excellent tattoo shop, Rock Star also offers piercings.
One of the artists, Conor, has been tattooing for over 10 years and is known for his exceptional line work. Also, he specializes in several tattooing styles, like full-color or black and gray tattoos. Plus, he has been piercing for over 20 years.
In contrast, Hu, one of the other artists, specializes in vibrant fantasy pieces and is fantastic at realism tattoos. He has been creating this kind of artwork for over 14 years.
4. Lilium Tattoo Hawaii
| Hours of Operation | Open Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Closed on Sundays and Mondays |
| Price Rating | 4.5/5 (Pretty expensive) |
| Reservation | Necessary (Appointments must be made by contacting the artist you wish to work with.) |
| Address | 925 Maunakea St. Unit F, Honolulu, HI 96817 |
| Phone Number | (808)-200-4381 |
| Website | https://www.liliumtattoo.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
Is it a vacation to Hawaii without coming home with a brand-new tattoo? Well, if you happen to be on the island of Oahu, there is another tattoo studio that you should check out while you’re there.
Lilium Tattoo does some fantastic work; all artists specialize in slightly different art styles. Additionally, the shop is adorably decorated and the staff extremely friendly. The shop was created in honor of the owner’s daughter.
Additionally, the shop is located in the heart of Honolulu’s Chinatown, which means it’s close to entertainment, art, and good food.
To get tattooed at this shop, you will need to set up an appointment so the artists can work on your design and understand the exact style you’re looking for.
5. Soul Signature Tattoo
| Hours of Operation | Monday to Saturday, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Sundays Closed |
| Price Rating | 4/5 (Pretty expensive) |
| Reservation | Appointments Only. (No Walk-ins) |
| Address | 1750 Kalakaua Ave. #3303 Honolulu, HI 96826 |
| Phone Number | (808) 330-5612 |
| Website | http://www.soulsignaturetattoo.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
Next up is Soul Signature Tattoo. This shop is located in Chinatown, one of the busiest parts of Honolulu. The tattoo parlor has fantastic reviews from locals and tourists who have frequented their shop.
The shop initially opened in 2004 and has been going strong ever since. Soul Signature has several artists to choose from, offering a wide array of tattoo types.
Soul Signature specializes in these tattoos styles:
- Asian
- Black and gray work
- Neo-tribal
- Fine lines
- Portraits
- Polynesian tattooing
6. Sacred Art Tattoo Waikiki
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 Days a Week, from 10:00 am to 12:00 am |
| Price Rating | 4/5 (Pretty expensive) |
| Reservation | Walk-ins Entertained |
| Address | 1831 Ala Moana Blvd #204, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 |
| Phone Number | (808) 955-0323 |
| Website | https://www.sacredartwaikiki.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
Another excellent option for getting tattooed in Oahu is Sacred Art Tattoo. This studio is located in the bustling city of Honolulu, right near the beach. They accept both appointments and walk-in clients.
The shop offers an array of unique designs and does exceptional work. Sacred Art offers many different styles, from cartoon-like drawings to realistic-looking flowers.
However, if you want to get a large or complex piece done, call ahead and make an appointment.
The artists here are fantastic at creating beautiful art that will last. Plus, they are friendly, and the environment is excellent.
7. Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing Waikiki
| Hours of Operation | Open 7 Days a Week, from 10:00 am to 10:00 am |
| Price Rating | 4/5 (Pretty expensive) |
| Reservation | Walk-ins Entertained |
| Address | 2132 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815 |
| Phone Number | (808) 924-7460 |
| Website | https://skindeeptattoowaikiki.com/ |
| Social | Connect on Facebook. Connect on Instagram. |
Finally, there is Oahu’s oldest tattoo shop, Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing. This family-owned business has been open since 1979 and still offers fantastic service. Additionally, they also offer piercings.
This studio employs several artists with fantastic talent and all specializing in different tattoo designs. Many of these quality artists have been tattooing for years, and each has an extensive portfolio of their work you can look at online.
The shop offers the following tattoo types:
- Line work
- Realism
- Black and gray
- Fine line work
- Traditional
- Portraits
- Japanese
- Lettering
- Custom pieces
They’re generally open seven days a week, and you can easily book an appointment online or by calling the shop.
