Little Tsunami Tattoo & Art Studio

Rude customer service, tattoo had horrible shading. DO NOT GO!! Ironbridge is the way.

My mom passed away last year and she loved Hawaii. My mom was the strongest and kindest person I have ever known and I wanted a tribute tattoo for her. Chanelle was my tattoo artist. I gave her the general idea of what I was looking for. When I came for my tattoo I had forgotten I needed a butterfly. She seemlessly added it in. She was great throughout and at the end I not only had a beautiful tattoo but I had met a very cool lady who I connected with. I was so glad she could do it during the week we were there. Serendipitous !

Chanel did a beautiful job on my tattoo in September. I have had two tattoos by Chanel in last 4 years and love both of them. I wrote to Chanel when I knew I was going to on Kauai a couple weeks ago. My sister had just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given just a few months to live. I wanted something to show my love for her. When we arrived on Kauai I went in for my consultation. Chanel was wonderful. I brought in several ideas from pintrest but didn’t love any of them. Chanel just talked to me about my sister and I. What we did together just getting some feelings out. She said she had some ideas and would draw up a design for my appointment. It was beautiful, she captured what I felt. I love my tattoo and my sister cried when she saw it. Chanel is an artist that puts emotion into her work. This is the 2nd tattoo by her, my first was a sea turtle with the word Ohana in the outline. My family is the most important thing to me and she gets that. Highly recommend her and the shop!

Chanel did an awesome custom Polynesian design for my wife and Matt designed a tattoo exactly what I had in mind for our 10 year anniversary. They definitely know what they are doing there! Also, I like the fact that there is no flash on the wall. Only custom designs!

We came in to discuss tattoos. Only person there at the time was Rebecca. I left there feeling not exactly welcomed. I can't say she was very friendly. We ended up coming back and I spoke with Kobi regarding my ideas for my tattoo and absolutely loved him. Next day we came back for our tattoos and we were running late and hadn't eaten. Again, Rebecca made me feel like we were inconveniencing them, but Kobi sat down and showed me his drawing and said to take my time and eat and we got started right after that. I was nervous and during my tattoo got super restless legs and back and I squirmed all over the place for 2 of my 4 hours and he didn't make me feel bad. He was calm and had the greatest smile and demeanor. I would absolutely return to visit Kobi again. Absolutely loved him!!!! I'd give the place a 5 star rating if I'd been welcomed with a smile.

They did an awesome job on my 5 family members tattoos over the years and my boyfriends today. They have no problem taking the time they need to do a great job. Acacia did a wonderful job!

We go to Hawaii for our wedding and honeymoon and Chanel tattoed us. She make a very very god job. She's the best and all the team is amazing. Maybe one day we come back and tattoed again. Jessica and Joseba from Spain. Mahalo!!!!

I was introduced to little Tsunami, and Matt Hoyme, by personal referral. I have had this idea for a tattoo amd partial cover up for a while and finally got the inspiration and the motivation to take the next step. I reached out to Matt while he was off for a few days, but while he was away, he took the time to reach out to me and setup an appointment.

I met with Matt quickly after that at Little Tsunami just above east side cafe across from mariachi's in DT Kapaa. The shop is quaint, with a small modestly furnished waiting room, utilizing older antique pieces of furniture. The atmosphere is definitely inspiring. Music is pumping, varies from some hip hop to funk, and Matt greets me with a smile and I begin to relay my vision.

He takes stock of my ideas, I show him the area, the piece we are working over, and give a brief amount of insight, show some pictures, and we set a plan in place. While some might be weary of leaving a deposit, I found it to be an affirmation that this was going to happen. It being 10 years since the last, I could only faintly recollect the situation. I was getting myself into.

While I was amped and ready to go forward, we had agreed to meet to review and sign off on design in two weeks time, and I arrived promptly at our meeting time to review his interpretation of my ideas and was very pleased with his take on my idea. We talked minor revisions and setup an appointment to get this bad boy outlined.

Cut to yesterday...jazzed to the gills, heart a flutter, butterflies and such...mind racing to the last moments under the buzz and sting. I arrived, got prepped (snickers for sugar), outline placed and set upon the table.

Quality Tattoo artists are equal parts magician, surgeon, and mad people! For those I have worked with, what I have always loved is their bed side manor. I felt super at ease, as the needles buzz rang for the first time and he uttered a small bit of humor saying something to the effect of "this is gonna suck!"

He was adept to my needs conversationally and my moments of silence. He was laser focused but also, like myself internally grooving to the vibe of the shop, the music, the surroundings.

3 hours in, we had made some solid headway, outline completed, and he was continually checking in on my stamina, pain tolerance and comfort. We pushed to about 3 hours and I was astonished at the speed of the process, with how intricate the design was.

Stepping up to the mirror, session one in the books, I was floored by the precision, the artistry, the progress. Matt had taken my ideas, my mental images and some how landed them on the canvas of my body. We wrapped up with a pic, and a date for round 2! I will add a second update when we have finished the second session, but let me reiterate for those who are listening...if you need work done and live here, are visiting, whatever...come see Matty Hoyme. Consume professional, down to earth, an amazing artist.

More to come...

Mahalo amd namaste
Matty Matte

Acacia is a great tattoo artist, she makes you feel welcome and will give you the tattoo you are looking for at a reasonable price. If you're looking to get a great tattoo make this where you go.

Awesome experience and tattoos given by Chanel at Little Tsunami Tattoo. I highly recommend them to locals and visitors alike. I know I'll be back for sure!