Since 2012, I've been quite addicted to the "new norm" of tattoo artistry on my skin. What started out as a small, insignificant desire as a high schooler became a newfound obsession to express different standards of beauty and creativity with a touch of physical pain.
"Pain is temporary," I said once to a friend who shared the same love and excitement for tattoos I did. He replied with a thought-provoking idea that there is more of an appreciation in our lives when we do not feel pain. Once the pain of getting a tattoo is over, there is relief, and we realize how lucky we are to feel this relief more substantially in our lives than we feel that physical pain. It was truly the starting point of our friendship and it created between us a deeper connection, something I have also shared with other tattoo-lovers I've met after him.
So I want to share my tattoos with you! My tattoos have become an integral part of who I am today, and I'm always happy to show them to anyone who can appreciate what they mean to me and the talent from the artists who inked me!
First tattoo: Lightning bolt by Travis at his house (Hawaiʻi) on August 4, 2012
Cost: $0
Pain: 0/10
My first tattoo didn't mean much to me until a few months after I got it. I had always wanted a lightning bolt, for reasons still mysterious to me, when I was in high school. It was the only tattoo I ever got when I was in a relationship, and after the relationship ended, it symbolized the strength I had to overcome that silly (but not so silly at the time) heartache. It also represented the energy I had in high school, and how that energy developed as I entered college and found out more about myself. Those closest to me know I can be a handful at times, and it goes to show that I didn't lose myself after the relationship, but just became more in touch with the personality I had before which everyone got to know and love.
Because it is my first, I've had a strange attachment to lightning bolts ever since. I have always enjoyed lightning storms, but after I got this tattoo, the storms felt more connected to me. I just hope that I didn't tattoo a target on myself and won't get punished by nature because of it!
Second tattoo: Big Island by Paul at his house (Hawaiʻi) on December 18, 2012
Cost: $0
Pain: 4/10
You're not really local unless you show Hawaiʻi pride in some way, shape, or form. That goes for tattoos as well! The Hawaiian island chain is a popular tattoo in Hawaiʻi (for locals and tourists) and I have seen many different versions that are unique and inspiring, while some were plain and blocky. This tattoo I drew myself, and the artist who inked me made sure to get the details that I put in exactly how it was drawn onto my skin. This was another free tattoo that I got from a high school friend's dad, who was tattooing on the side. My goal is to create the Hawaiian island chain with my own designs based on my experiences on that island. I've been to Oʻahu and Māui, and I can't wait to figure out how they'll look on me. As for what I have now, there's no doubting I love this island most, it being my home, where I grew up, and where I see myself raising my own family some day. It's a rough picture, I know, but there's a heart in the middle of the island, along the Hāmākua coast where the drive from Hilo, the town I reside in currently, to Waimea, the town I grew up in, shares beautiful ocean views and waterfalls, and some cows in between.
Third tattoo: Skull and lotus by Delshey at
Eastern Classics Tattoo (Hawaiʻi) on March 18, 2013
Cost: $250
Pain: 6/10
And thus became the birth of my annual "Spring Break Tattoo" with my third tattoo, my first BIG one and my first colored, during Spring Break week in 2013. My original concept was a 2-D lotus with a cute skull on top that had a bow on her head. Delshey, my cousin-in-law's good friend, designed my tattoo with my concept in mind and made a brilliant version of what I originally planned. He made the lotus come to life and made a sugar skull tattoo to add some character. I had been going through a rough time when I drew this coming-of-age tattoo; the lotus represented the purity and innocence of youth, while the skull represented the reality, the "stain" on what was once youthful, but the way the art works together shows that youth and experience can still be hand-in-hand in harmony.
With the sketching and the final color touches, it took about 3 hours to finish, and this one was messy. There was some blood during the session (and after), and the pain was immense. All-in-all, it turned out to be one of my favorite tattoos.
Fourth tattoo: Sun, moon, stars, and lyrics by Brady at 202 Tattoo (Hawaiʻi) on June 23, 2013
Cost: $45
Pain: 7/10
I had been meaning to get some lyrics on my skin for a while before I actually did it. My first tattoo was supposed to be something more uplifting, since at the time I was shifting my mind to a more optimistic outlook in order to live a better and more fulfilling life. My cousin called one day saying she was coming to Hilo so we can get our tattoos done together. I sat at the table coming up with an idea and drew this doodle, but wasn't satisfied. Then I added the lyrics that I'd been wanting to get separately onto this design, and there we have it! After five minutes of rushing thoughts, I got it permanently inked. The lyrics are from The Pretty Reckless song "
Light Me Up," which is inspirational and gives a positive and self-aware message. And the doodles are pretty simple. I'm a nature heaux; I love the sun, stars, and the moon. I think and do better when I've seen/felt sunlight, I love looking at the stars at night, and the moon calms me.
Let me tell you about pain... this only took roughly 10-15 minutes, but I swear it felt like a tiny chainsaw with a vengeance was searing my skin with the heat of a thousand suns.
Fifth tatttoo: "Vital" by Connor at
Rock Star Tattoos & Piercings (Oʻahu) on September 14, 2013
Cost: $75
Pain: 4/10
No, I did
not spell my last name wrong! "Vital" is the most important part of my last name, and its Latin meaning is "of or manifesting life." I always like to tell people that the world would cease to exist were it not for my family, since we are the most
vital people on the planet. I got this on my 21st birthday, which makes it even more special. It was my first birthday away from home (also the most important age in America) and I thought the significance of my surroundings made it more special. Plus, the typewriter font has always been something I wanted to use, and it may not be my last time using it.
Sixth tattoo: Flower mandala by Keahi at
Tattoos by Butler (Hawaiʻi) on March 28, 2014
Cost: $150
Pain: 5/10
My second Spring Break tattoo, and another big one with flowers. What can I say, I'm a creature of habit. I remember sitting down on a bench in the afternoon, waiting for another class to start, and suddenly drawing this mandala piece. It was fun to draw, and I knew immediately that it would become another permanent piece. I hadn't realized it was a mandala until I went into the shop to get it done. I just thought it was a geometic flower shape, but I was happily surprised that it had its own name. The artist gave some character to the leaves and did the shading, and the rest is history. This one is a favorite for other people, and I'm glad they can admire my own artistry as well as the artists'.
Seventh tattoo: Tiny lotus by Angel at
Tattoos by Butler (Hawaiʻi) on July 22, 2014
Cost: $50
Pain: 0/10
What did I say about being a creature of habit? Same shop, different artist (still haven't gotten one done by Butler himself, but hopefully soon!). And yes, another lotus tattoo. I truly do love what the lotus represents, which, to me, is purity, innocence, rebirth, and beauty. I got this tattoo with a friend; something simple since I wanted to take a break from the big ones. If it were up to me (and my fund$), I'd have a ton of little simple tattoos. They're cute! This one took a total of 2 minutes. I barely even knew when he started and stopped.
Eighth tattoo: Paramore lyrics by Douglas at
Tattoo Hawaii (Oʻahu) on February 28, 2015
Cost: $45
Pain: 6/10
If you've known me for a long time, you'll know that Paramore is my favorite band. I had been wanting a lyric of theirs for the longest time, and this was the best fit for me. I advocate self-help and self-love to others who seek advice from me, and this lyric, "Fall in love with yourself," is literally my
motto. This may not be my last Paramore lyric, but a lot of their song lyrics have definitely helped me through some low times, especially their last self-titled album after the band lost its two founding members. This is a reminder for me to always put myself first and to keep striving for abundance and success in healthy ways.
Ninth tattoo: Virgo naked lady by Miranda at
Gas Monkey Tattoo (Māui) on March 28, 2015
Cost: $220
Pain: 9/10
My last Spring Break tattoo that ended my last semester as an undergraduate student. I wanted to go all out on this one. Unfortunately, it wasn't my exact concept, but I'm definitely adding onto it so that it can reach its maximum aesthetic. I thought it was fitting for my first female tattoo artist to put this delicate and feminine tattoo on me. I remember telling my friend that, since I'm adding a naked lady on my body, it might as well be during my college years. That way, I can blame college for being so bold, but there are definitely some things in this tattoo that can speak to me in all walks of my life. You can see she has the Virgo zodiac sign on her thigh where I have my own tattoo. I don't know if I made her in my image, but I did make sure that the artist made her boobs tiny so the tattoo would better fit the wearer. On her other leg is the Mercury sign, which is the ruling planet of Virgo, and floating in her hand is a leaf and the Earth symbol. It's not that noticeable, but the shading of her underboob is also the mutable sign of Virgo. You can see I have a lot going on here, but there's still more I'm learning about being a Virgo, as well as astrology itself, and I'm not done with this tattoo just yet. My mother still doesn't know about this one, so I'm trying to hide it for as long as I can before I give her a heart attack!
~~~
I have never cried during a session and don't intend to. Whenever I get inked, my mind wanders into a dark hole and I become expressionless and in the zone. I can make light talk now and then, but I have to be completely motionless and undistracted in order to deal with this kind of pain. But when it's over, I am filled with so much relief that I swear to myself I'll never get another tattoo again. Never happens, though. The more tattoos I get, the more experience I have with pain levels, so what I have written down may change.
In any case, the most important thing to do if you're planning on getting a tattoo is to DO YOUR RESEARCH! Look at reviews and artwork before deciding to get one, have something planned, and ask for healing instructions if you're unfamiliar with the aftercare process. Also, don't forget to tip your artist!
I don't know how long I'll be going at it, but I know I have plenty of untainted skin left on my body, and I still have a growing list of possible tattoos that I haven't crossed out yet.
To be continued...
