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    Islandtat Evolve

    5.0 (237 reviews)
    ModerateTattoo
    Closed Closed

    By appointment only

    Updated 2 months ago

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    Services - Islandtat Evolve

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    Islandtat Evolve Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Islandtat Evolve

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    Meghan R.

    Everything about Island TAT from the talented team, to the lovely decorated shop, to the amazing tattooing, to the positive vibes and energy is the BEST! Josh took the time to get to know me first and freehanded a design on my arm including the unique elements that mean something to me that represented my story. He beautifully orchestrated the most lovely design and every time I look at my tattoo I'm moved and smile. Forever thankful that my path crossed with Josh and Island TAT.

    I wanted to thank Maddy for the awesome work. Thank you for the IslandTat team for being so welcoming.

    The tattoo I was given by Josh

    My tattoo experience with Josh was EXCELLENT! First of all Josh is very caring and wants to provide the best experience. Josh provided: 1. Strong Engagement/Customer Service 2. High level of professionalism 3. High Level of knowledge. 4. Clear Communication Overall-I would strongly recommend Josh as your Tattoist!

    Final outcome!:) very happy with how maddy interpreted my request for my first tribal tattoo.
    Jacqueline G.

    So happy with the entire process here. Emailed the booking manager and was promptly replied to with more than enough info so it wasn't too much back and forth. Once told the artists availability for the ones I had requested I was added to the waitlist and put on the schedule. I emailed a few reference pictures for what I wanted using artist pics from island tat and just a few I found that were similar placement to what i was looking for. The day of my appointment the location was easy to find. Walking in the lobby was so cute, there was different Polynesian art and things that represented the islands. Reggae music was playing not too loud but at a good volume. The decor was cute and clean/simple yet comfortable. My artist was maddy and she came out immediately and got me set up for paperwork and brought me back as soon as I was don't to talk about what I wanted. (Consultation is same day) we discussed why I was there and what I was looking for and discussed my family and more background to my tattoo. It came out better than what I was picturing in my head which is amazing. She was able to interpret my Filipina side as well as my Samoan side with the tribal which is exactly what I was looking for. She was understanding when I was struggling during the session as I haven't ever gotten a big piece like this so it was very reassuring that she wasn't getting annoyed or upset at how I wasn't enjoying the actual tattooing part lol. It was "quick" for how big the piece was and how short the consultation was. Will definitely be recommending this tattoo shop and maddy to anyone who asks about it!!

    Me C.

    You have to go to this Place. The place is so clean, everyone there is so polite, genuine, and with state-of-the-art equipment. My artist was MADDY. She is amazing and so patient. In the beginning, she took the time to know who I am and what I wanted in a tattoo. During the consultation part, she asked about my heritage, kids, my wife, what I do for a living, etc. Unknowingly, the answers I was providing her, she was thinking on what she was going to draw on my forearm. MADDY is so focus on her work, I can see she loves what she does. She is an experience artist, she put so much detail on my forearm, I am very impressed. This is my first tattoo, and I am showing it off to everyone and I am getting plenty of compliments everywhere I go. MADDY THANK YOU SO MUCH I can't wait to get another piece of art from you. I came prepared for a good sitting/laying, I brought my headsets, downloaded a few movies in Netlfix and ready to get tattooed.

    Most recent add on to the wrist tattoo by Maddy (Dec 2023)
    Rachel G.

    I've gone to Islandtat Evolve twice and they never disappoint! The process was pretty easy, just fill out the request form, add some reference photos of what you'd like, and schedule an appointment! Once you're there, explain a little what you're looking for and the artist works their magic to help your vision come to life. I personally shared the reasoning behind my first tattoo and the artist, Maddy, was happy to listen and worked to make sure my tattoo did my story justice. I've gone to Maddy twice and I absolutely love the pieces she's done for me and others as well. Both times her artwork came out beautifully. Side note: don't be afraid to be honest about what you like and don't like about the initial drawings! They want you to love your tattoo and want you to have no regrets about the design. Everything felt like a clean and safe environment, island music was always playing to set the perfect vibe to relax to, and Maddy is super sweet and easy to talk to. I also had the option to watch any of the streaming services they had a on the TV in the studio. These are my first and second tattoos ever and I don't think i'd want to go anywhere else!

    This is the tattoo I'm planning on having them touch up with fresh Ink and sharp detail.
    Bill I.

    Solid reviews I'm having my 808 tatto touched up here. The staff that I spoke to you was very friendly, good vibe, reasonable hourly rates.

    Brittany A.

    My sister and I went to Island Tat in June to get matching tattoos by Kiti Tatau. This was hands down the BEST tattoo experience I've had and my favorite tattoo I have on my body. Kiti made us feel so comfortable the entire time and his work is SO CLEAN. Definitely will be coming back here in the future.

    Tongan tribal going up forearm
    Isa F.

    This review is for Kiti at Island Tat Evolve. Kiti did an amazing job incorporating Tongan designs on our tattoos. He was able to tattoo my sister and I on the same day which we were grateful for. What's great about Kiti is he made sure we understood the meaning behind each pattern. Throughout the process, Kiti would gave breaks when needed and provided snacks to make sure we weren't feeling light headed. Kiti's station was clean. He has a tv for you to watch if you'd like. His attention to detail made our tattoos that much more special. Looking forward to doing more sessions Kiti! Malo aupito! For those that have been looking for a Tongan artist who does Polynesian/Tongan designs, we highly recommend Kiti!

    Melinda L.

    Had the best experience here. Kendall came up with an awesome design and it was exactly what I wanted. He explained all of the meaning and made sure I was comfortable the entire time. The shop was super clean and all of the communication leading up to the appointment was prompt. My new tattoo is healing great and I couldn't be happier. It is small, feminine, and holds meaning unique to me. If you are thinking of getting a piece done here, you should!

    The back side of my leg.
    Keanu H. A.

    I really really enjoyed my incredible experience at Island Tat. If you're in San Diego and looking to get a piece done, Island Tat is the place to go and make sure to see Maddy!! Upon walking in, I was struck by the cleanliness of the studio and also as to how welcoming the space is. With reggae music playing in the background, the Polynesian displays, and the friendly staff, it gives it a beautiful natural warmth to the studio. My vision for my tattoo was to incorporate two cultures, and that being Polynesian and Taino. Not only did Maddy incorporate my ideas and inspirations, but she also added original elements to make it a genuine piece of art and story. Maddy's creativity, and meticulous skills are off the charts!! My tattoo tells a beautiful story, and art that comes to you naturally. My tattoo is really beyond words and the experience was soulful. Mahalo!! Gracias!!

    Thank you to Josh for making this awesome piece that represents myself and the lineage I come from

    Artist - Josh I live 3 hours away from San Diego, but the drive was well worth the work these guys do. I found Island Tat Evolve in November after stumbling on their podcast "TATtalk" after doing some tattoo research. I saw Josh on this and after watching more, and seeing him being a great tattoo artist himself, as well as from the Big Island (where my family comes from), I knew this was the artist I wanted to go to. I walked into the appointment not being exactly sure what I wanted at all, and Josh helped me bring my ideas to life, and visualized exactly what I wanted. The process was smooth, professional, and comfortable all throughout and the final product could not have been any better. If you are looking for top-tier work and top-tier customer service, this is the place.

    Photos were taken by Kiti
    Levi A.

    Will definitely be coming back for more at Island Tat. They were super communicative from the moment I booked, which was months before the actual appointment and going forward they always got back to me in a timely manner if I had any questions. Kiti is an amazing artist who cares about educating you on the the meaning behind every symbol that you're looking to get which is super important and something not a lot of artists do. Super blessed to be able to get tattooed by him.

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    2 years ago

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    Joshawa E.

    Your tattoo came out beautifully! Thanks for choosing us! Mahalo!

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    2 years ago

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    Joshawa E.

    Mahalo from Maddy and everyone here at IslandTAT! <3

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    8 months ago

    Josh is extremely talented and took time to design a meaningful authentic tattoo. I love my sleeve and get so many compliments on it.

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    2 years ago

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    Joshawa E.

    Thanks for the shout-out Genevieve!! Come back to see us again!!!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Islandtat Evolve

    What's the shop minimum?

    Aloha! Our shop minimum is $80. You can email us at islandtat@gmail.com for more information on artists and rates. Mahalo

    Hello.. I've been calling the number to the shop, first time I got their voicemail so I left a call back number but after that it keeps saying I can't leave a message . So I wanted to know if anyone knows if this shop is still open and if you have…

    They just busy. Send them an email they will reply trust me.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Islandtat Evolve

    Kendall is an amazing artist who makes you feel very welcomed and tries his best to make the process go smoothly.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Islandtat Evolve - tattoo - Updated May 2026

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