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Working Class Tattoos

5.0 (44 reviews)
ModerateTattoo
Closed Closed

By appointment only

Updated 3 weeks ago

Services - Working Class Tattoos

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Recommended Reviews - Working Class Tattoos

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Casey T.

Clean shop. Knowledgeable and skilled tattooer that provides creative collaboratives for unique and well done tattoos. Convenient location in a good neighborhood. The best. Always a privilege to visit Steven and get tattooed.

Susan I.

I took a very long time trying to search for and select a Tattoo Artist and was very fortunate to have chosen the absolute most Best Tattoo Artist ever, Steven Lam owner of Working Class Tattoos. He is amazingly talented and a true professional. Everything he does is so well thought out and he helped me every step of the way with great patience. He was very honest and straight forward and guided me regarding design, size, placement, colors and after care and he answered all of my many questions without ever making me feel uncomfortable. I could not be any more happier with the outcome. His studio which he built himself is stunningly beautiful, and very unique. The area that his business is in is very convenient, lots of parking all around and none of the congestion as in waikiki or the downtown area. I felt well cared for and am now super spoiled and would not ever want to go anywhere else. If you want a great experience and want to have some amazing work of art on you, see Steven, you will be so pleased and happy as I am. Thank you Steven. I love my tattoos.

Frank R.

A tattoo at Working Class is unlike any other I've ever had. This man, this professional, transcends his craft. You become his friend instantly in a respectable manner. His private shop offers you intimacy, where your voice and idea is highly valued. You're not an ordinary customer here. You're more than a guest. If you're looking for a unique exceptional experience for your first tattoo or your 20th. Steven Lam will deliver a service like no other. Words fail to boast his skill. This man will patiently work with you and unite his vision with yours to bring you the most perfect tattoo possible. If you enjoy nosy settings, and inconsiderate obnoxious banter, this isn't the place for you. If you're looking for a place that will value you with Hawaiian Aloha; this home eagerly awaits your next tattoo. Getting this tattoo before my departure from this island solidified my entire experience here in Hawaii. I hope that you, whomever you are, may consider this place, this professional artist. They say actions speak louder than words, but here words and action become one.

The top rose and vintage key with chain is Steven's work. He added a leaf to the bottom rose to make things go together more.
Joeleen C.

My husband, sister-in-law and myself booked appointments with Steven. But this review will be solely based on my experience. After combing through all the different tattoo places in Honolulu, we decided we definitely wanted to set up an appointment with Steven/Working Class Tattoos. All his reviews, (yelp: "working class tattoos" too..) were great and consistent. Working Class Tattoos moved to a new location. Which was cool since the new place seemed like a shorter drive from Waikiki and the building had a dedicated parking lot. The studio was nicely decorated and clean. Pretty cool artwork is displayed on the wall, along with shelves of design books. The big plus: good old school music played throughout our visit. Onto Steven.. He is an overall very chill (and professional) guy to work with. The day of our appointment, we came a little early to go over fonts and designs. Steven was very patient with our ideas. I wanted to change up what I had originally wanted, and Steven quickly readjusted things for me. He worked on my husband and sister-in-law's pieces first. They came out great and exactly what they wanted. My husband got his last name tattooed on his bicep. I noticed that Steven had a really good eye, when he brought up that the design was slightly off due to regular arm movement. He considered the placement really well and took different factors into consideration and gave his opinion before the session started. Other places, the moment you tell them it's good with you, they would most likely go with it and not care much. Steven was quick and kept his work station extremely clean and organized between sessions. Now for my piece! I picked a rose and vintage key with a chain for mine. I already had a rose near the area I wanted the two pieces to connect somehow. Steven worked with it and was able to make it all come together. Even when I kept thinking the design was missing things, Steven continued to give his advice and even free handed designs while the sketch was on me. That was awesome!! The area I got my tatt on was painful (at least for me). Haha! But Steven had a light hand, worked quickly but very efficiently. He always checked on me too, which was nice. His details are amazing!! Steven Lam is a true artist!! I'm so in love with my piece. You can really tell the difference in his work. So glad I went with him. I definitely recommend him for any tattoo needs when you're in the islands. Will most likely go back when I'm in the area. Forgot to mention: I appreciated the "by appointment only" policy. You didn't have random people walking in during your sessions, so there weren't any interruptions and you knew your piece got full attention. THANKS STEVEN!!!

Gino L.

When I first decided to get a tattoo last year, I was skeptical about who I would get inked by. I had a paranoia of someone messing up and leaving something on my skin I would regret for the rest of my life. That all changed.... Going to Steven Lam was one of the best decisions I have ever made in terms of getting a tattoo. He was more than helpful and understanding without making me feel under pressure or that any of my ideas were stupid. Not only is he outgoing and professional, his work speaks for itself and ultimately the term, "you get what you pay for" makes a lot of sense here. You won't be disappointed and you will have a tattoo on your body that you can be proud of and show off to the world. Make an appointment if you want a quality tattoo and a new friend! Follow him on instagram @steventattoos !!!!! I would type more, but the tattoo he just finished on my arm needs to be cleaned :D Thank you for reading and make the right choice for your tattoo needs!!

Finished product honoring mom's Okinawan heritage  including family crest.
John H.

I sought out Steven at the Art & Ink Expo after researching his work. I wanted to do a back tattoo to honor my mom's Okinawa heritage, including the family's crest. Talking to him I knew he was the right guy and made the arrangement to meet at his studio. Because he is the only artist, he takes his time and doesn't rush you like you were at Jiffy Lube. I showed him a rough sketch of what I wanted and he did the rest. His talents showed in his sketches and I was thrilled at what he had drawn up for me. It's very casual and he was patient in laying it out on my back. It took 3 sessions to finish my back and my wife and I love it. I thought his pricing was fair, even cheep at times so I tipped generously as you should for great service. I already have ideas for another tat and you know who will be doing the work.

Steve G.

For a few years, I've been wanting to get a half-sleeve tattoo with something to symbolize my three kids. I had a vague idea of what I wanted (ocean themed, with three sea creatures), but didn't have a clear picture of how to represent them. I've checked out many artists work on Oahu, but nothing really stood out....until I came across Steven Lam. When I saw his previous work, his clean line work is what really set him apart from the rest of the pack. I saw a previous tattoo of his which represented ocean waves, and I knew that's the style that I had been looking for. I booked an appointment for a consultation, but was still hesitant because I didn't have a clear picture of what I wanted. Steven sat down with me and asked me a few questions, then laid out a vision of how he wanted to go. Ultimately, we decided on three goldfish with each colored with my children's' favorite color. Working with Steven is awesome! He has an unparalleled attention to detail and is extremely friendly and professional. While you are in his studio, you are his only focus. My complete sleeve took 12 hours total spread over four sessions, and in all that time, there were zero interruptions. No phone calls, no other customers, nothing! Stevens shop recently moved from Chinatown to his new location on Waialae and he renovated the whole shop on his own. His new place is clean, elegant and quiet. This man is a pure artist and a true master of his craft. If you are looking for an artist who cares about you and has the vision to make your ideal tattoo a reality, do not hesitate to give Steven Lam a call. You wont regret it!

My Hufflepuff tattoo, upper arm.
Stevy M.

My husband and I checked out several websites, artist bios/artwork, and yelp reviews to find the right tattoo shop for us and found Working Class Tattoo. Steven is a wonderful artist and runs a clean, cozy, and respectful shop. My husband was getting his first tattoo and wasn't sure what to expect. Steven made him feel comfortable about the process. He made sure he knew what we were looking for during our consultation, then scheduled an appointment for us in the same week. He works efficiently, while not sacrificing the quality of his work. He seems genuinely passionate about his craft and developing a positive rapport with his clients. We will be returning again, as soon as we figure out what our next tattoos will be. Mahalo nui loa Steven!

Before
Temmy G.

Finally I found best tattoo artist. Steven is a great artist and very professional , friendly , polite gentleman. I really needed to cover up my old tattoo. Steven did for me completely covered beautiful tattoo!! Me and my husband love it so much!! We definitely come back to Steven again!

My original tattoo is the kanji in the frame. Here are the flowers and frame just before Steven started...
Lynette H.

Many words have been written in reviews to describe Steven Lam, owner of Working Class Tattoos, and his work. A few of them include... friendly... amazing artist... honest... true professional... amazing work... you become his friend... collaboration... artistic opinion... clean lines... gentleman... I would like to add that Steven is a man with a humble spirit. The energy that he exudes is calming and comforting yet filled with humble confidence in his vast knowledge of artistic placement, ability to tattoo as if simply drawing on paper and painting on a canvas, and his amazing talent as an artist to draw what it is you want. Whether you have a drawing of what you want...or if you just have an idea in your head... Steven Lam is the artist you want for your tattoo. Those who have had other tattoos done will surely be able to appreciate the quality of one's experience with Steven. Those for whom Steven will be doing their first tattoo...you will have chosen the best person to initiate you into the world of tattoo. The tattoo Steven did for me does not necessarily showcase the breadth of his artistic talent as I simply had sakura and a frame added to a 16 yr old kanji tattoo...but it does showcase what even his simplest work is artistic genius. I have had comments from friends as to how amazing my tattoo looks. I am not one to really post pictures of myself...or even write reviews... but I felt the need to express my appreciation by doing both. If you allow Steven to create and/or do your tattoo, you will undoubtedly be very pleased :) :) :) Thank you Steven!!!

Natalie P.

Steven is awesome! Not only is he a talented artist, but a customer- and service-focused local businessman. I got my first tattoo from him in 2013 and just returned for my second tattoo today. His studio is impeccable and well-designed. He does a great job listening to his clients and verifying that the design is exactly what they want before he begins. His warm and kind personality make it easy to feel comfortable. I love both of my tattoos! Thank you Steven!

In LOVE with my tattoos!
jordan L.

Steven Lam is an artistic genius! He truly has a gift and is passionate about his craft. I trust him whole heartedly with my tattoos and I know he will create something unique for me every time. Such a great location and amazing vibes coming from his work studio located upstairs in his corner building. Everyone needs to be checking out his art, for reals! Steven is very easy to talk to. His studio is well designed and tastefully decorated with tattoo art he has collected over the years. Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

Second audrey Kawasaki inspired piece on thigh
Grace L.

Got my second piece. Absolutely love the artistry and talent, Steven is amazing, he is professional, kind, and amazingly skilled at his craft. I am in awe of his work.

Small script tattoo on forearm by Steven Lam

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Review Highlights - Working Class Tattoos

Steven scheduled a consultation, and he was able to do a quick mock-up of what he thought was possible.

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Tattoo Hawaii - just finished

Tattoo Hawaii

4.7(323 reviews)
3.0 miAla Moana
$$

"I'm wearing short sleeves, I don't want to expose my tattoos."…read more-Jerry Seinfeld Well now I DO wanna wear short sleeves to let my new honu peek out a bit! Been wanting to get a honu ink'd to remind me of where I came from... where home really is. Everytime I go back, I run out of time or just didn't want to give up the beach day. This time the whole fam was IN... when I explained my design concept, both my wife and daughter wanted their own version, still honu themed. da Scene: Determined to get this done done during the 16 day visit back home on Oahu, I did my research early and narrowed it down to 3 spots initially. After some dm's, email exchanges and finally some voice calls, it was Lai @ Tattoo Hawaii who I connected with most, so we scheduled an in-person consult and then our sessions, with 2 days left on our trip - only lost 1 beach day (it was a perfect one too). da Service: Every contact before our session was courteous and replied to promptly. I did have to be insistent on Lai doing our work, even if it meant spanning multiple days. His work on social media and Yelp! most connected with me. At our consult he explained how he would approach my design concept and adapt it to my wife and daughter. Lai was confident he could get us all done in one afternoon/evening session. The shop is tucked away on the 2nd floor of a little building on the corner of Kapiolani and Piikoi... parking is a challenge, so arrive early to wait out a spot. The shop is comfortable and can accommodate 3-4 artists working, with friends looking on in support. da Work: Kai was up 1st as hers would be the least complicated. She went with 3 petroglyph style honu, each about 3.5" diameter, ink'd fairly heavy - vertically on her upper arm, pretty classic design. She has several tattoos already and was surprised that Lai didn't work with a stencil... he simply free-handed the design with several pens, directly on your body. He's a very cool, confident cat, laid back and within minutes has you chatting it up like you went to high school together. I went next as my wife wanted to see how mine's worked out to help solidify her concept. Lai drew a honu/dragon/shark tooth design on my upper arm and I said "go for it". 2.5 hours later I was stunned at the fine details he added to the shark's teeth encircling the honu shell, as well as tribal accents in the honu, while incorporating the dragon profile. It really was satisfying to see my concept executed closely, while adding style and depth, bringing it to life. Carla was last up and really wanted to stick close to what I had done... just smaller and wanted the dragon to "pop" more. As you can see, Lai nailed it... however subtle, the dragon does appear more prominent on her piece. da Wrap: Really happy all-around, already thinking about how to add to it, maybe add color, grow it further down my arm, how to add to the story. It's a very personal thing and I really suggest you take your time to research and find the right artist. I'm confident that you'll find the right one at Tattoo Hawaii. We were there most of the day and saw several folks and artists' work, there was actually one guy there the whole time getting a large whole body piece worked on with a manual tattoo tool, that's an investment! HUGE shout out to Lai for making our sessions so enjoyable and comfortable... When he found out it was my and my wife's 1st work, he said he was honored to be 1st... such a humble guy, great disposition. We'll see you soon brother!

Many things have changed since my 2018 visit so the information in this review can stay relevant…read more I visited last week for a fairly large piece and Lai took care of it like he did with my two other ones. When you arrive remember to fill out the paperwork provided. This could probably be streamlined if it were made available online. Regardless, you can reach out to the shop via social media or even the shop's webpage too. We took multiple breaks on my last visit. What started out as a request for a pueo turned into a session to catch up since pre-pandemic and get back in the chair. Lai free handed the entire piece. I wanted a poly style piece with Lai's style and that's what I got. Very much appreciated for attention to detail. Reach out to the shop via social media and if you want specifics like cost and time, you better be specific about your request too. (i.e. size, color, design, etc). There are so many shops on Oahu and Tattoo Hawaii was the only one that gave me an accurate cost and time frame, not to mention some awesome conversation. Highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed!

Photos
Tattoo Hawaii - 3 honus

3 honus

Tattoo Hawaii - 4-5 hours after and we got back to our room.

4-5 hours after and we got back to our room.

Tattoo Hawaii - Dragon emphasized within honu

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Dragon emphasized within honu

The Ink Pit Tattoo - Navel / Belly $30

The Ink Pit Tattoo

4.7(474 reviews)
5.2 miKalihi
$$

Honestly the best place on the island to get affordable piercings done by Lisa, the prices have…read morebeen the same from the past years I came through 2020-2025. During covid times it was by appointment only but I discovered now in 2025 she does walk ins and appointments via call/text/dm (her IG @lisa_pierce_r) Her business hours of piercing is from Monday to Saturday 12pm-6pm but I still recommend to text her so she knows you're coming in, you can find her number on her Instagram bio or call the tattoo studio. Here's my years of what I got pierced with prices: 2020- Top navel $30 2021- Daith $20 each ear (left & right) 2023- Earlobes for both $40 2025- Rook $20 each ear (left & right) Here's how the session goes. She will ask you for your ID, make you sign a wavier, she will bring you back to the room, cleans the area of your choice, marks the spot where she will pierce and will ask you if you like it or change it. Then she will have you sit or lay on the chair bed, and then she will do her piercing magic. Very quick and smooth experience! Pain level for each piercing: Top Navel 8/10 Earlobes 1/10 Daith 6/10 Rook 6/10 There's no body jewelry there for you to buy, she usually defaults with the plain surgical steel ball and bar. She will give you a paper that has aftercare instructions and it says how long the pain lasts, how long you wait till you can replace the jewelry. They have saline ready for purchase for $5 if you need to clean your piercings! 10/10 recommend this place!

I got a lot of my piercings done here by Lisa! Call ahead to make your appointment!…read more I love how quick she is and she makes the experience super comfortable. All of my piercings have healed nicely and honestly if there's any concern whatsoever, just call her and she'll address them-- Lisa gives it straight and that's all a person can ask for! She provides that peace of mind. All I can say about this place is 10/10 all around. They're all so friendly, the tattoo artists too are chefs kiss!! So so kind and so easy to converse with. Best service hands down! Such good vibes. Mahalo Nui, Ink Pit!

Photos
The Ink Pit Tattoo
The Ink Pit Tattoo - Got a conch and another helix done today, staff were super friendly and the process was quick. will definitely come back.

Got a conch and another helix done today, staff were super friendly and the process was quick. will definitely come back.

The Ink Pit Tattoo - First dermal of 2025 and SO EXCITED !!!

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First dermal of 2025 and SO EXCITED !!!

Black Palette Tattoo

Black Palette Tattoo

4.4(66 reviews)
1.7 miWaikiki
$$
Walk-ins welcome
Locally owned & operated

Got my tattoos done by Veronica, who is only tattooing temporary in Black Palette as she resides in…read moreLA, but sometimes comes to Honolulu. Loved her style, she is a truly artist, designed at the moment what I had in mind combining a few pictures I brought, adapting it to what I was looking for. She is a master of fine lining and micro realism. Place is clean and location is convenient in Waikiki. They have many artists for all kind of different tattoo styles. Highly recommended if you are in the island! Thank you Veronica!

From the moment my daughter and I decided to get tattoos while visiting Hawaii, we were so…read moresatisfied that we found Black Palette Tattoo, located in Waikiki. Easy to find, Black Palette is an absolute spotless parlor that screams "We keep an organized, spotless and efficient operation here and you are in great hands." Manuel was my artist, and was able to accommodate my exact design without any issues. Not thinking about the size, he matched it to my other leg tattoo perfectly and the line work was absolutely incredible. Manuel is a serious artist that knows his business very well and has a proven track record with an amazing portfolio of tattoos - you can feel confident that you will leave Black Palette with art that will turn heads. Healing was uneventful and instructions were provided for aftercare along with additional protective film. My experience was PERFECT from the moment I called to the moment I left the shop.

Photos
Black Palette Tattoo
Black Palette Tattoo - Our clean and modern tattoo studio is located on the 3rd Floor of Waikiki Shopping Plaza.

Our clean and modern tattoo studio is located on the 3rd Floor of Waikiki Shopping Plaza.

Black Palette Tattoo

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Pacific Soul Tattoo

Pacific Soul Tattoo

4.9(50 reviews)
3.6 miKaka'ako
$$

I have been wanting a Polynesian style tattoo for awhile and I did my research before coming to the…read moreisland for vacation. I ultimately chose this shop because the artists here are so talented. It was actually quite hard to narrow it down and choose which artist I wanted to do my ink - they're all crazy talented. But then I fell in love with a design I saw and I selected Brian and sent him an email to begin correspondence. When I arrived in Oahu I went by and we discussed what I wanted and I made and appointment and put down a deposit. My appointment was for Friday 2/9 at noon. Brian had drawn up the design for me that included the elements I asked for and it was even more beautiful than anything I had pictured. He managed to incorporate the ocean sunset design I loved, altered it to include flowers instead of leaves and he worked in the Polynesian element I wanted. He massively exceeded my expectations. The appointment was great. Brian is a skilled tattoo artist, he is very personable and I enjoyed talking with him as he used his 6-7 colors of black and grey to create my tattoo. I am very pleased with the result. Everything he used was new/disposable and he was meticulous in his care of keeping everything as clean and sterile as possible. I highly recommend this shop and Brian.

Reccomended to all!! if i can give more stars i will. got my first Tattoo it came out really Nice…read more Steve is really talented artist , so dedicated to his work! Excellent work Brother! Hope to see you soon again!

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Pacific Soul Tattoo
Pacific Soul Tattoo
Pacific Soul Tattoo

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Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing

Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing

4.5(349 reviews)
1.8 miWaikiki
$$

I had such an amazing experience at Skin Deep Tattoo! From the moment I walked in, Gabby at the…read morefront desk was incredibly welcoming and made the whole check-in process a breeze. My artist, Barbara, was fantastic. She really took the time to listen to what I wanted and executed the piece perfectly. Barbara knew I was emotionally invested in getting this tattoo and I could tell that she enjoyed doing this tattoo. The shop has a great vibe and a lot of history. I highly recommend both of them if you are looking for a tattoo in Waikīkī

Q: How much do pirates charge to pierce someone's ears? A:…read more A buccaneer (a buck an ear)! I yanked my hidden helix piercing out on accident while washing my hair at the hotel. I didn't have the needle to put the piercing back in and since it was still relatively new, I knew the chances of it closing were high, especially since the same thing of my hair yanking the piercing out in the shower had just happened to me the month prior. It was half-closed in less than twelve hours! I had originally wanted to stop off at another spot but their piercer wasn't in. What? So I opened Yelp and found this place a short distance away. I came here and saw Krista and it was amazing. She got me cleaned and my piercing placed back in fast for the low price of $10 (plus tax). She's amazing. Mad love for this cool tattoo and piercing salon in Waikiki. Service is insanely friendly, place is clean, and the vibes are vibing. Five stars!

Photos
Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing - Inside

Inside

Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing - Lyndsey getting inked!

Lyndsey getting inked!

Skin Deep Tattoo and Piercing - Inside

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Inside

Working Class Tattoos - tattoo - Updated May 2026

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