BRANDON KAHALE
I have always credited my artistic creativity and passion for art to my father, Harry Kahale, who was a talented musician and painter. After he passed when I was 10, I gravitated to anything that would connect me to who he was and what he did. At age 15 I wanted a tattoo like he had, so my mother decided if I did the research and designed the tattoo myself, she would allow me to get it. Little did I know it would be the foundation of what would be a future career in tattooing.
In 2011, I began my apprenticeship at Hiwa Tattoo with my mentor, Jordan Wolfe. Under his teaching, I gained an understanding of the tools necessary to be a successful tattooer. I am grateful to continue to learn and work alongside him. My goal as a tattoo artist is to create works of art on the body that can be recognized from a far. I consider my work to be a bold and modern approach to Hawaiian and Polynesian styles of tattooing and I aim to push boundaries creatively while recognizing the importance of the tradition and culture of my people.