King ‘Afa is a Pacific Island tattoo artist from Tonga, cultural history, creative director, and art collector, art archivist whose work stands at the intersection of ancient Indigenous knowledge and modern fine art. Raised and trained between South Pacific tropical islands of Tonga and Fiji, he carries a lineage deeply rooted in Pacific Island traditions, navigation history, and ancestral storytelling. His mission is to protect, refine, and elevate the traditional tattoo systems of the Pacific—Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia—and to reintroduce them to the world with cultural precision, artistic integrity, and historical truth.
For more than twenty years, King ‘Afa has worked across the United States—from Bay Area California and Utah to Austin Houston Dallas/Fort Worth Texas ,Chicago, South Beach Miami Tampa Sarasota/Bradenton Florida and the East Coast—bringing Pacific Island tattoo into the global fine-art conversation. He is recognized as the first Tongan tattoo artist and Pacific Island Polynesian Tattoo artist in the United States to receive an official tattoo paycheck at rate of USD$200/hr from a professional tattoo studio Zulu Tattoo in 2006 owned by African American Florida Keys Roni Zulu and his Texan wife Khani, and as a pioneer who helped transition Polynesian and Tongan tattooing from its early 2000s “garage-sale market” into a respected, premium valued art form.
Today, he is one of the leading cultural tattoo artists in the world, specializing in authentic tribal tattoo systems from over 100 Indigenous and ancient civilizations. His work draws from verified academic sources: museum archives, anthropological research, historical field notes, expedition journals, and his own extensive private library.
He does not use Pinterest, Google images, Procreate templates, or AI-generated designs. Every tattoo is a culturally grounded, historically accurate collaboration rooted in thousands of years of ancestral knowledge.
AREAS OF CULTURAL SPECIALIZATION
POLYNESIAN TATTOOS : Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Rotuma, Tahiti, Marquesas, Aotearoa Māori, Hawai‘i, Niue, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Easter Islands Rapa Nui and more.
MICRONESIA: Chamorro (Guam, CNMI Saipan, Rota ), Palau, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Nauru and Kiribati Islands others.
MELANESIA: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia (Kanak), Torres Strait, Australian Aboriginal.
CARIBBEAN INDIGENOUS: Taíno Puerto Rico, Cuban, Haiti Jamaica,, Arawak, Garifuna, Afro-Caribbean symbolism.
AFRICA: Adinkra (Ghana), Yoruba, Maasai, Zulu, San, Dogon, Berber, Nubian, Kongo, Ethiopian Omo Valley, Ancient Egyptian.
ASIA: Japanese and Korean , Iban, Dayak Borneo, Filipino Visayan, Kalinga, Mentawai, Thai, Khmer, Tibetan, Persian, South Asian traditional art.
Meso-AMERICAS: Maya, Olmec, Aztec, Inca, Amazonian tribes, Native North American symbolic systems.
EUROPE: Celtic, Norse Vikings, Slavic, Greek, Iberian pre-Roman symbolism.
This global understanding allows him to create deeply personalized tattoo art for clients from every cultural background, while honoring the sacred protocols of each tradition.
West Los Angeles & San Jose Bay Area + Traveling & Private Appointments Upon Request
I’m based in Los Angeles, California at
Lakimii Tattoo Studio: Instagram @lakimiitattoo
883 Westbourne Dr, West Hollywood, CA 90069
https://www.lakimiitattoo.com/
Unlimited Ink Tattoo
Coral Instagram @cocolynn_
4213 Barrymore Dr, San Jose, CA 95117
Today, he is one of the leading cultural tattoo artists in the world, specializing in authentic tribal tattoo systems from over 100 Indigenous and ancient civilizations. His work draws from verified academic sources: museum archives, anthropological research, historical field notes, expedition journals, and his own extensive private library.
He does not use Pinterest, Google images, Procreate templates, or AI-generated designs. Every tattoo is a culturally grounded, historically accurate collaboration rooted in thousands of years of ancestral knowledge.
This global understanding allows him to create deeply personalized tattoo art for clients from every cultural background, while honoring the sacred protocols of each tradition.
Cultural Tattoo Artist in Los Angeles : Pacific Island, Polynesian Tatau
& Global Tribal Art
King ’Afa is a research-driven cultural tattoo artist based in Los Angeles, specializing in Pacific Island tattoo systems—Polynesian tatau and regional frameworks across Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. His work treats tattooing as cultural structure—pattern, spacing, and symbolism built as a personal visual language tied to heritage, identity, and story.
His tattoo art has been collected by a wide range of clients, including entertainers, athletes, professors, attorneys, medical professionals, first responders, military and law enforcement, union trades, and executive leadership—alongside everyday clients who want meaningful, high-integrity cultural work.
Through decades of study and disciplined design practice, King ’Afa continues to expand the standards of cultural tattooing—creating one-of-one compositions that prioritize authenticity, clarity, and legacy.
Some of King ’Afa’s clientele include:
Two-time Oscars Award-winning film director Mr. Lee Unkrich, known for directing Disney’s Pixar Animation films Coco
and Toy Story 3.
https://youtu.be/lN32yYH9944?si=M10l9aVTiAQAQmyw
Multi-Emmy Award-Winning Producer: Slade Abisor, formerly of Walt Disney, NBC Universal, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Oprah Winfrey Network, TMZ, and Universal Music Group. https://youtube.com/shorts/DyQCNNTZ0Dg?si=O_eC3ro4TXXBEMSl
President of Monoprice, former CEO, former COO,CMO of Rakuten.com Mr Bernard Luthi
https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/bernard-luthi
Kirk Waasdorp
Dutch Dynasty Construction LLC
Valencia, Ca., 91355
661-236-4419
dutchdynasty.kirk@yahoo.com
Contractor License 1011221
Third generation builder with over 35 years experience. The company opened for business in the Santa Clarita Valley in 2016, specializing in paving and construction management.
Current service area and completed projects are located in LA County, San Bernardino County, Riverside and Ventura County
website - https://www.thedutchdynasty.com/
YouTube show Just Kidding star, actress, powerlifter, and model Geovanna “GEO” Antoinette
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSxBLcBHYMM
HoumaTala Taloa : T & S Aviation - Aircraft Engineer Inspector at https://www.brph.com/portfolio-items/phoenix-mesa-gateway-airport-maintenance-repair-and-overhaul-mro-facility/ for https://www.gulfstream.com/en/
Cori Elwood Reptile Biologist Wild Life Preservationist, RoundUp Rattle Snakes
https://www.coriscritters.com/documentary-projects.
Kerri McCoy is a Southern California-based pool and outdoor-living executive with 30+ years of experience, known for guiding high-end, one-of-one backyard builds from concept through completion. She serves as President of Ohana PoolScapes and Derian Construction, leading teams that specialize in custom outdoor entertainment spaces where every design is tailored to the client and executed with precision detail. (Ohana Poolscapes)
Her companies’ work has been featured in HGTV’s Landscaper’s Challenge and publications including Architectural Digest, Sunset Magazine, Watershape Magazine (including Water Shapes), and Los Angeles Times Magazine (Home Design Issue). She was also most recently featured in The World’s Greatest Pools. (Ohana Poolscapes)
Websites :
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Ohana PoolScapes: https://ohanapoolscapes.com/
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Derian Construction: https://www.deriangc.com/
Nigerian-American comedian and actor Godfrey. https://youtu.be/N1SKouw7AVk?si=Ju--eUCPX64gBO4z
Juliette Jones Chief Operating Officer Alamo Records/Sony Music Entertainment,
former SVP Urban Promotion Warner Bros. Records/ https://variety.com/2022/music/news/alamo-records-juliette-jones-1235153850/
former Atlantic Records Executive VP Urban Promotion/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/atlantic-records-exec-vp-juliette-jones-leaving-label-1234961616/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/atlantic-records-exec-vp-juliette-jones-leaving-label-1234961616/
Brazil fitness Diva and Cover Model Bella Falconi’s husband Ricardo Maguila https://www.instagram.com/bellafalconi
Jordis UNGA, the first Pacific Islander/Polynesian music artist to appear on America’s reality television shows INXS Rock Star and The Voice. https://youtu.be/uVnTfZFP4yU?si=Z1B67ouwCoMOSRK9
Film Director Michael Vaughn Hernandez https://directorvaughn.com/
Blake Bryant; Executive Vice President, Communications @ Warner Bros. Discovery | Emmy AwardWinner https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakebryant/
Mkristo Bruce former NFL defensive end from Seattle who played at Washington State University and played for the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and appeared in a regular-season game with the Jacksonville Jaguars, mortgage leader and entrepreneur—running Team Bruce Mortgage and co-founding The Buffalo Gym, active pilot, earning his private pilot certificate and continuing to build advanced flight skills.
Websites
Scott Stout CEO MedVector Clinical Trials Health Consultant https://voyagela.com/interview/meet-scott-stout-medvector-clinical-trials-west-side/ https://www.medvector.com/
Fashion & Shoe French Designer: Jean Michel Cazabat https://footwearnews.com/shoes/womens-footwear/jean-michel-cazabat-aera-luxury-vegan-shoes-1202815588/
website: https://www.instagram.com/cazabat/?hl=en
Wayne Best, former New Era Cap Global Director and Consumer Marketing, Formerly 47 Brand VP Global Marketing Chief Brand Officer | VP Marketing | Entrepreneur | Sports & Fashion Leader | adidas, New Era, '47
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-best/
Drew Cantor:CFO @Superfan Live/ Former Tour Producer/ Senior Director of Live Nation Entertainment/ Former Tour Director AEG Live; Kiss Tour, JLO Tour, Black Eyed Peas Tour. Experienced Live Events & Touring Executive with expertise in Music Management, Production Management, Tour Management, Marketing Strategy and Finance.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-cantor-57b650a/
American Samoan Celebrity Security Professional Tadao Salima whose worked with Guns and Roses, and Travis Barker of Blink 182
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wilmer-valderrama-repays-best-friend-151000258.html
Luis Labrador; Walt Disney Animation Studios Modeling Supervisor/Artist/Craft Leader / Artist / Public Speaker / Mentor at Walt Disney Animation Studios https://www.linkedin.com/in/labradorluis/
Executive Producer Kurt Sutter of the American drama motorcycle club TV series Sons of Anarchy, with his Polynesian tattoo visible on character Otto in the prison cell. https://youtu.be/laSTo7N_mbA?si=5bwpKsRGrPKR9GVC
Matthew Aloisi: Traffic Manager, Commercial Marketing Ops at Disney, Former Programming Coordinator at FOX Broadcasting Company https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-aloisi-3345986a/
Fiji Rugby 7s Legend and Coach: Tomasi Cama tattooed in 2001 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
https://youtu.be/XlY7MJ1BY1c?si=CZtlFzDJStP6Vj4M
Son/Manager KB White of the legendary founder Maurice White of Earth Wind and Fire
https://youtu.be/god7hAPv8f0?si=tem6pzg48f5F99yU
Late Australian millionaire podiatrist businessman Philip Vasyli’s son Aaron Vasyli
https://www.9news.com.au/world/donna-vasyli-sydney-woman-fights-retrial-over-murder-of-millionaire-husband-in-bahamas/d94bfc8c-d76e-4a25-ae2c-f15ac2c1d1d7
Tim Wayne Medvetz: Founder of Heroes Project, former Hells Angels and Mount Everest mountaineer
https://youtu.be/Fez0t75dtoY?si=sfPU1PQLvgfa42EN
Will Smith's Makeup Artist Judy Murdock. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=600058907149454
Celebrity Hair Stylist Anthony Morrison https://youtu.be/DJI9DJyzn2s?si=hQ2NJEbKmGAb-MKP
Celebrity Makeup Artist Marissa Vosenn https://www.instagram.com/marissavossenmakeup/
Otto von Stroheim Author/Disc Jockey/Publisher/Promoter Producer of Tiki Oasis the original and largest Tiki Event in the world. Curated Tiki Art Now catalogs https://www.tikioasis.com/
Entertainment and Resort Architect and Designer Greg Lyon. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyongreg/
Mike Pascua, Commercial Counsel at TikTok, formerly Axiom Attorney/Commercial Counsel at Google, formerly Legal Counsel THX Ltd, former Vice President Legal and Business Affairs at IMAX, formerly Worldwide Business Affairs Home Entertainment at Paramount Pictures, former Senior Counsel Motion Pictures Domestic Marketing at Walt Disney Company, former Director, Business and Legal Affairs at NBC Universal Inc, former Director Licensing at EMI Music. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepascua/
Hip-Hop Platinum Music Producer American Samoan Uce Lee aka Poly Boy https://youtu.be/bRChz-OYi9o?si=6qHEfBIeC1VRl8n1
Zoe McLellan, American actress, Is My Daughter Really Dead (2019) American TV series JAG(2001 - 2005) American drama series Dirty Sexy Money ( 2007 - 2009) NCIS: New Orleans (2014 - 2016) Designated Survivor ( 2017 - 2018 ) Deadly Honeymoon ( 2010) The Wrong Girl ( 1999) https://youtu.be/b2-IsLgjm7s?si=mp-CkNjSegsK2kKr
American Tongan Mexican Stefanie Annika Bolaños-Mataele https://youtu.be/nxoUSib49bg?si=yiFcDNQxSE_ORsiN
Brazilian world records Skydiver, Stunt performer, and cinematographic Producer Mr. Luigi Cani https://youtube.com/shorts/yfUZ9rg9B70?si=XhA9tgKM3l0n3juE