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How It All Started

Authentic Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian Tattoos | 30+ Years of Cultural Experience | Custom Pacific Island Tattoo Designs

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At Kalia Tattoo Studio, we do more than tattoos—we create legacy.

 

Each tattoo is a one-of-a-kind composition drawn from ancestral traditions, visual language, and Pacific Island storytelling.

 

Designed with integrity and deep respect, our tattoos reflect your identity, history, and heritage.

 

🌀 What Makes Us Different

Over 30 Years of Cultural Experience in Pacific Island Tattoos and Art

We don’t follow trends. We follow tradition.

 

Every design is informed by decades of practice, participation, and research across Pacific Islands of  Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.

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✍️ Work That Speaks CultureEvery tattoo from Kalia Tattoo Studio is custom-made—never repeated, never templated.

 

 Each design is crafted with ancestral respect, island-specific symbolism, and abstract storytelling unique to Pacific Island composition.

 

“I do not replicate tribal trends. I compose visual archives—one tattoo at a time.” — King ‘Afa

 

📍 Based in Los Angeles | Private Appointments & Travel Tattoo Available

 

🔗 www.kingafa.com | Book your consultation today

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KingAfa - Sitiveni Fehoko from Haano Haapai 2007 decendant of the Lemaki clan from Samoa .

📆 Timeline of Expertise & Cultural Practice
1980s:

  • Participated in Pacific Island & Tonga cultural performances at Tonga National Centre traditional ceremonies across Tonga.
     

  • Began early exposure to Pacific Island rituals, chants, and ancestral wisdom history
     

  • Started collecting Pacific Island & Tonga history books and cultural artifacts from elders and scholars
     

1990s:

  • Engaged in Pacific Island art and performance art dance choreography in Tonga and Fiji
     

  • Started Pacific Island art collection and research library in Suva Fiji
     

  • Cultural training through Pacific Island Studies and ancestral education at the University of the South Pacific in Suva Fiji.
     

1991:

  • Began designing Tongan visual art at Tonga College ‘Atele in TongaTapu, Tonga
     

1997:

  • Started developing custom Art of Tonga design layouts in Fiji and Tonga

  •  Started designing Tongan tattoo art in High school.
     

2000:

  • Studied Malaysia Borneo tribe Blackwork tribal tattoo symbolism while living in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia SouthEast Asia.
     

2001:

  • Began tattoo custom Blackwork Tribal Tattoos in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
     

2002:

  • Started Tongan tattoo (Tatatau) professionally.
     

  • Designed and tattooed Samoan Tattoo Tatau and Marquesan Tattoo Patutiki for clients in the Pacific and U.S.
     

2004:

  • Studied and began tattooing Hawaiian Kakau tattoos
     

2005:

  • Started incorporating Maori tattoo ( Tamoko & Puhoro) and Mangaia, Rarotonga Cook Islands tattoo designs into custom layouts
     

2008:

  • Helped revive Fijian Masi-inspired tattoo design along with Carl Cocker of www.kaliatattoo.com who started a couple years earlier, promoting it when it was still unrecognized by Fijian tattoo artists worldwide and Australia Fijians, Fijian New Zealand and American Polynesians.
     

2008s–Present:

  • Expanded design practice to include:
     

    • Niuean tattoos
       

    • Rotuman tattoos
       

    • Tuvaluan tattoos
       

    • Tokelau tattoos
       

    • Micronesian tattoos from:
       

      • Guam
         

      • Palau
         

      • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
         

      • Federated States of Micronesia (FSM): Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk, Yap
         

    • Melanesian tribal art from:
       

      • Vanuatu
         

      • Solomon Islands
         

      • Papua New Guinea
         

      • Kanaks of New Caledonia
         

      • Torres Strait Islander culture
         

 
 
 

Cultural Artist {Tonga} Polynesian Tattoo Art, Micronesian, Melanesian 

King 'Afa work of tattoo art collection  has graced a diverse range of clientele ranging from entertainment luminaries to everyday enthusiasts, from University/College  Professors, Attorneys, medical doctors, ER nurses, paramedics, US military armed forces, law enforcement officers, prison sheriffs and correctional officers, fire fighters, commercial welders, union construction workers, CEOs COOs, executive producers, directors, and many other affluent professionals.
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Through his diverse pursuits and unwavering dedication, King 'Afa continues to push the boundaries of creativity, leaving an indelible mark on the world of art and beyond.​
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Some of King ‘Afa's Clientele:​

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
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President of Monoprice, former CEO, former COO,CMO of Rakuten.com Mr Bernard Luthi https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/bernard-luthi

YouTube show Just Kidding star, actress, powerlifter, and model Geovanna “GEO” Antoinette
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSxBLcBHYMM

Cori Elwood Reptile Biologist Wild Life Preservationist, RoundUp Rattle Snakes  https://www.coriscritters.com/documentary-projects 
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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
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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
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Film Director Michael Vaughn Hernandez https://directorvaughn.com/

​Blake Bryant; Executive Vice President, Communications @ Warner Bros. Discovery | Emmy Award Winner  https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakebryant/

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/
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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
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Son/Manager KB White of the legendary founder Maurice White of Earth Wind and Fire
https://youtu.be/god7hAPv8f0?si=tem6pzg48f5F99yU
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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
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Celebrity Hair Stylist Anthony Morrison https://youtu.be/DJI9DJyzn2s?si=hQ2NJEbKmGAb-MKP
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Celebrity Makeup Artist Marissa Vosenn https://www.instagram.com/marissavossenmakeup/
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​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/
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Entertainment and Resort Architect and Designer Greg Lyon. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyongreg/
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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/
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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 
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{Fiji - Tonga - Samoa are the oldest Polynesian culture, in the Polynesian society, at 3,000 years old}

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