| One of the biggest and hottest growing trends in | | | | this great food that is really American. They have |
| the art of tattoo design is Hawaiian arm or leg | | | | fried chicken and apple pie that is the best." Well, |
| band tattoos. As this trend goes a lot of people | | | | at first you would be excited right? Sure it would |
| think to themselves, well of course. At least that | | | | be nice for a good home cooked meal if you |
| is what I said to myself at first. You can hardly | | | | have been out of the US for a long time. |
| drive more then 10 minutes on the freeway in | | | | However once you get there you see the place |
| southern California where I am from and not see | | | | has really tacky and awful reproductions of 50's |
| a big SUV like a Lincoln Navigator or a Cadillac | | | | art and the all the food tastes kind of strange. It |
| Escalade and not see a Hawaiian sticker. Things | | | | would probably bee kind of close or resemble |
| with flowers designs, or turtles, dolphins. Ya see it | | | | what you were thinking of but it would be missing |
| started off with the sticker and then the car seat | | | | something or a few key ingredients. I bet this |
| covers with hibiscus flowers everywhere and it | | | | would leave you feeling a little sad and like your |
| just grew from there. | | | | culture was not totally understood. |
| This trend of Hawaiian design has then met it's | | | | Well, I can not speak for you and maybe you will |
| match with the whole tribal tattoo movement. | | | | feel different but I was pretty sad when after |
| Tribal tattoos have been the hottest thing in the | | | | staying in Japan for 3 months I was invited to a |
| tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school | | | | 1950's classic hamburger joint. When we got there |
| WWII era Hula dancer. You see these influences | | | | it was Elvis with a funny accent playing on the |
| have been all around us for a long time my | | | | jukebox and when my hamburger came it had a |
| grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos | | | | fried egg on top of it with teriyaki sauce. WOW |
| still. Granted it is a little saggy and faded now but | | | | what a surprise that was for me. I kind of felt |
| he still has one on his forearm nonetheless. | | | | weird about being in the place that had tried to |
| So the whole tribal tattoo and the growth in | | | | recreate something from my own culture. |
| interest for Hawaiian designs have combined to | | | | So, the same controversy rolls on in the world of |
| make a hot and growing market for Hawaiian | | | | tattoos. Anytime you get a tattoo design from |
| tattoos. This is really an up and coming thing and | | | | another culture just make sure you go with a |
| it not huge yet. However many tattoo artists are | | | | professional. Do not have your friend trace out |
| spotting the trend and jumping on it already. | | | | some Kanji in a book for a tattoo and don't go |
| Of course there is a lot of controversy on this | | | | and rip some design of the internet because it |
| subject also like anything. If you look on the | | | | states that it is Hawaiian. Go to a real custom |
| internet there is a controversy about getting Kanji | | | | tattoo designer and have them do the research |
| and Japanese Tattoos also. Anytime you try and | | | | and come up with some designs. After all this is |
| take the designs of a culture and do not depict | | | | going to be on your body for the rest of your life |
| them accurately it creates a sense of | | | | and since Hawaiian arm band tattoos and leg |
| bastardization or what I call the "Disney Effect" | | | | tattoos are typically big it will be a significant |
| towards the culture. I mean how would you feel if | | | | investment in pain, time and money to get the |
| you were in China and someone said, oh you | | | | thing done. So you should consult with a |
| should try this hot new restaurant out it serves | | | | professional and get top notch work done. |