808 Tattoo was endowed in Hawaii in 2004 by Billy Whitney. Over the years 808 Tattoo has grown to be one of Hawaii’s most honored custom tattoo parlors. Clients drive from near and far to work with their artists. Each of their talented artists has an unusual style that provides their customers with an arrangement of tattoo choices. They take pride in their work and you can believe that their artists will work with you until you are content with your custom artwork.

Come in for a free consultation, walk-ins are appreciated. Billy Whitney was born in Okinawa Japan, where he lived until he was 15 years old. His father moved him to Hawaii where he graduated from Mililani High. After living his whole grown-up life here he can’t imagine living anywhere else but the islands.

He did his first tattoo in 1998. He pretty much sucked it until a guy named Jesse Perrin sat him down and showed him all the ins and outs of tattooing. He instructed him how to make needles, how to properly tune a machine, and most of the basics of tattooing that allowed him to grow into the craftsman he is today.

Late into the year 2000, he commenced working for a guy named Shane Harvey at a shop called Gunpoint. Shane equipped him with a great environment to work in and gave him the freedom to further refine his style. After a couple of years, he apprehended he wanted to be a custom tattoo artist, and as much as he relished working with everyone at Gunpoint (well everyone but one); the street shop atmosphere just wasn’t challenging adequate for him anymore.

After leaving Gunpoint he spent a while in Japan and operated at Coko’s Tattoo where Mako, Ken, and Hiro took him in as a son, and for that, he will always be thankful. They also shared with him their knowledge and expertise in concerns about Asian art and tattoos. He learned more than he could’ve ever dreamed! After returning from Japan, Brian Takishita (from Gunpoint) and himself decided to open up 808 Tattoo. We are attempting to make this shop a comfortable custom tattoo parlor for earnest collectors, as well as for those who see tattoos as true artwork.