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E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center is honored to bring Master tattoo culturalist, Keone Nunes.

Updated: Jun 30, 2021


Aloha kākou! It’s set!


E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center is honored to bring Master tattoo culturalist and native Hawaiian from Wai`anae, Hawai`i, Keone Nunes, to the Washington, D.C. area. He will be here May 11 and 12, 2019 to share his gift of tattoo artistry with people from the DMV area! Keone has been at the forefront of the movement to bring “uhi” - or traditional tattooing - back to the Hawaiian Islands. He has been tattooing for over 25 years and has been using traditional Hawaiian/Polynesian tattoo tools exclusively since 1999.


Depending on the kind of tattoo people want, Keone will tattoo about 10 – 15 people over the weekend. E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center members will receive priority in booking appointments and complimentary registration. Here’s the schedule:

  • Fri., May 10 (6:00PM – 9:30PM): Kaukau and Wala`au (Eat and Talk Story) EHCC member: Free | Non-Member: $15 per person

  • Sat., May 11 (9:00AM – 5:00PM): Tattooing* (If you’re not being tattooed and just want to watch and learn, we ask for a donation to E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center, a 501[c][3] non-profit organization)

  • Sun., May 12 (9:00AM – 5:00PM): Tattooing* (If you’re not being tattooed and just want to watch and learn, we ask for a donation to E Ala E Hawaiian Cultural Center, a 501[c][3] non-profit organization)

NOTE: Location for all three events will be at 251 18 th St., S., Arlington, VA 22202 (Conference Center on Lobby Level)

*Snacks and lunch will be available for purchase


Details | Information

  • Email Ku`ulei Stockman at kuulei@ealaehcc.org with the following details:

o Name, email, phone number and date of birth

o Potential tattoo wanted, e.g., chest, arm, shoulder, full leg

o Native Hawaiians: Provide genealogy as best possible

o Filipinos: Where your family is from or what language they speak

o Other nationalities: Short summary of your family background

  • While Keone primarily does Hawaiian tatau (tattoo), he also does Samoan and Tahitian designs.

  • Designs will be based on information provided to Keone (NOTE: No animal tattoos as, in ancient times, such tattoos were reserved for warriors who carried out any directive given to them by kings and chiefs).

  • Your information will be passed on to Keone, who will then contact you to discuss your tattoo and price.

  • EHCC Members: $50 tattoo deposit (complimentary registration); Non-Members: $75 ($25 registration fee plus $50 tattoo deposit). Keone’s final price will include the $50 tattoo credit (not the registration fee). *An invoice will be emailed to you after all of your information has been received.

  • You will receive a Consent and Release Form, which will need to be filled out and signed. Once we receive it, your full deposit becomes non-refundable. The balance of your cost will be paid directly to Keone Nunes. Keone will give us names and lengths of time required for everyone. We will then contact you to book your appointment. Please plan on being flexible with your date and time since we’ll have to put together a schedule to fit everyone in over a period of two days.

  • We will ask your permission to have people watch you being tattooed. If yes, understand that people will be able to ask questions of Keone while he works. If no, we will honor your request for privacy.

  • Typically, the youngest age is 18, but Keone will tattoo a slightly younger person with parental consent.

  • Age has a lot to do with the placement of a tattoo. For example, as we get older, our skin gets looser, and Keone will not place a tattoo, which will eventually be affected by the passage of time.

Here’s a great article on Keone Nunes.


To purchase tickets to Kaukau and Wala`au (Eat and Talk Story) with Keone Nunes on Friday, May 10, 2019, click here.


If you have any questions, please contact Ku`ulei Stockman at kuulei@ealaehcc.org. Mahalo!

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