IslandTAT Founder
Joshawa Elsas
Founder and Polynesian Tattoo Artist
Tattooing since 1999 · Chamorro descent, raised in Hawaiʻi
Joshawa Elsas is a Chamorro artist raised in Hawaiʻi who has specialized in Polynesian tattooing and cultural design since 1999. He founded IslandTAT, works freehand on large-scale body compositions, takes on cultural-design commissions, and has published educational work on Polynesian tattooing alongside documented press and collaborations.
- Name
- Joshawa Elsas
- Studio Role
- Founder and Lead Polynesian Tattoo Artist at IslandTAT
- Years Tattooing
- Tattooing since 1999
- Areas of Focus
- Freehand large-scale body composition · Polynesian tattooing · Cultural design commissions · Published educational work
- Rate
- $400/hr — founder and lead artist rate
- Current Booking Status
- Joshawa focuses on large-scale freehand projects — sleeves, chest panels, back and leg compositions — and cultural-design commissions, booked by consultation. Current booking lead time is 3–4 months.
Practicing Tattoo Since 1999
Practicing tattoo since 1999 — from traditional methods to modern freehand Polynesian composition.
San Diego Studio Since 2007
Founded IslandTAT as a Polynesian design and clothing brand in 2003 and opened the IslandTAT tattoo studio in San Diego in 2007.
Freehand Specialist
Every tattoo is drawn directly on the body — no stencils, no copies — ensuring natural flow with each client's anatomy.
Cultural Designer
Polynesian tattoo-based artwork contributed to the 2022 Kona Café renovation at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort; Spiritual Tatau Artist for the Ali'i Nui of the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi.
Specialties
- Full sleeves
- Large-scale compositions
- Cultural consultation
- Multi-session projects
- Freehand design
Cultural Consultant & Speaker
Beyond the studio, Joshawa works as a cultural design consultant on Polynesian and Pacific Islander projects — advising on motif language, cultural framing, and authenticity. This work includes Polynesian tattoo-based artwork contributed to the 2022 renovation of Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Village Resort in Florida, and his appointment as Spiritual Tatau Artist for the Ali'i Nui of the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi — a movement documented by Business Insider. Additional press is collected on the IslandTAT press page.
Joshawa also speaks and lectures on Polynesian tattoo history, artist stewardship, and the freehand method. His long-form podcast TATtalk serves as an ongoing platform for that work — a public archive of conversations on the origins, protocols, and modern legacy of Polynesian tattooing. His book, The Polynesian Tattoo Code, records many of the same principles in written form.
For speaking, cultural consulting, or authenticity-review inquiries, contact the studio directly via the contact page.
Independently published coverage. Coverage below was published by outlets with no connection to the studio, and is separate from IslandTAT's own stated history: Inked Magazine and The Coconet TV on the Jidenna sleeve commission, Business Insider on the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi, and AsAmNews, which quoted Joshawa in a national feature on Pasifika tattoo culture. Each is listed with its source on the independent press section of the press page. Client reviews published on Yelp and Google and healed tattoo photographs can be checked separately.
About Joshawa Elsas
Joshawa Elsas is a Polynesian tattoo specialist of CHamoru descent (Guam, Marianas), raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, practicing tattoo since 1999. He founded IslandTAT as a Polynesian design and clothing brand in 2003 and opened the IslandTAT tattoo studio in the San Diego area in 2007, dedicated to Polynesian tattoo art.
Joshawa is known for his freehand approach: every tattoo is drawn directly on the body without stencils, allowing patterns to flow naturally with each client's anatomy. His work draws from Samoan, Tongan, Hawaiian, and Marquesan traditions — reinterpreted through personal storytelling and modern compositional techniques.
Beyond the studio, Joshawa serves as Spiritual Tatau Artist for the Ali'i Nui of the Polynesian Kingdom of Atooi (documented by Business Insider), contributed Polynesian tattoo design work at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Village Resort in Florida, and has been featured in Inked Magazine and The Coconet TV for his tattoo work on recording artist Jidenna.
Cultural Design Philosophy
Joshawa's design philosophy centers on four principles: story, body flow, symbolic composition, and mana. Every tattoo begins with a deep conversation about identity, heritage, and the values the client wants their tattoo to carry.
The name "IslandTAT" itself reflects this philosophy — Traditions All Together — honoring the interconnected heritage of Pacific Islander cultures while creating designs that are meaningful to modern collectors.
Learn more about the principles that guide every design in the IslandTAT Method.
Selected Tattoo Work
Polynesian Tattoo Design Process
Every tattoo project with Joshawa follows a collaborative process:
- Consultation — Share your story, heritage, and design vision. Joshawa listens to understand the personal and cultural elements that will shape your tattoo.
- Story exploration — Together, you identify the motifs, symbols, and compositional approach that best represent your narrative.
- Freehand design — On the day of your session, Joshawa draws the composition directly on your body, ensuring natural flow with your anatomy.
- Tattoo sessions — The design is tattooed across one or more sessions, depending on scale and complexity. Multi-session projects allow for healed evaluation between phases.
Ready to begin? Start your project consultation, or request a consultation on this site.