IslandTAT works only in Polynesian tattooing. Joshawa Elsas has been tattooing since 1999 and has spent that time studying Pacific tattoo traditions — Samoan tatau, Hawaiian kākau, Tongan tatatau, Māori tā moko and Marquesan design — each with its own motifs, placements and cultural protocols.
Every piece is drawn freehand on the skin with markers before any needle work begins, so the composition responds to your own proportions — shoulder width, forearm taper, the curve of the calf — rather than to a printed template.
The studio is in Lemon Grove, south-east of downtown San Diego, off I-5 or I-15, and is appointment-only. Check your own drive time when you book; morning appointments leave more room on either side.
For out-of-town clients the first conversation happens by phone or email, covering your story, heritage and the body area you are considering. The in-studio design session follows, and multi-session sleeve or back projects are booked in advance with travel factored into each day. The Polynesian tattoo San Diego page below covers scheduling, deposits and studio details.
If you are planning a project from Los Angeles, the Polynesian tattoo San Diego page covers scheduling and studio details, the Polynesian tattoo guide explains motifs and placement, and the portfolio shows recent and healed work. Background on the studio and team is on the about page.
Planning a Visit from Los Angeles
- The studio is at 7912 Lester Ave, Lemon Grove, CA 91945, and is appointment-only — there are no walk-ins, so confirm dates before arranging travel.
- There is no consultation fee. Consultation and on-body freehand design are part of the tattoo process — there is no separate in-studio design fee. Remote design (for clients tattooed elsewhere) is a separate paid service.
- A non-refundable deposit equal to one hour of your artist's hourly rate is required to hold your appointment, and is applied toward your session total.
- Design happens on the body. Allow time for the consultation and freehand design session as well as the tattoo session itself — for larger work these are usually separate visits.
- Sleeves, chest panels, leg and back compositions are built over multiple sessions. If you are travelling in, ask about session length and spacing when you book so the trips can be planned in advance.
- Before you travel, review healed and recent work and the artists to decide who and what you are booking for.
Visiting the Studio — FAQ
Other Areas We Serve
Nearby areas with their own project notes and travel details: