Nā Loea: The Masters | Keone Nunes: Ancestral Ink

This is the story of traditional Hawaiian kākau (tattoo) artist, Keone Nunes, and the journey of cultural re-discovery inherent in kākau uhi (tattooing). The process of kākau uhi is one where the artist guides their subjects down a path of self-discovery, revealing life lessons of who they are and where they come from. Traditional kākau is an art that was nearly lost to Hawaiians, but Keone’s perseverance to learn, practice and teach this craft has been a critical determiner of its survival and resurgence in the Hawaiian community today. This piece was shot primarily on the Leeward coast of Oʻahu in the Nānākuli and Waiʻanae communities, where Keone resides and practices his art of kākau uhi.