I PA‘A I KONA KUPUNA ‘A‘OLE KĀKOU E PUKA.

I PA‘A I KONA KUPUNA ‘A‘OLE KĀKOU E PUKA.

Tattoo artist tattooing a person's arm while several people assist and observe.

Pā Kālai ʻIli is a Native Hawaiian nonprofit organization—founded, led, and operated by Native Hawaiians—committed to the preservation and stewardship of all related aspects of kākau uhi, the traditional Hawaiian practice of tattooing. Based on Maui, we honor kākau uhi as a living cultural art and a profound source of healing, identity, and intergenerational strength.

Our Mission.

Aia a paʻi ʻia ka maka, haʻi ʻia kupuna nāna ʻoe.

We are living in an era where our cultural identity is fractured and we are consistently challenged as a people.

Our mission is to preserve, perpetuate, and educate the public about the traditional Hawaiian practice of tattooing (kākau uhi) as both a cultural art form and a healing practice. We protect Native Hawaiian heritage by reconnecting others with protocols, customs, and stories that have guided our people for generations.

A shirtless man with long hair and a beard standing on a street at sunset, wearing a black loincloth and showcasing a long geometric tattoo running down his left leg.

I ola ka ʻāina, i ola mākou nei.

A large part of our efforts prioritize the acquisition and stewardship of ʻāina - to be used to build the necessary infrastructure to continue the education of future generations of uhi students and propagate essential plant resources for the traditions.

  • A pā on every island. Land that can provide a home for its caretaker and the students, a pā - the work space of this tradition - to operate out of, and the space to cultivate the materials that are necessary for the longevity of this tradition.

  • Every move is made with intention.

    Land is the most critically important resource in Hawaiʻi. Without it, our traditions are at risk, our people are forced to live away from home and our stories get rewritten.

    Our knowledge and history needs every space to live and grow. The more spaces people have access to, the more these things can thrive.

  • Anyone and everyone who shares a genuine love for Hawaiʻi, her people and her culture.

    Your support will help to keep a part of her alive.