Sua Suluape Toetu'u, Aisea

Born in Hawaii of Tongan and mixed Hawaiian Filipino descent, Aisea Toetu’u also known as Su’a Sulu’ape Toetuu Aisea is a world renowned and is one of Hawaii’s most well-respected tattoo artist. Since childhood, Aisea was always fascinated with history and art. As a hobby, he picked up tattooing at the age of 14 using homemade tattoo machines. With the interest of his own ancestry, his grandmother Salote from Va'otuu Village in Tonga was the first to introduce him to Tongan Tattooing. He began researching and studying more about his culture and by the age of 17, he was involved with the revival of the Tongan Ta’Vaka. At the age of 19, Aisea met Marquesian tattooist, Pooino Yorandi and anthropologist Tricia Allen who were both Tahitian tattooist. Through the help and guidance of Tricia Allen he attended his first tattoo convention.

In his early 20s, tattooing became his permanent profession. With a greater understanding of the Polynesian art, young Aisea would play an important role in the “New Tribal” era, the foundation of modern Polynesian tattoo. This was where the fusion of Polynesian tattooing began, by introducing the unison of different art forms such as Polynesian, Japanese Asian and Graffiti mixed with different tribal designs from the Pacific Islands. "New Tribal” began in 1997 as a modest collaboration between world renowned artist such as Mike Ledger, Orly Locquiao, Pooino Yorandi, and Aisea Toetu’u which were followed by Joel Albanez and Lucky Olelo. Until this day, their fundamental recipe remains as a large influence in Hawaii, Mainland, Europe and throughout the world.

Aisea continued working at various tattoo shops across the states and island of Hawaii, learning, trading and sharing new art with other artists in Oahu such as Bong and Tattoo Rich. Frequently, he travelled to the Mainland and presently still continues trips there to work with old & new clientele. At a very young age, he dedicated a lot of his time studying the history and art of the pacific islands to gain knowledge from their respective cultures. He also dedicate his time studying and working with Tongan master wood carver Tuione Pulotu, lasher Filipe To’i and astrologist Tevita Fale who were all great mentors that assisted him to understand many patterns and designs. As the 1st to awaken the art of Tongan tatatau, Aisea got to meet Rodney Powell who was on the same path of shaping the Tongan Ta’Vaka. Until this day, both Rodney Powell and Aisea work side by side with each other. Aisea also became a great mentor for Elieser who is the founder of “Marks of the 4 Waves” a group of Filipinos who have been reviving Filipino tattoo here in America. Aisea also dedicated his time and help stretch for Hawaiian Kakau Keone Nunes. As he began reshaping and studying the Tongan Tattoo revival and his tattoo career was expanding, Aisea’s life took a drastic turning point. It was during this time in his late 20s that he met the Samoan tattoo master, Su’a Sulu’ape Petelo, who also had ancestors that tattooed Tongans in the past. Together, Aisea and Su’a Sulu’ape Petelo awakened the first Tongan Ta’Vaka. This would be the beginning of his apprenticeship under Su’a Sulu’ape Petelo and after years of serving his apprenticeship and many hours of sitting cross-legged on the floor stretching, he was given the Suluape Title as a tufunga, which gave him the right to use the family tools. It was then that he started tattooing in traditional tatau/ tapping form. After completing several tataus and pea’s, he was bestowed another title “Su’a” from Tufunga Su’a Suluape Petelo. Sulu’ape Aisea continues to serve the Sulu’ape family.

Aisea opened Soul Signature Tattoo in 2007 located in Honolulu, HI. It was here at Soul Signature in 2009 that Aisea completed the first Rotuman tatau since Christianity banned in the late 1800s. After 200 years of being banned by Christianity, Aisea decided to bring tattooing back to his homeland Tonga in 2010. Tonga welcomed him & in return, he had the opportunity to tattoo several members from the royal family and taught workshops on the importance of sterilization and sanitization. Aisea still plans to go back to Tonga and spend a year giving back to the community by teaching his own people about tattooing and continue introducing the Ta’Vaka back to his people.

Aisea is one of the founders of Manalua Association which was formed by both him and Rodney Powell of Hilo, HI. Manalua Association began its journey in 2010 when they traveled to the Kingdom of Tonga to educate the people about how tattoo relates with Blood borne Pathogen, Cross Contamination, Sanitization and Sterilization. Manalua Association is now preparing its journey to spread throughout the other Pacific Islands such as Micronesia, Philippines, Tahiti, etc. Aisea continues to help other Pacific Islands revive their art. Aisea has served several years as an apprentice and through the knowledge he has gained, still continues to help many tattoo artists and his Pacific community. Although he specializes in both machine work and traditional tatau or tapping, he still continues to serve as an apprentice and perseveres in his quest of knowledge of the Pacific and the world of tattooing culture.