From the shores of northern Oahu we bring you Hawaii’s goddess tattooer—Mandy Garcia.
A legend on the islands, she’s been plying her trade for years on Oahu; besides her inkslinging skills, she’s well known for her modeling.
Tattoo conventions on the island have featured images of her on their promo materials and advertising kiosks. She is also an occasional practitioner to the ancient Japanese art of rope bondage: Shibari, or Kinbaku.
Authority Hinkari Keshu likens the relationship between model and the rope artist as analogous to a canvas coupled with paint and brush. All this started long ago in Japan when the Samurai had no jails, and rope was utilized to restrain captives. Hemp and bamboo were and are the preferred implements. An adept master of Shibari knows just where to place the knots— similar to an Asian martial arts fighter working the pressure points.
We rendezvoused with the artfully embellished lass on the North Shore of Oahu, not far from the legendary surf meccas of Oahu. Her Polynesian themed body art showed an astonishing authenticity while she frolicked in the billowing surf.
She graciously took time out from her busy tattooing schedule to display her ink collection— and her stunning beauty, too. What’s she like? Mercurial, funny, sweet, quick to laugh, and un-self-concious—great to have a burger and a glass of wine with.
She has spent a good bit of time in Australia of late, but is back now on the island, plying her trade. Catch her if you can. You’d be lucky, though, as she sometimes disappears for months at a time. A moment or more with Mandy— it’s like catching lightning in a bottle.
