Polynesian and tribal pattern work. Black & gray realism. Religious imagery rendered with weight. Custom cultural pieces for the Pearl Harbor and Hickam community.
Benson Carlos — known to most as Inked Benz — works in two main lanes at TNT Tattoo: Polynesian / tribal pattern work and black & gray realism. He also handles portraits, religious imagery, and custom combinations across all three. His tattoo.co profile keeps it short: "Tattooing at TNT Tattoo · Aiea, Hawaii · 808-486-4868."
Polynesian work asks more of an artist than line and shading. Pattern carries meaning. Family. Lineage. Story. Benson approaches every cultural piece as a conversation — you bring the meaning, he brings the design discipline. If you want a band or sleeve that's authentic to your background, he'll do the homework with you before the needle touches skin.
His realism work runs the same standard. Tight black-and-gray, clean transitions, religious imagery rendered with the seriousness it deserves. Rosaries, crucifixes, Sacred Hearts, memorial portraits — pieces meant to last decades, not seasons.
Benson is Hawaii-licensed and posts his work on @inked_benz · #southsideinkhawaii. Text 808-486-4868 to book at TNT.
Sleeves, bands, panels rooted in classical Polynesian pattern vocabulary. Benson designs each piece around your story — family symbols, lineage, deployment markers. Authentic to source.
Modern tribal compositions that aren't generic "tribal flash." Heavy black, negative-space discipline, balance between density and breathing room.
Tight black-and-gray with smooth transitions. Portraits, memorial pieces, religious figures. Built to age well over twenty years on skin.
Rosaries, crucifixes, Sacred Hearts, Praying Hands, Madonna figures, devotional pieces. Treated with the weight they deserve.
Family portraits in black & gray. Realism technique, dignified composition, designed to honor — not decorate.
Polynesian + military commemorative blends popular with the Pearl Harbor and Hickam community. Unit markers, deployment dates, cultural framework. 20% military discount applies.
Full feed: @inked_benz · or text Benson for style-specific samples.
Text 808-486-4868 with your concept, cultural significance (family/lineage/story), placement, and size. Polynesian work usually needs a consultation before the session.
Polynesian and tribal pattern work, black & gray realism, religious imagery, memorial portraits, and custom combinations of those styles.
Small Polynesian band/panel pieces start around $250. Half-sleeves and large cultural work run $800-$2,500+. Free consultation gives you the exact quote.
Benson does select cover-ups, especially when Polynesian or heavy black work suits the cover. For dedicated cover-up consultations, Heather Baldwin is the cover-up specialist at TNT.
Yes — 20% off for active military, veterans, and military family. Polynesian deployment commemoratives are some of Benson's most-requested pieces from the Pearl Harbor and Hickam community.
Yes — walk-ins welcome at TNT. Polynesian pieces usually need a consult first. Smaller religious or realism flash sometimes available same-day. Call 808-486-4868 to check.
Minutes from Pearl Harbor and Hickam AFB. Easy parking.
Twelve hours straight — 10 AM to 10 PM at TNT Tattoo in Aiea. 100% of proceeds go to the Hawaii Parkinson's Association in honor of Kevin "Papamokes" Mokuahi.
→ Event Details & Book"Best tattoo experience I've ever had — the artist listened, drew exactly what I imagined, and the execution was flawless. 5 stars."
The Waikiki Tattoo Network — sister shops + working artists. Every name here books their own clients independently.
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