2bit 2bit — Chris Curren
Color Realism tattoos at Lost at Sea Tattoo in Chinatown, Honolulu — built on 15 years of clean linework, accurate light, and saturated color that heals true. American Traditional second love. Body piercing since 2007.
- Apprenticed Under JD Gray
- 15+ Years Piercing
- By Appointment
- Chinatown · Honolulu
Quick booking · 30 seconds
California roots. Hawaii ink.
Chris Curren — known in the industry as 2bit — was born and raised in Ventura, California. He made the move to Hawaii in 2007 by way of Bullhead City, Arizona, and never looked back. What started as a new chapter became a permanent one — Waikiki has been home for nearly two decades.
2bit started in body piercing in 2007, building his craft in sterile technique and client care before ever picking up a tattoo machine. He apprenticed under JD Gray at Sacred Art Tattoo in Waikiki — one of the most established shops on the island — and began tattooing professionally in 2010. That dual background in piercing and tattooing gives him a technical precision and hygiene standard that carries through everything he does.
His favorite styles are Color Realism and Neo-Traditional — two approaches that demand both artistic vision and technical control. Color Realism requires accurate light mapping, smooth tonal blending, and saturated pigment work. Neo-Traditional requires bold structural linework paired with a richer, more illustrative color vocabulary than classic Traditional allows. 2bit does both.
He currently works at Lost at Sea Tattoo, 928 Nuuanu Ave STE 301, Waikiki — open by appointment, weekdays + weekends. By appointment · text or call to book, or text (928) 201-6724 to book ahead.
Color Realism artist · 15 years on the needle
Color Realism is what 2bit lives for. American Traditional is his second love. Everything else falls in line — built on 15 years of hands-on tattooing and piercing.
Color Realism
Photorealistic tattoos rendered in vibrant, saturated color. Portraits, animals, florals, and memorial pieces built through careful light mapping, smooth tonal transitions, and precise color matching. The image reads as a photograph translated to skin — 2bit's favorite work and where his hours go deepest.
Second LoveAmerican Traditional
Bold black outline. Limited solid palette — red, green, yellow, blue. Iconic imagery: eagles, anchors, roses, daggers, swallows, hearts, skulls. The foundation 2bit was raised on, executed to read across a room and last a lifetime.
AlsoNeo-Traditional
Bold outlines from the Traditional school with expanded color palettes, richer shading, and illustrative depth. Art Nouveau and Art Deco influences. Animals, florals, portraits, and fantasy elements with structural confidence and contemporary color range.
Everything ElsePortraits · Illustrative · Cover-Ups · Custom
Portrait work in both color and black & grey. Illustrative pieces with visible mark-making. Cover-up work that buries old ink under new compositions. Fully custom one-of-one designs.
Work by 2bit
Color Realism, Neo-Traditional, and custom tattoo work from Lost at Sea Tattoo in Waikiki.
See more work on Instagram or text 2bit for samples of a specific style.
Professional piercing — starting at $100
2bit started as a piercer in 2007 — three years before he picked up a tattoo machine. Single-use sterile needles, implant-grade titanium jewelry, by appointment · text or call at Lost at Sea Tattoo.
Ear & Face
From $100Lobe, helix, tragus, conch, daith, rook, nostril, septum, bridge, eyebrow.
- Standard lobe (single)$100
- Lobe pair$180
- Helix · tragus · nostril$120
- Conch · daith · rook · septum$140
- Bridge · eyebrow$140
Body
From $120Navel, nipple, surface piercings. 15–30 minute walk-ins.
- Navel$120
- Nipple (single)$140
- Nipple pair$240
- Surface piercing$160
- Tongue · lip · monroe$140
Specialty
QuotedDermals, industrials, ear projects, advanced placements. Consultation recommended.
- Dermal anchor$160
- Industrial · orbital$180
- Custom ear projectquoted
- Advanced placementquoted
What's included in every piercing: sterile single-use needle, implant-grade titanium starter jewelry, full aftercare guidance, free check-up visit at 4–6 weeks. Jewelry upgrades (gold, gemstone) priced separately.
Text (928) 201-6724 to book a piercing session at Lost at Sea Tattoo. By appointment only.
Lost at Sea Tattoo · Chinatown, Honolulu
2bit works at Lost at Sea Tattoo — a private, appointment-friendly studio in the historic Nippu Jiji building, Chinatown Historic District. Steps from Hotel St and the Chinatown Arts District.
928 Nuuanu Ave, STE 301
Honolulu,
HI
96817
Best way to book: text (928) 201-6724 with your idea, reference photos, and preferred date.
- Shop
- Lost at Sea Tattoo — Nippu Jiji building, 3rd floor
- Neighborhood
- Chinatown Historic District · Honolulu
- Hours
- By appointment — text to schedule · walk-ins welcome when available
- Parking
- Marin Tower municipal lot (Nuuanu & Beretania) or street parking on Nuuanu Ave
- Website
- lostatsea.ink
Directions to Lost at Sea Tattoo
Tap the map service you use — opens with the full address pre-filled.
→ Google Maps Directions → Apple Maps Directions → WazeFrom Waikiki: 10 min via Ala Moana Blvd · From the airport: 15 min via H-1 East
Waikiki tattoo shops 2bit is affiliated with
2bit's primary home is Lost at Sea Tattoo. He's also connected to these Waikiki studios through the same ownership network.
Lost at Sea Tattoo
928 Nuuanu Ave STE 301 · Waikiki
Street-level studio next to the Hilton Waikiki Beach. Six licensed artists, by appointment · text or call. Open by appointment, weekdays + weekends. This is where 2bit works.
lostatsea.ink →Aloha Tattoo
Hilton Hawaiian Village · Rainbow Bazaar & Diamond Head Tower
The first tattoo business on a Hilton Hotel property. Two studios inside the Hilton Hawaiian Village plus a Kailua location. Open by appointment, weekdays + weekends.
alohatattoo.com →Ohana Tattoo Company
339 Saratoga Rd · Waikiki
Veteran-owned walk-in and flash tattoo shop in the heart of Waikiki. 531 Google reviews, 4.9 stars. Open 9 AM to midnight Mon-Sat.
ohanatattoo.ink →The Waikiki family
Tim Goodrich first — bouncing daily between his two Aloha Tattoo studios inside the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Then the rest of the network — Wailana and Ohana — connected across the island.
Tim Goodrich
American Traditional · Japanese · Cover-Ups
Aloha Tattoo · Hilton Hawaiian Village
Franky Sharpz
American Traditional · Polynesian · Color Realism · Machine Builder
Wailana Tattoo
Forrest Goodrich
American Traditional · Black & Grey · Hawaiian Flash
Ohana Tattoo Company
Dustin Gormley
Intuition · Energy · Transformation
Ohana Tattoo Company
Tiki Ramos
Blackwork · Tribal · Bold Negative Space
Ohana Tattoo Company
Julian (xwildxlovex)
Illustrative Color · Bold Linework · Custom
Ohana Tattoo Company
Scripttoria
Refined Script · Fine-Line Black & Grey · Memorial
Ohana Tattoo Company
Heather Baldwin
Cover-Up Queen · Floral · Black & Grey Realism
TNT Tattoo · Aiea
Benson Carlos (Inked Benz)
Polynesian · Black & Grey Realism · 30 Years
TNT Tattoo · Aiea
Myles Mokuahi
2nd Generation · Black & Gray · Custom · Hawaiian
TNT Aiea + Ohana Waikiki
Kevin 'Papamokes' Mokuahi
Hawaii Legend · 40 Years on the Iron · Cultural Work
TNT Tattoo · Aiea
Questions about 2bit
How do I book with 2bit?
Text (928) 201-6724 with your idea, reference photos, and preferred date. 2bit works at Lost at Sea Tattoo, 928 Nuuanu Ave STE 301, Waikiki. Walk-ins are also welcome any time the shop is open.
What styles does 2bit specialize in?
2bit's primary styles are Color Realism (photorealistic tattoos in full color) and Neo-Traditional (bold outlines with expanded color palettes and illustrative depth). He also does portraits, illustrative work, cover-ups, and custom designs. He apprenticed under JD Gray at Sacred Art Tattoo in Waikiki.
Does 2bit do piercings?
Yes — 2bit has been piercing professionally since 2007, even before he started tattooing. He does ear, face, body, and specialty piercings at Lost at Sea Tattoo using sterile single-use equipment and implant-grade titanium jewelry. By appointment · text or call to book.
Where does 2bit work?
Lost at Sea Tattoo — 928 Nuuanu Ave STE 301, in the Nippu Jiji building, Chinatown Historic District, Honolulu, Hawaii. Open by appointment only — text (928) 201-6724 to schedule.
What is 2bit's real name?
Chris Curren. Born and raised in Ventura, California. Moved to Hawaii in 2007 from Bullhead City, Arizona. He's been based in Waikiki ever since.
How much does a tattoo with 2bit cost?
Pricing depends on size, detail, style, and placement. Text (928) 201-6724 with a reference photo and 2bit will give you a quote before you come in. Consultations are free.
Does 2bit accept walk-ins?
Yes. Lost at Sea Tattoo is open 10 AM to midnight Monday through Sunday. Walk in anytime for tattoos or piercings. If you want guaranteed time with 2bit specifically, text ahead.
Book a session with 2bit
Text your idea — or walk into Lost at Sea Tattoo, Waikiki.
"Best tattoo experience I've ever had — the artist listened, drew exactly what I imagined, and the execution was flawless. 5 stars."