Leilani Ah Chan-Bowlin

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My recent tattoo was actually 3 tattoos. The famous Boze Kapoi, does my tribals. My shin has a kalo (taro) plant that is our root of origin in Hawaiian mythology. My Tūtū (grandma) owns a poi company. It is a superfood and staple in Hawaiian culture. My forearm has an “ola shell” it represents memories collected through my life. In Hawaiian culture we collect sea shells to represent memories of life. My thigh has a deer skull to represent the hunting my family does to sustain our hom

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

My tribals would tell you my life story. Just like Maui says in Moana. I have a fishing hook, ola shell, kalo, & deer skull to represent homestead life. My Oriental side would tell you of the adversity I’ve faced and unique upbringing. My parents were teen parents. My dad dropped out in middle school, he was a poor homeless drug addict and alcoholic. My mother came from one of the wealthiest oil families in Hawai’i. My tattoos would say “You can’t judge a book by its

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would like to buy a property on Maui where we could live and start a community farm. I’d love to return to my home. Today Hawai’i people are out priced in paradise. I currently live in Houston, Texas. It would be a dream to raise my children where I grew up. Hawai’i is developing so much and I just want my children to see what homestead life was like pre colonization. I would like to help educate people on homesteading because most of our food is imported. Thus, the high cost