Nov. 12—Before there were the intricate designs you see in contemporary tattoos all over the world, there was Sailor Jerry, aka Norman Collins, a tattooist in the mid-20th century who almost ...

HONOLULU (KHON2) — On a narrow street in Honolulu’s Chinatown is the birthplace of modern American tattooing. Old Ironside Tattoo, once the shop of Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins, holds its ground as ...

Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins settled in Honolulu in the 1930s, where he opened two shops on Hotel and Smith streets. Tattoos were recognized as an art largely due to Collin’s work, which has been ...