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Tips for Hukilau first-timers |
Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4813
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
|  Posted: 2007-04-02 06:49 am Permalink
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On 2007-03-31 13:21, mfachman wrote:
My wife and I will be making the trip this year as first timers. We are very excited! I was wondering how much spending money the average person goes through for the weekend? I realize this is very subjective, but just trying to get some idea of the cost. For example how much are drinks at the hotels and at the Mai Kai?
Any help is appreciated, Thank you in advance!
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Mike,
Food and beverages around the area are fair to high. The drinks at the Clipper are high end pricing. That's typical of most hotels though. There are markets nearby where you can go get some yourself and cut your costs. And look for online friends and find some room parties, bring a bottle of good rum and share the drinks with them.
So, expect to pay $7-9 a meal each. I mean, a burger and fries is gonna set you back that much with a tip. You may pay $4 for a can of beer at the Clipper deck bar, but, you can likely cut that at the Cabana bar and, like I said, you can get creative. You can spend more for food, but, you won't get a lot cheaper than that. Probably about what you'd pay locally to eat out. Booze is outrageous at the hotel, but again, that's what you expect.
And then you have the vendors. You will have some idea what you can spend and you will likely spend that plus 20% or more...
The Mai Kai has their menu online and so you can go to www.maikai.com and know what you are paying. An extra $10 for the show. In all honesty, plan to spend $100 per person at the Mai Kai. Dinner show, dinner, drinks and a trip to the gift shop.
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TikiLaLe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 09, 2006
Posts: 891
From: Largo, Floriduh
| Posted: 2007-04-02 07:20 am Permalink
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Ease back cowboy ... take a deep breath you'll do fine !!!!
On 2007-04-01 21:43, mfachman wrote:
"That Mai Kai it ain't the Sodbuster Saloon."
Gosh gee whiz, I hope a don't get lost in that there big city! nice.
Very informative. Seriously, I was just looking for some info on drink prices at the Mai Kai, there is no need to insult my hometown. I hope this is not indicative of the type of people who attend this event.
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4813
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2007-04-02 07:52 am Permalink
Sorry, Mai Kai drink prices are not online. Expect typical tropical drink prices of $8 and up each. Most drinks are in the $8-9 range if memory serves me well enough. Don't have a menu nearby to confirm. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.
Rum Barrels give the most bang for the buck, although I think many here would say the Jet Pilot is more potent. Chip and Andy say so, and so I would tend to agree. They are there a lot and Chip is handy with the jigger. I just know that Kern, the GM says the Rum Barrel is stronger.
Oh, and Happy Hour means 2 for 1 drinks in the Molokai Lounge at the Mai Kai. Both dinner shows have a happy hour, but it is only good for drinks in the Molokai. Take advantage of that and have the missus order one drink and you another and then switch on the second round so you both can try something new. And the bar is way crowded during Hukilau Happy Hour, so order a couple of drinks at a time, as you may find your glass empty and needing more before they get back to you with another order. But do not order a Shark Bit in advance. The ice shell makes that one and you don't want it to melt on you too much. But hey, you can do that one as a shooter! 
As for the comment above, you can probably chalk it up to poorly executed humor and not derogatory mud slinging. No one in the tiki family is that crude that I know. You'll find out that tiki people are the nicest people. Be sure to start conversations though. That person is just waiting to meet new people if you talk to them.
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Loki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 04, 2005
Posts: 541
From: Boca Raton, FL
| Posted: 2007-04-02 07:55 am Permalink
To add what Swanky said, the two for one is only good on your first round. But usually thats all you need when drinking the Jet Pilot or Rum Barrel. Most page 3 drinks start from $10-12.
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[ This Message was edited by: Loki 2007-04-02 07:57 ]
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7217
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2007-04-02 08:34 am Permalink
Here's a Safety Tip.......
You'll all be safe this year cause the Boo's won't be there!
Enjoy !!!
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1767
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2007-04-02 09:26 am Permalink
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On 2007-04-02 07:55, Loki wrote:
To add what Swanky said, the two for one is only good on your first round.
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Are you sure about that? We were there this past weekend and as I was finishing off the second drink of my 2-for-1, our dinner reservation was coming up in just a few minutes. I asked the waitress if I could order a second 2-for-1 round and she said yes, but that I'd have to finish the first one in the Molokai and take the second with me to the dining room. I didn't have time for that, so I just ordered another in the dining room.
As to the strength of the drinks, I believe the Barrel o' Rum has 4 oz of rum. My senses (or lack thereof) tell me the Jet Pilot and possibly the Black Magic have about the same.
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BigRedTiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jan 14, 2007
Posts: 86
From: Fremont, Nebraska
| Posted: 2007-04-02 09:54 am Permalink
Thanks for all the tips, great stuff. I overreacted to the "sodbuster" comment, mainly because it is a little too true  As a matter of fact I was just down at the "grass breaker" explaining how to make a rum punch. Anyway we are very excited and the prices seem reasonable. I just couldn't find drink prices at the Mai Kai since they are not posted on the on-line menu. I haven't been to Florida since 2000 and that was Disney world.
One more question, the dress code is listed as business casual. How strict is this? Can I assume no shorts? Good luck getting me to tuck in my Hawaiian shirt.
Thanks again to all and I apologize for my overreaction.
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..........Mike Fachman "BigRedTiki"
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4813
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2007-04-02 10:18 am Permalink
2 for 1 is not limited to the first round. It is for the duration of the hour, but ONLY in the Molokai Lounge.
I don't think they are strict with the dress code. I think shorts are frowned upon. Aloha wear is not. And at Hukilau it will be Aloha casual for sure, but I would not wear shorts. Khaki pants and Hawaiian shirt is fine.
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finkdaddy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 11, 2004
Posts: 2050
From: Wisconsin
| Posted: 2007-04-02 10:25 am Permalink
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On 2007-04-02 10:18, Swanky wrote:
I don't think they are strict with the dress code. I think shorts are frowned upon. Aloha wear is not. And at Hukilau it will be Aloha casual for sure, but I would not wear shorts. Khaki pants and Hawaiian shirt is fine.
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Last Hukilau was my first visit to the Mai Kai and I wore shorts. Nobody said a word about it or even looked at me funny. But I must say that I felt uncomfortable every second I was there because I felt under dressed. At one point Formikahini approached me wearing a gorgeous red gown with her hair done up as classy as could be and I felt like some idiotic frat boy in my cargo shorts and sandals.
There is no enforced dress code, so wear what you want. I'm just saying that the Mai Kai seems to command a bit of formality.
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Chip and Andy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 13, 2004
Posts: 2084
From: Corner table, Molokai Lounge, Mai-Kai.
| Posted: 2007-04-02 3:10 pm Permalink
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On 2007-04-02 10:25, finkdaddy wrote:
There is no enforced dress code, so wear what you want. I'm just saying that the Mai Kai seems to command a bit of formality.
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"Officially" there is a dress code, business casual. But..... for Hukilau, the whole place is pretty much ours. Finkdaddy is right, though. This is a Dinner and a Show and does command a bit of formality and inspires most to wear their absolute best aloha wear.
As to drinks in the Molokai, the drinks start at $7 and go up from there. The Jet Pilot and Mai-tai are both $12, the Rum Barrel, Mutiny and Black Magic I think are $18 each. If your goal is to get the most drink for the dollar, go with the Rum Barrel or Black Magic. If your goal is to get the most 'potent' drink for your dollar go with a Jet Pilot or Shrunken Skull.
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Chip and Andy
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 13, 2004
Posts: 2084
From: Corner table, Molokai Lounge, Mai-Kai.
| Posted: 2007-04-02 3:10 pm Permalink
Double post, sorry.
[ This Message was edited by: Chip and Andy 2007-04-02 15:11 ]
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GatorRob
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 1767
From: 3 hrs 33 mins to paradise
| Posted: 2007-04-03 09:55 am Permalink
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On 2007-04-02 15:10, Chip and Andy wrote:
... the Rum Barrel, Mutiny and Black Magic I think are $18 each.
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Not that I want to disagree with a couple who I'm sure have financially helped to keep the Mai-Kai profitable over the last some-odd years, but I think that's $13, not $18.
Regarding dress code, people show up there all the time dressed in all sorts of ways. I'm sure the employees are used to it. But they also take notice when someone dresses up to come play in their tiki palace. My wife, kids and I pulled into valet recently and when we got out of the car, one of the attendents smiled and said "You guys look perfect!" And another time I was there, one of the long-time waiters commented to me about how much he liked my aloha shirt. When you dress the part there, it adds to the whole magical atmosphere of the place. (Lots of rum helps too.)
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TikiLaLe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 09, 2006
Posts: 891
From: Largo, Floriduh
| Posted: 2007-04-04 11:57 am Permalink
Quote:
| Mike ... your going to have a good time ... bring some some block and a poncho ...cause those 3 o'clock rains are going to come down !!!!
On 2007-04-02 09:54, mfachman wrote:
Thanks for all the tips, great stuff. I overreacted to the "sodbuster" comment, mainly because it is a little too true As a matter of fact I was just down at the "grass breaker" explaining how to make a rum punch. Anyway we are very excited and the prices seem reasonable. I just couldn't find drink prices at the Mai Kai since they are not posted on the on-line menu. I haven't been to Florida since 2000 and that was Disney world.
One more question, the dress code is listed as business casual. How strict is this? Can I assume no shorts? Good luck getting me to tuck in my Hawaiian shirt.
Thanks again to all and I apologize for my overreaction.
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Basement Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 14, 2002
Posts: 3588
From: Jawja Province, Isle of North America
| Posted: 2007-04-05 12:25 pm Permalink
I have a feeling this is going to be a fun year...except for no Boobams. More booze for me!
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GROG
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Posts: 6255
From: Tujunga
| Posted: 2007-04-05 12:30 pm Permalink
PAPER WALLETS FOR EVERYBODY!!!!!
No Boobam Ben means paper wallets are safe this year, and the rum supply should last twice as long.
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