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2008 - the FINAL Hukilau |
frostiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 14, 2006
Posts: 434
From: Mobile, AL
|  Posted: 2008-06-17 06:52 am Permalink
Wow. What a trip. Christie, we can't thank you enough for throwing one of the best parties around every year. And I have to say, we teared up at the Mai Kai when we heard the parties won't end anytime soon. We are already saving for next year's Hukilau. We absolutely loved meeting everyone and hanging out with all of you. We're still recovering from the fun and festivities and long hours on the road, but as soon as our brains are reassembled, we will be sure to thank all the folks that helped make our Hukilau the best yet.
Mahalo,
Frostiki
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I, Zombie
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 14, 2003
Posts: 539
From: the Les Baxter Grotto (Minneapolis)
| Posted: 2008-06-17 09:16 am Permalink
It was a GREAT Hukilau. Just a fabulous weekend of fun for me and Carol.
THANKS to all for putting on a fantastic production.
We loved everything, but the fashion show, the Beachbum and Bosko seminars, and Sunday's seminar were especially outstanding!
~glen leslie
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ikitnrev
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jul 27, 2002
Posts: 1298
From: D.C. / Virginia
| Posted: 2008-06-17 12:23 pm Permalink
This Hukilau was a good one - I felt a sense of camaraderie and good spirit throughout the weekend. The Friday night event at the Cabana turned out well, and it was nice to hear the Tikiyaki Orchestra perform besides the pool.
The art show was amazing -- the perfect place to be if I had more available wallspace and money, and all of the vendors seemed to have a flurry of activity while the tiki marketplace was open. I'm sure first-timers were pleased with what was available - I heard that the nearby ATM machines had all run out of cash that weekend!
Closing off the Wreck Bar to only Hukilau participants was a good move, and the new murals in that room added to the overall ambiance. The Martini Kings sounded great in this space - even though I broke my own suggestion and was talking a bit while they played - sorry to those sitting nearby!
The seminars continue to be a key part of the weekend. I'd much rather sit and listen in air-conditioned comfort to a lecture on mixology/tiki TV/ tiki architecture than to roast in the hot afternoon sun outside.
The Mai Kai drinks were again superb. The Sunday afternoon rush overwhelmed the available staff though, and although I had to wait nearly 80 minutes for a drink, it is somehow worth the wait when that drink is a Jet Pilot - and you get two drinks during happy hour.
Thanks to Christie and all of the other organizers, artists, musicians, and fellow tiki enthusiasts who help to make Hukilau the event it is.
Vern
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martini kings
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 10, 2005
Posts: 508
From: anthony marsico
| Posted: 2008-06-17 5:33 pm Permalink
thanks christine for a fab time at hukilau. more fun than i could have imagined!
best regards,
the martini kings
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Loonatiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Aug 09, 2002
Posts: 42 | Posted: 2008-06-17 5:33 pm Permalink
Once again another weekend full of tiki memories. I was reminiscing of Christie and Swanky's first Hukilau in 2002 in Atlanta when my boy Jaksin and I got pulled over with a van full of the Kreepiest tikis you'd ever seen and the trooper took one look at our cargo and told us to have a safe weekend and let us go. That's when I knew the gods were with us! Fast forward to 2008, and the Aloha spirit of the good people that we come across each year doesn't change.
Christie, we can't thank u enough and although we misbehave sometimes, we acknowledge everything you've done for Tiki in the East coast.
To all the artists and new friends that we've met along the way: Talani/ Polynesian Proud, Joe and Donella Vitale, Barefoot Tiki, Wayne Coombs, Tiki Diablo, Crazy Al, Benzart, Lake Tiki, Mooney and Aloha Station, Doug Horne, Otto, Pat Vassar and so many more that I can’t remember right now, you inspire me…keep doing what you do best!
To everyone who owns one of my tikis, I do this for you.
To my Dade county goons, Jaksin and Beon, don’t talk about it and let’s BE ABOUT IT!
Hukilau 2009…It’s on baby!
LOONATIKI
Kreepy Tiki jinxproofin' since 97
Tiki Squad mean muggin' since 07
[ This Message was edited by: Loonatiki 2008-06-17 17:35 ]
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AceExplorer
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 304
From: Deep in the Jacksonville Florida jungle.
| Posted: 2008-06-18 09:22 am Permalink
The music is still going through my head... You know an event was good when it takes a loooong time for the memories to begin to fade.
--Frank
Department of Reality Avoidance
_________________
Drinking rum before 10am makes you a pirate, not an alcoholic.
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Kanekila
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 07, 2004
Posts: 185
From: Safety Harbor, FL
| Posted: 2008-06-18 2:28 pm Permalink
Wow... what a weekend. There's just too much to try to recount, but highlights for me were meeting and playing with the Tikiyaki Orchestra boys (thanks for inviting me to sit in with y'all), and during Friday's performance, playing "Ali's Fire Dance" poolside, while Marina actually DID a real fire dance. VERY COOL... Saturday at the Mai Kai is also always a highlight of Hukilau, but this year, the impromtu jam from about 1:00am to 2:30am was just one of those "you had to be there" moments. Truly special...
There was the immolation of combustable natural products Friday night that I had the pleasure of sharing most of with a certain very nice person who shall remain nameless (so as not to incriminate). You know who you are -- thanks for the hang and the conversation. I pretty much never do this anymore, and it was fun.
Of course, Sunday night's pool show was pretty incredible. No, this was not at the Wreck Bar, but it was another "you had to be there" moment. If you weren't there, you missed it, and when I say you MISSED it, you really did, because if you were there, it was really hard to not miss it. 
If I try list names of those I hung out with, I'll forget some, so I won't, but just know that if we spoke or hung out, I enjoyed every minute of it. There wasn't anything about the weekend I didn't enjoy (well, OK -- schlepping gear ain't fun, but that was part of the job, so I ain't complainin' ...
Can't wait to see you all again at THE NEXT HUKILAU 2009!
Mahaloz to all y'all...
Kanekila
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Kanekila
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I, Zombie
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 14, 2003
Posts: 539
From: the Les Baxter Grotto (Minneapolis)
| Posted: 2008-06-18 7:33 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-18 14:28, Kanekila wrote:
Of course, Sunday night's pool show was pretty incredible. No, this was not at the Wreck Bar, but it was another "you had to be there" moment. If you weren't there, you missed it, and when I say you MISSED it, you really did, because if you were there, it was really hard to not miss it.
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Hmmm... I saw a bit of au natural naughtiness at the pool Sunday night on my way to get ice for our room party... if that's the "show" you're referring to. 
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2402
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2008-06-18 7:58 pm Permalink
Does anyone else have the Hawaiian Eye theme song as sung by Charles Phoenix stuck in their head?
I think it's gonna be there for awhile ~  Hawaiian Eye, Hawaiian Eye ~
I Know!
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little lost tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 12, 2006
Posts: 7460
From: Orange,CA-right near the Circle!
| Posted: 2008-06-18 9:08 pm Permalink
Thank you Christie!
you made hundreds of people soooo happy!
you deserve a medal!
Seeing the Left side of the US Ohana there helped as terrill and i advanced into unknown tiki territory!
squid/suzy/booben/vicki/kevin-naughty kevin!/hanford/tiki tony/the ever funny king kukulele/bora-bobo/tikikate/marty lush-jim and the rest of the Tikiyakkers/Mr.tiki magazine himself Nick/soccertiki-hinano paul and rugby"keep it in your sarong"matt-members of the so-called moai mafia/mieko the most huggable/jonpaul and marie/crazy alfonse/bosko/diablo/and kuku.....that was a lotta West Coasters,so it felt,at times.like a back-home event....!
Of course,it was great ribbing "I DIG" DOUG.....Horne and mike,er Mark from velvet glass over a lump of food!
Thank you wplugger and alohastation-thanks for the maikai history and trivia classes!
Howland-you got a voice like you channeled johnny cash-it was a joy meeting you and your wife!
brad was one of the first people i really got to know on TC so it was a long time coming!
marina-you've got to be one of the coolest gals around! your happiness is contagious!
basement kahuna-you're a crazy genius!and stylish dresser!
harold golen-thanks for a great art show full of too many stellar pieces to count!
pablus-stoked to meet you-bummed i was never there when you played....next time!
RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZIK! you party like a Californian!
swanky-don't drown! 
croe67 and rob-you two always make me smile! great seeing you again!
kikekeki-it was thrilling finally meeting troublegirl in the flesh!
fisherman brian-you move all crazy like when you vibe out!
flounder-glad i could finally shake your hand and tell you how awesome and inspiring your work is
kai-your diorama and friendship are both treasures!
and german joe was cool too!
lakesurfer-you were crackin Squid and i up with how stoked you are surfin lake superior!
that rocks! you seemed surprised to hear of our boring californian lives...where nobody but BigToe surfs!
Joe and donella Vitalle-talented and cool! what a combo!
FOM-thanks for opening up your patio to us ruffians!
frostiki-jason and Tina-you two are such a talented and sweet pair!
it was nice meeting such friendly folks!
Brian/intoxicator-you got a smile that would peel paint! I want a shirt!
brian-by the way-is one hard-working fellow! the bands and hukilau thank you!
robb hamel-glad i could finally shake your hand and talk some art with you!
bargoyle-you was crackin me up over pizza that early early morning!
Thank you all and everyone else we encountered who i might have forgotten!!!
ROCKIN!
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I'm on FaceBook Too!Look me UP,folks!
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-18 10:06 pm Permalink
OK my turn...
The Hukilau "Thanx for the memories" list.
Kristie : Thanx for this awesome opportunity. You throw one frikken Helluva party. Despite all the bumps,lane changes,hairpin turns and near fatalaities, the ride was well worth it.
I had a blast !
MVP (Most Valueable Personnel) has go to go to Brian Crum from the Intoxictors. 1000 Mahalos for all your hard work, patience, understanding and last but not least kicking MAJOR ASS with the Intoxicators. You guys are frikken manic !
Many Mahalos to all the musical instrument donations from The Intoxicators,The Haole Kats and anyone else who lent their gear towards our giant menagerie of a stage setup. It was all appreciated
Kanekila : The Man of Steel. Thanx for lending us your great talents on steel guitar. You really nailed it and then some, and it was an honor having you onstage with us.
MVP #2 (Most Voracious Partier) award has to go to Bamboo Ben. Nuff said.
Marina the fire eating,hula dancing mermaid. Thanx SO much for performing with the Orchestra, it really took things to another level for us. The fire dance was the highlight of the show for me. Now, how can I do a show here at home without you ? Nothing will top that.
The Midnight swim was amazing, and after seeing all the photos and youtube vids for the past 10 months only made it that much more exciting to see it in person.
And like LLT said, your positive energy is contagious. Mahalo !
Other people I met along the way. The Bands : The Haole Kats...what a talented bunch...Damn ! The Intoxicators. That set at the Mai Kai kicked my ass ! The Martini Kings - You guys set the Mood, big time, and look cool doing it. The Fisherman. You guys sounded great and even did a ZOMBIES song. Awesome.
It was great meeting peeps from the FOM and other Hukilau veterans. Robb Hamel : King of Velvet, Kevin Kidney, Charles Phoenix, Jeff Beachbum Berry, Basement Kahuna, Glen Leslie...so many.
Thanx to everyone who supported us by buying Mugs and CD's...it's very much appreciated.
It was also awesome seeing all the SoCal Tiki Peeps....Mr and Mrs Boo, Ken and Terril, Crazy Al, Soccer Tiki and Hinano Paul - aka Moai Mafia, Bosko, Atomikitty Suzy (our new onstage flight attendant?)...so many people I can't remember them all.
Last but not least, My Band. Thank You Guys for making it all happen...all the hard work and dedication. I'm one lucky mofo.
Thanx Marie King for all your help and good vibes, and for keeping an eye on my Coco while I was running around like a chicken wit no head.
Now, the places.
The Mai Kai : It was everything everyone said it was, and then some. In a word : MECCA - Seeing people going batsh*t over this place put it all in perspective - The Mai Kai is the REAL star of Hukilau.
The Wreck Bar : Man, what a damn shame it would be if this place got one splinter of it remodeled. So frikken cool. What an awesome experience it is to sit in that bar and watch mermaids swimming.
The Cabana : Man I miss that pool already. Cozy,tropical, funky...fun....hey, if it's good enough for Jimmy Buffett, it's good enough for me.
Anyway, it was awesome, and I really hope I get the privelige of doing it again. Sorry to be so long winded, but I really had a blast.
ALOHA and MAHALO !
[ This Message was edited by: tikiyaki 2008-06-18 22:07 ]
[ This Message was edited by: tikiyaki 2008-06-18 22:09 ]
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GROG
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Jun 21, 2006
Posts: 6195
From: Tujunga
| Posted: 2008-06-18 11:12 pm Permalink
All of you people who got to go to Hukilau/Maikai and party without GROG---YOU SUCK!
Damn you all to hell.
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2008-06-18 11:13 pm Permalink
Uh oh...we make GROG ANGRY.
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I dream of tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 12, 2004
Posts: 494
From: Pittsburgh, PA
| Posted: 2008-06-19 04:15 am Permalink
Wow, what a weekend.
Wanted to take a moment to say "great to see you!" to all the folks I met and to Hukilau regulars which I go t to see again. Weekend was so wacky I completely bottomed out Saturday night after Mai Kai and never made it back to say "see ya later" to everyone. My sincerest apologies.
For those of you who met dancing Liz, please do drop me a PM so we can exchange info which we never got around to due to sheer running out of time.
Mahalo!
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Kenike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 24, 2003
Posts: 1201
From: McKinney, TX
| Posted: 2008-06-19 04:35 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-06-18 19:58, Bora Boris wrote:
Does anyone else have the Hawaiian Eye theme song as sung by Charles Phoenix stuck in their head?
I think it's gonna be there for awhile ~ Hawaiian Eye, Hawaiian Eye ~
I Know!
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YES!!
In fact, I purchased the Hawaiian Eye soundtrack as soon as I got home.
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