Hanford Lemoore at the Reef Bar in
Palm Springs for NYE 2005

If you’re still pondering the right place to be for New Year’s Eve 2006, you’re running out of time! You can probably still get into these great events happening around the country:

San Diego NYE Tiki Weekend: Last year’s tiki event at the Caliente Tropics was hugely successful, but the hotel has gone seriously downhill in terms of tiki-friendliness this past year. Thanks to the organizational efforts of Monkeyman, this year’s big Tiki Central New Year’s event is happening in San Diego. A home bar tour is planned for daytime Saturday, and the main event is taking place with a Polynesian spectacular at the Bali Hai restaurant. Things will also be afoot on Sunday, with possibilities including brunch, bowling and trips to downtown San Diego. It’s sure to be a special evening. The number of tickets available for the Bali Hai is dwindling, if you’re interested, read the thread on Tiki Central for details on how to make reservations.

San Francisco Trader Vic’s: A special dinner event is planned for NYE, with a floor show by Spirit of Polynesia dance troupe, and a full multi-course prix fixe meal. This is where Hanford & I will be spending our NYE. For reservations, call Trader Vic’s at (415) 775-6300.

Forbidden World of Don Tiki in Waikiki: A special performance by Don Tiki in Hawaii, at the Pacific Beach Hotel Grand Ballroom. Tickets to the show are $80 and include two drinks; in addition a bar & buffet are available. Visit the Pacific Beach Hotel website (link below) for details.

Dave’s Birthday at the Purple Orchid in El Segundo: I haven’t seen an official announcement, but New Year’s Eve is the birthday of Dave, owner of the Purple Orchid in El Segundo (near Los Angeles). In years past, there’s been a great band booked, and birthday cake & appetizers for all. Contact the Purple Orchid for details at (310) 322-5829.

Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale: A group is getting together to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Mai Kai — if I lived in southern Florida, this would be a no-brainer. To make reservations, contact the Mai Kai at (954) 563-3272, if you’d like to be included in the Tiki Central group, read the thread on TC for details.

Chicago area, Trader Vic’s: New Year’s Eve is the last night that the Chicago Trader Vic’s will be open. It has the potential to be rather depressing, and not for the faint of heart, but it also might be special to be there for the final night.

Chicago area, Chef Shangri-La: Performances by the Windy City Islanders, a roast pig buffet for $18, full regular menu available, drink specials, and no cover — an unsually affordable tiki NYE event, and the bar and drinks at Chef Shangri-La are above par. Call (708) 442-7080 for reservations.

Chicago area, Tiki Terrace: This new bar & restaurant is having a New Year’s Eve event with a performance by the Cocktail Preachers, and a raffle featuring a tiki by Lake Surfer. Contact Tiki Terrace for details at (630) 788-0395.

If your part of the country isn’t listed here, don’t fret — simply look for a bar near you in Critiki, and give them a call. Many places will have something planned for the evening.

• new years eve 2005- so cal**WOW- 35 RSVPs at the Bali Hai for TC** [Tiki Central]
• Bali Hai Restaurant, San Diego [Critiki]
• New Years Eve 2005 – No. Cal. SF Trader Vic’s – NEW INFO! Read on… [Tiki Central]
• Trader Vic’s, San Francisco [Critiki]
• Celebrate New Year’s with Don Tiki! [Tiki Central]
• Pacific Beach Hotel
• Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge, El Segundo [Critiki]
• New Years Eve at the Mai Kai! [Tiki Central]
• Mai Kai, Ft. Lauderdale [Critiki]
• Trader Vic’s, Chicago [Critiki]
• “Chicago– New Years Eve at Chef Shangri-La” [Tiki Central]
• Chef Shangri-La, North Riverside [Critiki]
• Tiki Terrace New Years [Tiki Central]
• The Tiki Terrace, Prospect Heights [Critiki]

Mr. Ho of Waitiki

In my recap of Hukilau, I made mention of one of my best finds — the Boston-based Exotica group, Waitiki. Waitiki is four guys: Tim Mayer, “The Mayor of Exotica;” Brian O’Neill “Mr. Ho;” Abe Lagrimas, Jr., “Space Kadet;” and Randy Wong, “Professah Humming Flower.” Randy and Abe met as youngsters in Hawaii; both made their way to Boston, where they met up with Brian and Tim — all four are graduates of prestigious music schools there. Randy’s parents knew Arthur Lyman, and he had a strong impact on Randy.

The Waitiki boys are very, very silly. A very nutty and bright sort of silly that struck a serious chord with me. They are a lot of fun — a LOT of fun — to spend time with. This wacky tone carries over into their original songs, which touch on such topics as watermelon sacrifice and the intersection of adorable furry animals and proper grammar. However, their set at the Mai Kai was a tribute to Martin Denny, with an all-classic Exotica set. Listening to Waitiki play at the Mai Kai, I was struck by two things.

First, any Exotica composed after the ’60s just doesn’t sound the same to me, even those pieces by the greats such as Martin Denny and Robert Drasnin. They aren’t bad works, they just don’t evoke that same feel of the exotic and the mysterious. Randy Wong’s original composition, Sweet Pikake Serenade, was the first time I had heard a modern composition that sounded ready to take its place alongside those great classic songs. Halfway through hearing it, I had forgotten that it was a new piece. Stunning, beautiful, and moving.

Second, their entire set was Exotica as I’d never experienced it before. These songs are ones I’ve heard, and loved, dozens and dozens of times over. Over years of hearing them, I’d created a scene in my head of middle-aged, somewhat-serious men playing these songs quietly and intently. The Waitiki boys have every bit the intent and serious focus while they’re playing, but they play with so much life, so much vibrancy, and so much energy. They made Exotica fun. They brought Exotica completely to life for me in a new way. They made me look at Exotica music in a whole new way. Fabulous.

Okay, so here’s the latest in Waitiki Appreciation: They have a new album out, “Charred Mammal Flesh.” Their expanded 20-piece configuration, called Waitiki Orchestrotica, which was created for the purpose of playing faithful recreations of Esquivel songs, will be playing at an Esquivel tribute concert in Mexico City on April 1, 2006. A few tracks from a September performance of the Orchestrotica is available for download on the Waitiki website. Uh, what else… oh yes, they’ve also been wanting to get a show together in NYC somewhere, hopefully at Otto’s Shrunken Head (where another favorite of mine, Fisherman Vibraphonic Trio, plays on Mondays). And also, the guys are on the lookout for radio stations around the country that would be a fit for their music (KEXP in Seattle leaps to mind, and Senor Amor’s Molotov Cocktail Hour on L.A.’s KXLU).

Waitiki is now on your radar — take advantage of their existence! Get to see them if you can, and get their album & all that stuff. Okonkuluku!

• Waitiki’s website
• WAITIKI Plays Mexico! + New Esquivel Show Recordings Available [Tiki Central]
• WAITIKI performing in NYC (Winter, 2005) – would you come? [Tiki Central]
• WAITIKI needs your help with radio promo [Tiki Central]
• My Travels: Hukilau [Humu Kon Tiki]

An update on the condition of the Mai Kai, courtesy of Tiki Kiliki, after speaking with Pia Dahlquist, the Mai Kai’s Director of Sales and Marketing:

The Mai Kai is completely intact on the inside. Yes, the outside sustained a good bit of damage but the debris along the front of the Mai Kai is now cleared away and they are working on the roof as we speak. The phones are still unoperational and the power has not yet been restored. As soon as the power and phones are up so is the Mai Kai.

• Mai Kai in bad shape following Wilma [Tiki Central]
• Mai Kai [Critiki]
• Mai Kai Damaged by Hurricane Wilma [Humu Kon Tiki]

The historic Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, site of the recent Hukilau event, suffered damage from Hurricane Wilma. Wilma hit the area the harder than any storm in 50+ years. Early reports are that the damage is mostly to the exterior, including the plank bridge at the entrance, but the interior seems to be alright, with only some minor flooding behind the stage. It’s too early yet to know what repairs will be needed.

• Mai Kai in bad shape following Wilma [Tiki Central]
• Mai Kai [Critiki]

Stolen Tiki from Hawaiian Gardens

The tiki pictured here was stolen within the past three weeks from Hawaiian Gardens, a retirement community in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, near Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Tiki Kiliki, who lives near the complex, is helping the management search for this tiki. If you spot this tiki, or have any information about what happened to it, contact Tiki Kiliki at tiki_kiliki@tikikiliki.com.

• Tiki Stolen in Florida – please help! [Tiki Central]
• Hawaiian Gardens, Lauderdale Lakes [Critiki]

Just got back from a fantastic time at Tiki Kiliki’s Hukilau in Ft. Lauderdale. In what is becoming a Hukilau tradition, I lost my camera on Thursday, before the festivities had even begun. Hanford was able to take a few photos with his camera, hopefully we’ll be able to get those uploaded soon. Sadly, I became rather sick during my trip, with either a nasty cold or a mild flu, I’m not sure which. I’m sure it didn’t help at all that I refused to let the rare opportunity to consume delicious Mai Kai cocktails slip me by.

The event blew away all expectations, which already were quite high. The entire crowd became perfectly still, and all faces seemed to be totally transfixed in reverence, during Robert Drasnin’s historic performance. James Teitelbaum is responsible for making that part of the event come together: first, he had to get Robert Drasnin interested, and then, he had to track down professional musicians who could rise to the formidable task of performing a long set of complicated and exotic orchestrations. Amazingly, this 18-piece orchestra met and performed together for the first time when they rehearsed on Thursday, the day before the Friday performance. The live performance by this talented group sounded just like the recording of Voodoo we all know and love. The troupe contained a few notables: Formikaniki (a.k.a Miss Formica Dinette, or Alice Berry) provided primal, yet ethereal, vocals; four members of the Boston Exotica group Waitiki performed, and Robert Drasnin’s own grandson contributed his percussion talents. Another mainstay of Exotica was on hand for Hukilau, Yma Sumac. Meeting Ms. Sumac was an unexpected highlight for me, I found her to be quite charming, still glamorous, and it was pure delight to meet her. I didn’t get to see Charles Phoenix’s slide show, as I was helping out at the registration desk, but I heard it was a big hit, and Tiki Kiliki has stated that she’d like to see Phoenix become a permanent addition to future Hukilaus.

With every visit I make to the Mai Kai, I find somehow that my sense of familiarity does not grow, rather my sense of awe does. Very impressive. I cannot imagine every growing tired of visiting the Mai Kai, and I envy those who are able to make more regular trips there. Our night at the Mai Kai was wrapped up by a performance by the Boston Exotica group, Waitiki. I’d heard of the group quite some time ago, but this was my first time seeing them perform in person. I was quite simply blown away. I have so much to say about Waitiki that I’m going to have to do it in another blog post, which will come shortly. For now, I’ll simply say that Waitiki made me fall in love with Exotica all over again, and in a whole new way. You’re going to get tired of hearing me talk about how much I love them.

The Mai Kai has been very happy with Tiki Kiliki’s Hukilau and monthly Tiki Torch Night events, and they are very excited to work with Tiki Kiliki for next year’s Hukilau, which will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Mai Kai. Naturally, plans are already well underway for next year’s event, which is scheduled for October 5, 6, 7 & 8, 2006, and will feature the return of popular Italian band I Belli di Waikiki. There’s already a thunderous buzz from people eager to see what Kiliki will pull together for the Mai Kai’s 50th, and people from all over the country are already marking their calendars — Sven Kirsten says that he will absolutely not miss this one, and Otto von Stroheim & his wife Baby Doe are also planning on making it — naturally, Hanford & I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

• hukilau was fantastic. [Tiki Central]
• Who will go to Hukilau 2006? I will! [Tiki Central]

Yma Sumac

This year’s Hukilau event in Ft. Lauderdale has a lineup of musicians that has Exotica fans all a-twitter. During Friday’s event at the Bahia Mar, Robert Drasnin will be performing (with Miss Formica Dinette). Drasnin, whose album Voodoo is considered one of the great classics of exotica, will be performing material from his new album Voodoo II — his first new exotica music in 40 years. Also in attendance that night: the incomparable Yma Sumac, whose astounding voice for some defines the very aesthetic of exotica. Ms. Sumac’s ability to attend has been in question for health reasons, but it now appears that she will be able to attend after all. Saturday night at the Mai Kai brings a special performance by the exotica troupe Waitiki — after dinner, they will be playing an entire set of Martin Denny music. Martin Denny’s daughter recently attended a performance by Waitiki, and said it was as if he were there playing himself. Hukilau takes place the second weekend of October in Ft. Lauderdale; tickets are still available but will likely sell out.

• The Hukilau

Tiki Kiliki is sending out the call to those who have expressed an interest in volunteering at Hukilau. In addition to getting a warm and fuzzy feeling from helping create a sure-to-be-stupendous event, Hukilau volunteers also will get a first-look at the vendors, and a special gift from Tiki Kiliki. It’s volunteers who help keep massive and complicated events like Hukilau easy and affordable for so many people, and volunteering is actually fun, to boot — I’ve volunteered at events in the past, and will be doing so again at this year’s Hukilau. Those who are interested in volunteering should contact Tiki Kiliki, but be sure to read her post on Tiki Central first to get the specifics on how it works.

Also, any email about the Hukilau should go to tiki_kiliki@tikikiliki.com — there have been some technical difficulties with thehukilau.com domain’s email, so don’t send any email there.

• Volunteers for Hukilau 2005 [Tiki Central]
• The Hukilau 2005

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has an interview with Mireille Thornton, Mai Kai owner and choreographer, in their Fitness section. Mireille was born in Tahiti, and after coming to the United States, landed a job as a dancer at the Mai Kai (despite not actually knowing how to dance). She quickly became one of the Mai Kai’s best dancers, and became their choreographer in 1978. She caught Mai Kai creator Bob Thornton’s eye, and the two of them married and raised a family. Bob Thornton has passed away, but Mireille and her children still own and run the restaurant, and Mireille still takes great pride in choreographing the Mai Kai Polynisian floor show. The Mai Kai, and Mireille’s floor show, are the centerpiece of the upcoming Hukilau event.

• The right steps [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
• Mai Kai [Critiki]
• The Hukilau

The Hukilau is happening October 6-8 (boy, that’s coming up quickly!), and tomorrow, August 31, is the last day to get passes for the event at a discounted rate. Through tomorrow, 3 day passes (Thursday – Saturday) are $35 and 4 day passes (Thursday – Sunday) are $45. After tomorrow, passes go up: 3 day is $45 and 4 day is $55. Individual day passes will be available at the door for each day at the rate of $20.

The Hukilau has always been a massive, tent-pole event, and this year is no exception. As if an evening spent at the magical Mai Kai surrounded by other tikiphiles wasn’t enough, they’ve also scored a few special guests: Robert Drasnin, Yma Sumac and Bunny Yeager. That’s only the tip of the iceberg (hm, not the greatest metaphor for a tiki event, but I digress…) of what that weekend has in store. Check out the official event website for more enticing details. Last year, a hurricane couldn’t keep me away; you can be sure I’ll be there this year.

• The Hukilau
• Mai Kai [Critiki]