Post #13541 by TikiGardener on Tue, Nov 12, 2002 7:27 PM

When I started the Memorial two years ago, I did it because viewing that flyer in The Book of Tiki brought back fragments of memories. And fragments of the joy and wonder the six year old I was at the time.

I wanted to share that joy and those memories. I looked on the web, and there was nothing but the images of a post card folder
on the imaginary worlds website.

This was criminal to me. When Jim Tunstall asked me why I did it, why a website on Tiki Gardens, my reply was " to paraphase Edmond Hilary, 'because it WASN'T there' ".

My motivation for the whole tiki memorial, has been the same thing. But more importantly I wanted a tiki back there to thank the Byars. And I knew as I found out more about Tiki Gardens, that others would also.

This debate about my feelings being hurt, or bruised egos, misses the point entirely. My feelings are fine. My ego has never been large enough to bruise. Ask anyone who knows me. I may be opinionated, but thats just my world view, and my confidence in my world view because it has served me quite well.

Now, do I want to see a Tiki raised over the barren lot that is Tiki Gardens Beach Access?
Yes. But my vision all along has been one of a memorial to the Byars, not to me, not to my website, not to my efforts. Just a memorial to the Byars. If a plaque with the individual names of those who have supported the idea of raising a tiki to once again gaze out onto the Gulf Of Mexico can be afforded, great. It's always nice to be able to say; "see I helped with this". I've got no problem with that. I think a dedication to the Byars, along with a Cliffs Noted version of the History of Tiki Gardens would be the best, and if there is room, and funds for it, a list of persons who helped see this idea come to pass.

If money is to tight, then after the history it should read along the lines of From the Friends of Tiki Gardens.

If the Memorial is just going to be a billboard, thats not what I started this effort for. It's as disturbing an idea as bulldozers toppling the original tikis.

Chris has offered up some concern that Kahona might be maintenance intensive, given that leaves, etc gathered in the originals mouth. I personally favor Kahona despite this for one simple selfish reason. Kahona is THE tiki that stuck in my mind all these years. The other memory is that damned bridge seemingly ready to sink into the laggon, and lets face it, a bamboo bridge memorial just aint the same.

So maybe Kahona could be designed with a mouth that doesn't directly just drop everything directly into his tubular innards.
Something that allows the maintanence people to just walk up and hose him out.

My indignation came from the simple fact that
I wasn't allowed to try and see if I could bring this idea to fruition. If I have the Mayor of Indian Shores going down to take photos, whether I'm " barking up the wrong tree ", let me bark. At the very least, it doen't hurt to have him on our side. To find out that intitial papers were filed, well I leave it to anyone to figure out why that pissed me off.

So, if it's for a true memorial, if it's to get just one 6 year old to have that vision of Kahona stuck in their head for 37 years, I'm in.

If it's a billboard. I'm out.
TG
http://www.exotic-tiki-gardens.com

Post Script-- If I'm out, I won't say another word on the subject, as it won't be my project to complain about. But I will still send updates about the website, Christmas at Tiki Gardens coming soon.

[ Edited by: TikiGardener on 2002-11-12 19:33 ]