Post #152094 by No Ka Oi on Sun, Apr 10, 2005 5:58 PM

Ia Orana Outou! O Todd Hackett to’u j’oa. Here’s my a’amaramaramara’a for those who don’t know me:

My interest in Polynesia came from my Pop who served in WWII from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima. He met my Mom at a USO canteen, and I grew up here in L.A. Then there were only really two Polynesian restaurants that were classy- Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood and the Tahitian in Pasadena (and Encino). That was the coolest restaurant ever. The Tahitian was a mysterious magical oasis with incredible food and heavenly French pastries served from a cart by a lovely vahine. In college I drove a VW bug with the plate No Ka Oi & worked at Disneyland in the 70s and 80s, mostly on the “west side” of the park, spending endless days at- where else? The Enchanted Tiki Room as a host!

At California Institute of the Arts I worked with a Disney artist organizing a Papua New Guinea artifact & tiki collection and helped put together a book on his experiences exploring the dark side of Polynesia where white men dare not go and cannibalism still existed.

Remember Sea & Jungle, a Polynesian restaurant supply store in Glendale? It was run by a cool Maohi named Tiki, who every summer booked the dancers & fire eaters for the Tahitian Terrace Polynesian Revue in Disneyland (now there’s a cause- lets bring it back!). Sadly Sea & Jungle tore down its huge thatched hut entrance in the late 80s to make way for a welfare office.

I collect Polynesia that pertains to my youth, and the extras go on ebay. I’ve overpaid for some items just like everyone else, and I’m sorry if my prices seem sometimes a little high. I’m just trying to cover expenses and my ebay buying habit! My other Maohi friends will tell you that I’m just a regular Joe.

I don’t ingest illegal stimulants from South America, but I do enjoy cigars from Havana and Martinis, Bahias (aka Coconut Rum Swizzles), and Kahlua. Most of the Tahitians I know who are into this are like me are older and don’t hang around the ‘net. I’m brand new to message boards (this being my first post!), so I’m sorry I didn’t reply earlier.

If you’re curious about what I look like, I was in the Doo-Dah parade in Pasadena this year filming friend Queen Cherry Capri of Lotta Living and her Tiki retinue. I’m the guy who walked backwards with a camera (twice!) thru the parade. Na reira ia. Parahi ia. Todd.

[ Edited by: No Ka Oi on 2005-04-10 18:01 ]