Post #176207 by puamana on Mon, Aug 1, 2005 11:48 AM

Wow, what a blast ! Thank you thank you so much to all the TC ohana in Canada for such a fantastic welcome, what a great weekend. Many thanks to Pepe le Tiki and Alan at Funhauser for hosting such a great pre-Waldorf gathering. We were glad to meet Dan and Reid of Taboo Tiki, and get one of their great framed Waldorf tributes, as well as the great big moai that we went back for on Sunday before we left. It was great to see more of Travellin' Tiki's work and RodeoTiki's work as well. The folks at Raglans did a fine job accomodating all of us for dinner and drinks , thanks to Sabina and Oaktiki for the afternoon Rum tasting, and everyone who gathered for the event itself. It was so great to see familiar faces and meet many folks that we hadn't met yet. Having the chance to hang out in the Tahitian Lounge and see Lushy and the Buttersprites was great, and then to view all the rooms downstairs at the Waldorf was really something... It was like being a kid in a candy store. Many thanks to the management to let us spend some time viewing the rooms, I know we sure were an appreciative crowd.

The Polynesian Room is amazingly well preserved, and the amount of detail and quality of the elements that went into the decor was just such a visual treat to take in....the shape of the palm trees, the terrific Savage mural, the doors to the ladies room that just perfectly blended into the rest of the lauhala wall, you barely knew that was the door to the bathroom. The tiny little bar as you enter the Polynesian Room, the Leeteg that was tucked away in the Menehune Room, the carved Menehune support posts, the doors the the Menehune Room ... the list goes on and on. At one point I was taking a photo of the coat check area, and I had no idea what I was looking at as it was dark in that particular area. It wasn't until I got home and looked at the photos that I saw what it really looked like ! The mural behind the bar in the hallway just before the Menehune room was really something, as well as the menus which were on the wall ( I hadn't seen that particular Leeteg painting used for their menus). I could ramble on and on about it all.

One of the things that really struck me was the personal displays in the Menehune Room, which celebrated the life of the owner of the Waldorf, who just recently passed away. He had started out as a chef, then took over as owner in the 60's, I believe. The wake had been held in the Menehune Room, where there were still flowers and many display items commemorating his life. It was really something to see.

I'm so glad that Sabina & Oaktiki's photos turned out so great ! A bunch of mine were pretty grainy, but here's a few from the night :

Oaktiki & Sabina at Funhauser:

Reid of Taboo Tiki with the moai he carved :

Selector Lopaka and Leeteg in the Tahitian Lounge:

At the top of the stairs to the Polynesian Room:

Polynesian Room:

Bar beside the Polynesian Room:

Polynesian Room menus:

More Polynesian Room:

Doors the Menehune Room:

Menehune Room:

Coat Check :

And a few photos of the tiki and its transition to its new home, along with the Waldorf piece that is now hanging just above the moai in the last photo:

We really look forward to another event in Vancouver, and here's to another future gathering at the Waldorf !

And Travellin' Tiki, lets talk about that painting !

[ Edited by: puamana 2005-08-01 11:55 ]