Post #217217 by mbonga on Sat, Feb 25, 2006 1:35 AM

Only 8 people are browsing at the moment, so I guess it's up to me to respond first, even though I've never been to a "tiki event."

Two ideas have been running around my mind lately for social events that would be great for tiki fan get-togethers:

1. drum circle
   It takes very little skill to bang on a set of bongos, and it doesn't take much more money to buy them, either. Kids and adults can join in, create a great auditory result, learn in the process, and have fun doing so. Most cities have free drum circles that anybody can sit in, and they're a lot of fun. All types of percussion are welcome, too: African drums seem to be the most popular, but there are also bongos, congas, claves, guiros, maraccas, cowbells, cabasas, and you name it. Since bongos are often associated with beach-California-tiki-'60s culture, this seems appropriate.

2. bamboo monkey bars
   I discussed this event that I saw in Bonsall in the following thread:
   http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=18316&forum=7&14
   All it takes is a big pile of bamboo poles, or even PVC pipe if bamboo is unavailable, plus some twine, and somebody who knows how to lash them together, and who can teach others.

Other ideas I might throw out:

3. ukulele jams (Where else could you find another ukulele player to jam with? Maybe the uke players can even fit in with the drum circle at times.)
4. wood carving demonstrations (have lots of bandages on hand!)
5. tiki bar, of course, for the grownups (if laws prevent alcohol, just use nonalcoholic drinks instead)
6. hula or Tahitian dance sessions or lessons
7. bobbing for mangos?
8. hula hoops? (I haven't seen those in years)
9. a bonfire, if possible
10. tiki displays, collections, or contests, with awards
11. singalongs (How many people know "The Hawaiian War Chant", for example? Good chance to learn the lyrics.)
12. tiki torches at night
13. no limit on vendors: pendants, artwork, books, CDs, shirts, orchids, etc.
14. removable tattoo drawing? (the tiki analog to face painting, which is popular at fairs)
15. Hawaiian or travel films playing on the side?
16. lei making?
17. tiki mug collection displays?
18. Hawaiian type feast cooked in a pit?
19. poi making?
20. kava making?
21. fish print T-shirt making?
22. Martin Denny / Augie Colon style bird call lessons?
23. lava sledding or sled-making? (you'd probably need a hill nearby)
    http://starbulletin.com/2005/07/24/news/story9.html
24. fire walking?
25. Micronesian stick fight contests?
26. pineapple jack-o-lanterns?

The most practical ideal location, of course, would have to be somewhere in Southern California or maybe Florida. Hawaii is too far, and everywhere else is either too cold, too untiki, or too far for most people.

I'd keep the professional acts to a minimum, since it's too easy to fall into nonparticipating show-watching mode instead of socializing and making memories of your own.

I'm envisioning an outdoor event where there is lots of room and the kind of activities where both young and old can join in, to make nice memories for the next generation of tiki lovers to cherish later on. Damn, all this sounds pretty fun. Let me know if you plan something like that.

Just my vision.

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-02-25 01:47 ]

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-02-25 01:51 ]

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-02-25 02:02 ]

[ Edited by: mbonga 2006-02-25 04:29 ]