Post #241371 by rugbymatt on Thu, Jul 6, 2006 5:56 PM

Wow! So many wonderful sentiments and recollections.

I grew up in a tiki era (b.1962) and only about an hour away from the great Kahiki. The sad bit was that apart from my Grandma no one in my family were cocktail types so the Kahiki and all things tiki remained a mystery to me for years. I was 22 before I even had my first aloha shirt (Ft. Sill PX). Fast forward to about 5 years ago and things began to change rapidly. It started with an interest in aloha shirts (the good, the bad, and the ugly). About 3 years ago I got my first tiki mug and now I have over 100. I am adding on a tiki room with bar next month. I hit Hukilau last Fall, Tiki Oasis in May, will be in Catalina next month, and come full circle in October with Hukilau '06.

I am a consumate tiki late bloomer but I have thrown myself headlong into making up for lost time. The thing that has motivated to proceed down the jungle path is the great people I have met at every event and here on TC. The Ohana are truly wonderful and unique. I can only hope to create new memories as wonderful as those everyone has been sharing on this thread. Tiki to me is loving life and enjoying every step along the way.

Mahalo nui loa!