Post #255121 by Eleio the fleet on Mon, Sep 18, 2006 10:17 AM

Aloha Zulu,

Well it's a shame that some negativity had to drift into this thread, but I'm honestly in too good of a mood from Saturday's event to get into throwing a bunch of stones with you.

To answer your Caerthe/Eleio question, yes I, just like you ZuluMaggo/Miehana, have possessed a different TC name and changed it for a similar reason. I too realized that after some time on the lists, my name was borrowing too heavily from other influences and I choose Eleio to better reflect my tiki persona. I've really made no effort to hide my former name, so I'm uncertain as to why you feel this is such an important item to discuss at this time, but no matter. I would invite anyone who hasn't read either of these threads, to please take a look. Personally, I feel that though some of the discussion was a bit passionate, the tiki public really had some excellent things to say.

Regarding your implications that I’m attempting to create another tiki group in Denver, I think you’ve completely misunderstood my intentions. Ohana is the word the tiki community predominantly uses for Family, which is what I believe we’re both working to create. I don't think Hanford Lemoore was feeling threatened, claiming any role of leadership or attempting to create division when he used this word for the OHANA section of the TC lists and it was in that same spirit in which I used it for the Tiki Links event, the incredible sign that Tiki-el agreed to create for everyone’s use (which you never commented upon when he posted what he was specifically making, some time ago) and now for this thread. Simple as that. Why you’ve just now chosen the use of this word to find great offense and make this such a public issue, intrigues me since you seemed to have no issue with being associated with that word (I’m referring to the Tiki Links event flyer) when I was offering you credit for your input on the project and have included Denver Ohana in just about every Tiki Links post I’ve sent over the last couple months. If the words Denver Ohana confused and bothered you so much, why didn’t you let me know or ask me to have your name removed from the flyer?

Regarding my association with the Rocky Mountain Tiki Newsletter, I’m a bit puzzled. Since I haven’t contributed an article and declined your very strong insistence that Tiki Links be sponsored by your newsletter, I don’t really see any reason why my association with your creation should be an issue? I have no ill feelings towards this project and have, in fact, promoted your work to the numerous contacts I made while creating Tiki Links, not to mention the advertising I tried to help you obtain to lessen your out of pocket. I just didn’t think that Tiki Links (nor any Denver tiki event) absolutely needs to be supported, sponsored or endorsed by either you, or your publication, in order to happen. Is this wrong? I don’t think so, but you apparently feel otherwise. Also, though I’m extremely happy with the Tiki Links event and have decided to host it annually, I must wonder and be concerned for those who host future tiki events in Denver. If they also chose not to seek your personal support or your newsletter’s endorsement, will it also be implied that they are unsupportive of the Denver Ohana?

I truly wish that you had made the effort to speak with me first before making such rash assumptions, creating another thread and subjecting everyone to such negativity. I know that you’ve voiced your opinions about me and Tiki Links in other forums and venues, but I must wonder why you never spoke to me about any of this? It seems to me that addressing your frustration and confusion, with me personally, would’ve provided the best results for everyone. Furthermore, I wonder (though you said that you didn’t want to create another Denver Tiki thread and are aware of some of the potential negative effects) why you did anyway?

I really hope we can get through these misunderstandings and continue to have fun. If not, then I’ll wish you the best with your projects as I’m not going to ask people to pick a side. They, like me, are just here to have fun and I don't think that the Denver tiki movement is as small and fragile as you might think.

-Eleio