Post #260116 by Basement Kahuna on Tue, Oct 10, 2006 11:54 PM

Man...4 Hukilau and they just get better and better. My memories? A quiet arrival at 1AM Tuesday with a 10 foot panel van after 11 hours of driving...ready for that Cabana. Getting up Wednesday morning and realizing I'd left my clothes in Athens! Puttering around all day Wednesday looking for Aloha shirts in Ft. Liquordale! Kim bailing me out with one from her for sale stash!(Mahalos!) Having a nice, quiet dinner Wednesday at the Mai Kai with TikiBob, Christy, Scott, Stacey and the early arrival crew..Enjoying the hospitality of an incomparable host and good friend Kern Mattei..then being ushered over to the indoor garden by Kern and Pia and Kiliki and Dave Levy afterbeing told they had something to show me...and BOOM realizing what it was they had to show me-the tiki I carved for Miss Thorton standing in the foremost place in the passageway. That was a highlight of my life...a full circle go-round from which I first embarked from my wee little nothing Mono Tiki Tia home lounge on Nanthahala Avenue in Athens back in 1990..I was blown away. Awakening in the morning on Thursday and hectically embarking for the local NBC affiliate station to do a Hukilau segment, and realizing that that guy I had been shooting the bull with in the green room before our time slot was none other than William Katt, the Greatest American Hero himself. Pricelessly cool. Meeting the vendor crew, and meeting up with my brothers from other mothers Diablo and Lakesurfer and the patient, supportive, helpful, and understanding great wives behind the great men. Crash and crew and Lucky Lou's enthusiasm after a 16-hour drive from Texas. Wrapping up the early setup and heading down to the Cabana to hang in Jim and his lovely Wahine's room with Pablus(you, my friend, are the official keeper of the Concubine...it's okay...because I said so..)who saved me some Concs like the irreplaceable buddy he is. Catching up with Sven after (Lord, how long?). Then getting to see the Gen'rl and Humu and the gen-u-wine bona fide behind-the-scenes superwoman known as I Dream Of Tiki and Mr. and Mrs. Lopaka and Otto and Vern and Alice and Bamboo Ben and Al and Josh and Keigs and Heather and Danny and Steph and... Getting up Friday and having a great time meeting the last vendors loading in..'Doin a liddle bidness...Selling practically out of my vintage tiki mugs in an hour! Doing some slightly late carving for the folks with Danny and Keigs and Al and Lakesurfer...nice break. Lakesurfer knocking down some coconuts and Palmetto bugs. Worrying sick about getting all three of my responsibilities for the day in a straight, doable row! Billy Mure and Ape together on stage! Meeting up in our room for one helluva punch mixed by the swami Martiki and Rebecca and then taking that (and 100 proof Nirvana Banana, and Cruzan Single Barrel, and 35 or so of my dearest friends out into 3 or so feet deep (30 yards out!) of the most crystal clear moonlit ocean I've seen to this day to drink drinks and tell tales and live life to the fullest...testing my "hybrid bands"-(Leonard Nemoy Skynrd...Minnie Pearl Jam!) on revund Otto (who I hadn't seen since Trader Vic's 50th!). Hanging with Hanford and Michelle and Alice and Ibelli and the Haole Cats and friends at the big hot tub until lord knows when.. Wrapping up the vendor co-or duties rapid fire (and thus having to bow out of the Beachbum's seminar unfortunately). Keigs selling like platinum those last few hours! Dresses for Crash and Lucky Lou (you wear it well, ladies!). Shirts for moi! Loading the big van and off to the Mai Kai..Me and Nikki enjoying a superb show and having the best company I get every year! Getting meself a plaque to love fer all me own! Sipping 21 year-old Flor De Cania in the office with Ken, Heather, Nikki, Alice, and Denny and his new family. Kern Mattei is a rare quality of a host. I always look forward to seeing you, man. BACK IN THE WATER for the Friday Night crew! Wrapping up with dinner and conversation Sunday with Keigs and Heather...on the beach, with the most gorgeous harvest moon. The list goes on and on. Aloha to all of the Ohana. If I forgot you, I didn't really. I adore you all, and mahalos for years of friendship!