Post #362968 by tikiwinebear on Fri, Feb 22, 2008 6:53 PM

For the past 5 years, we have vacationed at the same wonderful condo complex on the West side of Maui. It is an older complex with lots of charm and away from the main tourist areas. The outside grounds are well maintained with many native Hawaiian plants, the lawn area keep green and manicured, and the older architecture is adorned with lava rock walls. I would not term it Tiki, but very much Old Hawaiian.

Last month, I purchased a 3' carved Tiki (in the likeness of Ku) and shipped it to the condo complex after getting permission of their Rental Manager. She was ecstatic when it arrived and promptly placed it outside on the grounds. Within a few days, she received a call from the "President of the Board" of the condo association, and was told to remove the Tiki immediately from the grounds. With further investigation, the Rental Manager found out that the Resident Manager's wife, who is the contracted landscaper for the condo complex and also a minister in a "church" on Maui, found the Tiki offensive and called the "President" to have the Tiki removed. The landscaper felt the Tiki should not have been placed in a public place without the consent of the Board members, and she felt it would be offensive to some of the guests at the condo complex.

Whether the Tiki will be allowed on the grounds will be subjected to a vote by the Board in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the Tiki stands inside the rental office at the condo complex and can be seen by all guests and customers. Everyone seems to love him. He is currently adorned with a fresh flower lei as a headdress, and one of my Fishnet Float pendants hanging around his neck.

When we arrived on Wednesday, the Rental Manager arranged a special ceremony to show the guests of the condo complex what the Tiki looked like, and to give the Tiki a name. She used a wood burning tool to inscribe the name "Malu Ku'ono" (Protector of the Cove) into a plaque which we (Jay and I) attached to the base of the Tiki statue. (The condo is built around a small cove instead of on a sandy beach.) Once the ceremony was over, we placed Malu Ku'ono inside the Rental office for safe keeping.

Many of the returning guests have been staying at this condo complex for 15-25 years, some as owners of the units, others as guests (like us). Over the last few days, we have not heard one negative remark about the Tiki being on the grounds. In fact, we have discovered many of the guests have now taken a dislike for the landscaper for making such a ridiculous demand/request to the board.

I am still shocked that a Tiki, carved in the Hawaiian Ku form, could be rejected by anyone living in Hawaii. I understand personal beliefs are important to have, but when in Rome... It think it also important to know that the landscaper and her husband are white (haole) and not native to Hawaii. Also, the Rental Manager (also is white) will retain the Tiki inside the Rental office if the Board decides the Tiki to be too controversial for the outside grounds.

What are your thoughts?