Post #41351 by Basement Kahuna on Tue, Jul 1, 2003 8:12 PM

Here's some pics...I'll narrate! First we have the Mai Kai sign...I deliberately cropped this pic so that those poor unwashed saps that have never been can be as breathtaken as we were at the scene that unfolds... Next we have one of the greatest, wisest, and most wonderful guys on earth...Pasifeka, who is a full blooded Samoan and whose son was one of our fabulous 12th floor room vendors at the Holiday Inn (Afa Tasi Polynesian Beachwear). Pasifeka was the hit of the floor and perhaps the whole vendor setup...he brought about 150 fresh coconuts which he would cut into a drink vessel right before your eyes and pop in a straw so you could drink the fresh coconut milk inside..his skill with a knife is amazing, as well it should be..he was one of the principle Samoaon fire and knife dancers in the Mai Kai show for almost 20 years. Here is Pasifeka holding one of my Akatara weapons during the vendor day (what a blast it was) And here is Pasifeka in action (back of picture) in the Mai Kai show in 1975 A few of the amazing variety of vintage Hawaiian dresses and Aloha shirts available on vendor day.. Here we have the darkened view facing the indoor portion of the tropical gardens while sipping our Zombies and Black Magics through the window of the back booth at the Molokai bar (an unbelieveable part of the Mai Kai which is basically the stateroom of a 16th century Portugese Galleon complete with cascading tropical rainstorms and ropes and riggings salvaged from the set of "Mutiny on the Bounty!). Next a few pictures of us and friends in the indoor garden. This doesn't even scratch the surface of the total gardens at the Mai Kai which 2 full-time gardeners work year round to care for.. BK and wahine Heather And us with Brad's Wahine Tikkicino (I think whoever we asked to take these was hammered)... And we are seated, and pampered with unbelieveably good food, and the drums beat, and the conchs sound, and the show begins...the rumble and din of the opening number reverberates around the resturaunt menacingly.... Our Emcee, who himself was one of the original Mai Kai fire dancers, and whose son is a current fire dancer. The Maori portion of the show...this one had meaning to me as I have always wished to go to New Zealand and study their carvings and culture up close.. You'll never get past this guy with a TiaHia! Fire Knife dancers...this is a skill which these guys literally inherit from a very young age and is stunningly dazzling and very dangerous and precise as one slip could spell serious injury to the dancers or audience.... Gecko and Kahuna finally meet and enjoy the Mystery Drink during the show.. That's all I'll show of the Mai Kai...There is a very good reason the Tiki Bar Review Pages suggest you go to every other tiki establishment in America before you go there...it is because anything else is a letdown after the Mai Kai. It is simply UNBELIEVEABLE. This event was just the tops! A toast...to Hukilau 2003 and all who made it possible!

[ Edited by: Basement Kahuna on 2003-07-01 23:48 ]

[ Edited by: Basement Kahuna on 2003-07-02 09:25 ]

[ Edited by: Basement Kahuna 2006-05-10 12:47 ]