Post #421498 by Iokona Ki'i on Sun, Nov 30, 2008 1:41 PM

Aloha Tiki Peeps!

Finally joined a couple of weeks ago, but have been a fly on the wall
for a while now. I actually posted something recently but should have
introduced myself here first. Whoops! Apologies... Where are my manners?

I first got interested in Tiki on trips to Hawai'i. I found myself
taking picture after picture of everything tiki. I Moved to London for work after college for a couple of years and would frequent Trader Vic's there. I came to LA for work and saw some tiki art shows and was blown away. Got Sven's Book of Tiki ages ago and have been a tikiphile ever since.

I Wanted to join in on the art shows, but I helped start a side business for fun that totally took off and has consumed me and my fiance's life for the past 5 years (no complaints here, as we were able to quit our day jobs soon after we started). Anyway, I thought I would be able to paint on the side...yeah right! People always say starting a business from scratch is the hardest thing to do, and boy...were they right. Especially if you got no money! However, we were able to design some tropical Hawaiiana tiki themed stuff for our products that have been some of our best selling items, especially in Hawai'i, so that's been fun to do.

Anyway, finally on top of things business wise, as much as can be, so we have started to go to a few local tiki parties/events recently. Met some great people, artists, writers, musicians, etc... and have had a blast! Looking forward to more! And I have finally started my art outside of work, which I will be posting soon. Better late than never.

Making up for lost tiki time!

Mahalo!

http://www.fluffshop.com