Post #503637 by hanford_lemoore on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 4:25 PM

Hi Tiki Centralites,

Ten years ago, on Wednesday January 12th, 2000 at 10:56:01am Pacific time, The Tiki Central Yahoo Club went live. It gained some serious steam pretty darn fast, with some hardcore Tikiphiles joining quickly and making the place a fountain of information. Yahoo Clubs merged into Yahoo Groups, but I eventually moved Tiki Central to it's own server here on Tikiroom.com.

To say it has flourished is an understatement. It has grown beyond my wildest dreams, and along with it I think it helped nurture today's modern Tiki culture. I am incredibly proud of Tiki Central and the members who make it such a unique place, and I cherish the friendships and connections that it has brought about for everyone.

On January 12th, I encourage you to head on out and support your local tiki bar -- whether it's a modern pub, a vintage palace, an old school restaurant, or just your home bar -- and lift a drink to Tiki Central! Personally, I'll be at Smuggler's Cove to celebrate.

While I'm at it, I want to thank some of the key people who have helped out Tiki Central along the way:

• Jennifer "DaisyMay" Thompson, who started Tiki Central with and really pounded the pavement to get new members signed on

• Otto Von Stroheim, whose Tiki News was a partial contributor in piquing my curiosity in Tiki that eventually led to TC.

• Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, who also indirectly influenced my Tiki interests when he self-published the Grog Log rough draft.

• Sven Kirsten, who lent an early air of legitimacy to Tiki Central when he joined the Yahoo Group shorty after it launched, and who has been a staunch supporter of the site ever since.

• Mig Ponce, who was the first person from TC who I met in real life. He helped me organize the first Tiki Central Bar Crawl

• All our moderators both past and present, who have helped keep the ship sailing all these years, including (but not limited to) Martiki, Humuhumu, TikiWahine, Tikifish, Aaron's Akua, Basement Kahuna, Sabu The Coconut Boy. If I'm forgetting some, please let me know.

• Tiki Crawl Volunteers: Martin Cate, Humuhumu, Mai Tai & Coco Loco, Notch, The Midnites, and countless others who pitched in to help out the Crawl all these years

• All the Tiki Central Special Agents: While their deeds are confidential, my gratitude for them will always be front and center

• Grand Members, Advertisers, and Tiki Central Collectible purchasers: over the years Tiki Central has cost close to $20,00.00 just to pay for web equipment, hosting, and occasional upgrades & maintenance. Whenever someone puts some money into the coffer, it is always much appreciated.

And of course, I don't want to underplay the importance of the Tiki Central members themselves. The Members & Grand Members, the posters and the lurkers, the askers and the answerers. Without you guys, this place would simply be one big, empty, lonely Tiki Hut. Thanks for making it a place worth visiting!

Once again, I encourage you to patronize your local tiki bar and lift a toast for 10 years of Tiki Central!

Mahalo,

~Hanford Lemoore

[ Edited by: hanford_lemoore 2010-01-13 12:11 ]