Post #513114 by Bohemiann on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 9:44 AM

On 2010-02-22 17:17, JOHN-O wrote:

On 2010-02-22 10:14, bigtikidude wrote:
good to hear/read.

now where is the SC review?

Jeff(btd)

Actually I’ve decided not to post that full review. :(

I was informed today that many here on TC believe this type of prolonged discussion (“Is SC Tiki”, “FI vs. SC”) is not good for the scene, especially when these threads show up in the results of non-TC search engines.

It was not my intent to upset people and I apologize to anyone who felt the thread was inappropriate (or went on too long).

FYI, I was NOT asked to remove my posts or change my tone, it was just a polite "heads up” that I’ve decided to respect.

So let me end it with a short version of my original review:

"Smuggler’s Cove is BEYOND Tiki !! The cocktails are amazing."

Go see Reza (aka the “Rear Admiral”). You’ll be seeing a lot more of him. :)

That’s all folks !!

I just caught up on some of my TC reading and made my way through this thread. looks familiar.

Tiki-Censorship ?

Can't say as I blame you John-O and, that's sad... on one level but understandable on another.

We should feel free to post whatever our opinions are but often do not for fear of crossing some kind of fuzzy "Tiki Correctness" line on an ambiguous sub-cultures sense of..... well, itself. There is also the fact that we all gravitate to the same watering holes, events, online communities and one does not want to damage relationships or risk being shunned by the current list of tiki Demi-gods or of running contrary to someones VERY strong opinion.

My STRONG opinions lean towards maintaining Aloha Spirit, Respect, and Tolerance when posting and normally my objections are not to contrary opinion but to it's delivery or that opinions digression from respectable discourse or smug intolerance to anothers opinion with obvious "Holy-er than thou" undertones. Obviously I do not have an opinion on run-on sentences.

That said, I think I understand the premise behind not wanting to propagate the "vs." discussions.

Looking at a place for what it is NOT rather than what it IS is to begin and base your opinion from a negative stance. To compare every new place to a few who have done it right, in our opinion, or.... what WAS, or what we few think it SHOULD be, is futile. Better to look at places with an open mind and on their own individual and unique merits and offerings and not whether or not it compares to the Mai-Kai or FI or some defunct place we wish could have made it but did not because.... ?!? there is a topic in itself. What we think it takes to make an Authentic Tiki Bar may not be economically feasible, sustainable, or practical save for a few locations. Honestly some of our "Holy Places" are barely hanging on while the so called "undesirables" are doing quite well.

I absolutely love and prefer Exotic and Dark Molokai Lounges, BUT I also like the sand in my toes at a thatch Native American Chickee hut on a white sand Florida beach with a decent rum-runner and burger, and when in Denver I always drive down to Manatou Springs to visit the Castaway and it's odd mixture of decor, including a strong Pirate theme and good Chinese food. A lot of the scene in Florida has a Caribbean influence...so what. Thats Florida's Style. If I am not mistaken the Tiki Pop Culture is a mixture of South Pacific Influences brought back and mixed in with distinctly AMERICAN influences...like Googie. It's not surprising we see Polynesian mixing with Caribbean as we get further South East. This may be blasphemy to some but .... We are having fun anyway and just may be peddling as much, if not more, ALOHA Spirit than a closed minded intolerant outlook on diversity.

I honestly do not care for Jimmy Buffet music but the fact that a place may play it along with Reggae and steel drums will not keep me from visiting and having a good time, and enjoying good company. I DO require good service and quality drinks. That much is universal. If there is Polynesian, pirates, Smugglers, or nautical mixed in....awesome!

I left out a lot of info from the Book of Tiki on purpose in order to not strip the subject of all its mystique.

Sven, this cracked me up ! History (and sub-culture it seems) are truly defined by those who write it. Distinguishing a critical philosophy of history from speculative philosophy of history is always fun. Sven, did a great job telling us where we have been....even if we can't handle the WHOLE TRUTH and here is where we get to discuss, diagnose, and futilely attempt to influence where its going. In truth it will go where POPULAR CULTURE dictates. As un-intellectual as that process may be that is what was responsible for the whole scene in the first place, the "Regular Joe" and what he is willing to pay for.

The fact is the watered down versions are making money and will remain more popular than our tiki revival. I don't mind. We have our events and our "Holy Places" and while I would like to see more the only way that would happen is to dilute and mass produce. My opinion. I like the special rare places that I have to go and seek out and revel in, I like the intimacy of our events. I also like the availability of good drinks, diverse ideas and design, unique approaches, and maybe a small taste of Aloha Spirit.

I think we have it pretty good right now and there are more offerings, interactions, and information available for us now than there ever has been thanks to the efforts of some and the interest of all of you. There is certainly a dependency.

I wonder if there were people like anthropologists or something who loved Authentic Polynesian culture and were horrified at the "Tiki Places", Shirts, and Poly-Pop occurrences back in the day and felt like the whole scene just exploited and painted a tainted picture of the culture.

No post is complete without a picture:

The Intoxicators playing Surf Music in the Molokai. The Molokai offers a very wide variety of music including an occasional Buffet tune, Jazz, Blues, and other Non-Tiki tunes. Honestly...is NOTHING Sacred?

[ Edited by: Bohemiann 2010-02-24 10:05 ]