Post #570167 by Lake Surfer on Fri, Dec 24, 2010 12:27 AM

Winding down the year, and looking forward to next year! I will be celebrating 10 years of tiki carving! I have some big things planned!

A couple weeks ago, the wife and I were out in LA for the Tonga Hut "Tiki Wonderland" show.

Sven contacted me asking if we'd like to come up to Oceanic Arts since I had never been. It was my first time meeting Bob and Leroy also.

Bob and Leroy are two men that have been an inspiration to me since I first discovered "tiki." It was a real honor to meet them in person and see the empire that they have built over their careers. I really enjoyed talking with them about the craft of wood carving and paging through books of all the beautiful work they have done through the decades. Their work is so much deeper then just tikis, it spans restaurant, theme park and nautical decor.

They know their subject matter inside and out and have gone to great lengths and research before the work is even started. I've got heaps of respect for them.

Wandering the aisles of the OA warehouse is a lesson in tiki history, and the walls and carvings all speak a story to me.

Mahalo Bob and Leroy for your inspiration and continued contributions to the tiki world! And thank you Sven for your hospitality! Lunch at Bahooka was fun, I want to come back again when I have more time to check it all out. It was a tiki filled day I'll always remember!

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer 2010-12-24 00:29 ]