Post #613116 by congawa on Mon, Nov 7, 2011 5:07 PM

Many thanks to all of you for your condolences, which I'll pass on to my brother and family as well. My mother is the one who originally introduced me to "Tiki" when I was single-digits, with her Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman records, and trips to the Outrigger in South Laguna for Sunday brunch. She was sharp, vibrant and busy right to the end--I was in the process of scanning some slides for a whale talk she was going to give the following week when I received the news from my brother.

In the past week, we have been involved in the difficult task of trying to salvage what we can from the fire. Fortunately, there were a lot of slides and photos that were able to be retrieved (though some water and fire damaged), and some book materials (I am going to do everything I can to keep her history books on Dana Point in print). I found slides marked Hawaii, which probably include her stay at the Coco Palms in 1974, and our 1978 4-island Hawaiian vacation (which also included a visit to the Coco Palms). If so, once all the asbestos/smoke cleanup occurs and I'm able to access them from their current (safe) location, I'll scan and post anything interesting I find here as her contribution to TC.

I had tickets for my wife and I to the Tikiyaki Orchestra Dons show on Saturday, and I was initially figuring I would not go. However, after the difficult week, I decided it would be a good mental break, and I really appreciate the many heartfelt thoughts and prayers (and drinks) from the Ohana. I also remembered that I had first gone there with my mother back in the Sam's Seafood days, so there was a full-circle connection.

Caltiki Brent