Post #679127 by Tangaroa-Ru on Thu, May 23, 2013 6:03 PM

Oh, you silly, silly ohana. Thanks for the laughs today with some of your comments. The big picture is that everyone is just really happy that Tiki Magazine ("And More" --coming this Fall) will continue. You're happy. Nick's happy. Even I'm happy. Of COURSE Amy and her staff will make changes that reflect their tastes and writing styles. (Though I doubt they will match Grog's imagination.) People, listen up: That's what happens when someone buys another person's business. You're SUPPOSED to put your own stamp on the product and make it the way YOU see it, and hopefully even better! I cannot emphasize this strongly enough -- please don't start rumors. This transition of Tiki Magazine from one owner to another is much, much better than the magazine just ending, don't you think?

Nick has done an amazing job creating the first-ever, commercial magazine about Tiki and has kept it going for a whopping nine years. I met Nick a year before he started this magazine (2003) at one of the Aloha-Cruz shows. (Remember those?) Over a stack of Don Blanding books, he introduced himself as an ordinary schoolteacher who had this dream to do a glossy, big-time magazine about Tiki. With his own money and effort, he made this happen in only one year. He didn't think it was impossible. By issue #2, he was able to make Tiki Magazine go international. Within a few issues after that, the magazine's circulation went up to 17,000 and was in found in huge chain bookstores as well as cool boutiques and many Tiki bars. Every single issue sold out, which is why they are such collectibles now. All of that is a pretty amazing accomplishment. And now, Nick wants to spend more time on some other really important things in his life, such as his two children -- because owning AND being the Editor-In-Chief of a magazine takes a lot of your time-- even a sub-culture, biannual publication like Tiki Magazine. Believe me, you have no idea. Unless you have actually done this yourselves, in which case you know what I'm talking about.

For every person who said they didn't like something about Tiki Magazine, there have been ten others who have loved it. You just can't please everyone. We hope, in the past nine years, this magazine has inspired, educated and entertained you. I, personally, hope it made everyone feel that this thing we love called "Tiki" is so valid and cool, it is worthy of its own magazine, because it is. This first incarnation of Tiki Magazine has been totally Nick's vision of what he wanted to do and see, and a few of us were lucky enough to be invited to play in his sandbox. It's been absolutely wonderful. (Okay, maybe not at deadline time, but other than that... pretty damn wonderful.)

Whatever comes after the August issue (Nick's last) will be through the eyes of new people with new ideas. I encourage you to support them, as you have supported Nick and the rest of us all these years. If you like what you see, tell them. If you don't, tell them. Or start your own magazine. But most of all, have fun, be kind to each other and enjoy this amazing Tiki community. Put good things out there, make good art, write great stories, create new cocktails, play awesome music, be good people and spread the aloha spirit. I love you all.

[ Edited by: tangaroa-ru 2013-05-23 21:59 ]