Post #764203 by Hurricane Hayward on Tue, May 24, 2016 7:21 PM

The Mai-Kai welcomes King Kai

A new 10-foot-tall Tiki, carved by South Florida's Will Anders, is dedicated during a special ceremony on Sunday, May 22. Photos by The Atomic Grog.

New Mai-Kai employee Kai (right), a native of Hawaii, performs the ceremony welcoming King Kai and honoring carver Will Anders.

From left: Mai-Kai owner Dave Levy (left) with the prime movers of the new King Kai carving: The Hukilau’s Christie "Tiki Kiliki" White and artist Will Anders.

A plaque honors those responsible for making the installation of King Kai happen.

King Kai was carved by Fort Lauderdale artist Will Anders from a 10-foot-tall Florida Black Olive tree trunk.

The Mai-Kai's owner, Dave Levy (third from left), is joined by most of those responsible for making King Kai possible (from left): Pete Ginn, Lonnie Dryden, Christie "Tiki Kiliki" White, Will Anders, and Virginia Decker.

King Kai now stands in The Mai-Kai's tropical garden in a spot formerly occupied by a historic Tiki that will be moved to the indoor gardens.

Fort Lauderdale carver Will Anders shows off the award he received for creating King Kai, flanked by two others who were essential in pulling off the installation: Artist Tom Fowner (left) and Lonnie Dryden.