Oceanside officials vs Tiki daddy

You guys see this yet?

OCEANSIDE: Tiki artist's latest work draws city scrutiny

"A few weeks ago, at the prodding of neighborhood kids, tiki artist Steven Tustison, 44, carved large, grinning faces ---- one with a pineapple nose ---- into two towering palms in front of his Freeman Street home...."

James Shaw
Tiki Statues and Tiki Masks at http://www.RoyalTiki.com

[ Edited by: royaltiki 2008-08-02 08:02 ]

Does defacing require an intent to vandalize?
Why doesnt the City find something better to do?

Judging by the nice appearance of his house, he is harmless.

In the islands we do not deface trees with carvings we choose ones that are cut down and then do our carving. Our canoes are carved from trees that are cut down for this purpose for the Canoe Festival on Maui. This is destruction and even if someone carves their names in a tree, it is hurting the living tree. We respect our aina here but those on the mainland do not. Even our ohana who live on the mainland respect the trees. How would you like it if someone carved into you when you are alive? The City is right in asking him to stop and it is City property. Respect your land. And yes christiki295 the City has to take care of this, it is defacing their property.

On 2008-08-02 18:35, HinaHinawahine wrote:
In the islands we do not deface trees with carvings we choose ones that are cut down and then do our carving. Our canoes are carved from trees that are cut down for this purpose for the Canoe Festival on Maui. This is destruction and even if someone carves their names in a tree, it is hurting the living tree. We respect our aina here but those on the mainland do not. Even our ohana who live on the mainland respect the trees. How would you like it if someone carved into you when you are alive? The City is right in asking him to stop and it is City property. Respect your land. And yes christiki295 the City has to take care of this, it is defacing their property.

Yes HinaHina--I agree. I grew up on Kauai, this is kapu. I was appalled when I woke up to this in the morning paper, on the front page no less! This guy is very ignorant and he thinks it's funny. Mahalo for your input, people need to be educated.

The carvings are cool, but won't he be bummed if the trees die!

A) he should have talked to an arborist before picking up the chainsaw.

B) he should have understood whose trees they are, and on learning that they belong to the citizens of O'side, he should have at least consulted his neighbors. If the trees were on his property, it's nobody else's business what he does with them.

If I went to Tahiti I would want to see natural palms. If they all had a quick job tiki on them it wouldn't be the same paradise.

Whatever your view is, it's hard to believe he's chainsaw carving in shorts and sandals. FAIL. A poor example to the children.

[ Edited by: Jungle Trader 2008-08-03 10:25 ]

Anybody who claims they didn't realize that the land between the road and the sidewalk is a public easement owned by the city is either very ignorant or flat-out lying. He didn't notice the city crews coming around to trim the palms every year or so?

well intentioned vandalism

If this was my job or pastime I would take the time to know my art and culture behind it. Ignorance of the law is no excuse and this guy is ignorant.

Does anyone know who he is? Does he post here?

Yeah, isn't he the jerk that got into a fight at the Tiki Farm Parking Lot Sale? Basically the ONLY fight I've ever seen or heard of at a tiki event. After he got bounced from there, my friend saw him at a local San Clemente watering hole, causing trouble and getting his ass kicked there as well.

Just so there's no confusion, I live in Oceanside, and I carve tikis, but that is NOT me!

Thank You. :D

Much mahalos to lennieguys for his input on this being kapu in the islands and the other TC members who agreed. This shows that there are many true believers of nature, island lifestyle and respect for the aina and all it is.

On 2008-08-03 12:57, 4WDtiki wrote:
Just so there's no confusion, I live in Oceanside, and I carve tikis, but that is NOT me!

Thank You. :D

Okay, we forgive you for that because you didn't know the trees weren't yours, but starting the fight at the tiki farm sale was inexcusable! I knew there was something about you when I saw all those tattoos that you had.

Lookout for the those southside "O" tiki gangstas, tagging up the hood...

They call the nice part of Oceanside "Carlsbad."
Buzzy Out!

"They're city-owned and maintained trees," said Joe Arranaga, Oceanside's deputy director of public works. What Tustison did ---- artistic or not ---- is "defacing city property," Arranaga said Thursday.

That is the bottom dollar. They were NOT his trees, nor on his property. they were in the city owned landscaping next to the sidewalk. Had those trees been on his property in his yard, the city wouldn't have bothered him.

And are you talking fist fight, or belligerent arguing?
crazy man, crazy..........

Another edit.....he DID have one in his yard already!

look to the right in the background.....

[ Edited by: Tom Slick 2008-08-04 13:56 ]

My favorite part is "...at the prodding of neighborhood kids..." WHAT??? What adult defaces living trees because kids begged him to? What a poor example of adult leadership.

Maybe it was the kids in the background.....

I thought "O'Side" was mostly made up of a small town with Marine Base?...
If I were him, I'd get my own tree specialist for a second professional opinion, just in case.

Is this the same guy who was sleeping in his trailer at Oasis in the chop area, and started the morning by firing up the chainsaw?

And, for me personally...I'm over the pineapple nose tiki. Reminds me of Floriduh tiki...The article responses talked about the pothole problem in Oside... As with every city there are fights to pick, and this one is fairly petty. On the other hand, I know I'd be pretty upset if I came out of my house, and saw the city had painted a mural on MY wall without my permission, and claim it was done in the name of art, regardless if I'm a tiki fan or into Rembrandt...You just can't claim canvas that isn't yours to claim....

[ Edited by: Tom Slick 2008-08-04 14:44 ]

Tiki Daddy was the guy who was escorted out of The Big Ol Tiki Bash last year by The Moai Mafia.

I missed the whoopla @ the big ol tiki bash....hahaha.....Was there fists of fury thrown, or was it verbal?
The guy reminds me of Norm McDonald from SNL....

aka

:P

Deja vu! A similar thread from 2004:

Tikis are tree mutilation...

Similar story in that case -- a news article about a carver (in that case it was Wayne Coombs) getting in trouble carving live trees on city property.

Here's my chiming in that thread, and I'll say it again now (in Quote-o-Vision!):

On 2004-05-20 16:50, Humuhumu wrote:
Usually, the narrow planting strip along the sidewalk is city property, and while the city will turn a blind eye and let you plant things there, what goes there is up to the city. That's what I know from being a property owner in Seattle -- your local mileage may vary.

That aside, even if there have been trees that have survived the process of having their outer bark layers removed, it's just like skin, and it ain't just there to look pretty. Plants need that layer as a protective barrier against disease, not to mention the structural support it provides, and that in many plants the main conduction of water to other parts of the plant lie just below this surface, kind of like veins & arteries. Yes, a tree might live through it, just like if you stripped a good chunk of skin off the legs of a person, he might live through it. But it is mutilation, and not to be done lightly.

I'm not saying don't do it, I'm just saying don't be surprised when the tree falls over and conks out some unsuspecting passer-by because the tree is dead and the roots have withered.

One last chime in.....I think that one newspaper poster put it best.(Humu reminded me that this poster made a very valid statement) Their names are similar....Sisters? :lol:

Hoomaluhia
[-] wrote on Aug 3, 2008 11:19 AM:
I agree with every perspective I've read to some degree. However, the city and its citizens need to be careful that they are not setting a precedence by allowing Steve's art to become the legal defense for a tagger or graffiti artist who now realizes that the City of Oceanside may condone individuals displaying their own interpretation of art on city maintained/owned trees, buildings, signage, etc. The City must take action, and at minimum, determine how Steve's art fits into the (official)grand scheme of things. To do anything less would be to set the taxpayers of Oceanside up for costly lawsuits. Inconsistency is the basis of all discrimination complaints.

Thats all it takes. Art is in the eye of the beholder, especially now with all the frivolous chasing, bottom feeding lawyers we have in society today.

double posted the above...? no need for two of the same!

[ Edited by: Tom Slick 2008-08-04 15:09 ]

It doesn't help that they are pretty much the worst kind of tiki you could possibly carve into anything, alive or dead. If they 're gonna throw the book at him, it better be one by Sven...

PS: Live tree tiki carving is not without precedent in ancient Polynesia - but I'm pretty sure they didn't use chainsaws and blow torches.

I posted on the newspaper site and it was not allowed.. maybe it's a conspiracy with that city buddah review..

On 2008-08-04 14:38, WooHooWahine wrote:
Tiki Daddy was the guy who was escorted out of The Big Ol Tiki Bash last year by The Moai Mafia.

If you recall he was also banned from carving at the Catalina fest a couple years ago because he showed up shit-faced and wanted to carve with a chainsaw!

What's Hawaiian for "knucklehead"?

hahaha...then yes, it is definitely the same guy as last year!

full story and video..
http://www.kusi.com/features/turko/26271914.html

"if you like tikis, these are definitely first class"-KUSI NEWS

Michael Turko - LOves the KIds

On 2008-08-05 07:53, rugbymatt wrote:

What's Hawaiian for "knucklehead"?

lolo. The antithesis of akamai. Not smart. Dat Junior, he so lolo he wen call Dwayne one mahu an he wen crack him. Now Junior stay all bus up.

On 2008-08-05 07:53, rugbymatt wrote:

On 2008-08-04 14:38, WooHooWahine wrote:
Tiki Daddy was the guy who was escorted out of The Big Ol Tiki Bash last year by The Moai Mafia.

If you recall he was also banned from carving at the Catalina fest a couple years ago because he showed up shit-faced and wanted to carve with a chainsaw!

What's Hawaiian for "knucklehead"?

pupule, lolo,

"Arborist recommends trees be removed." http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/11/news/coastal/oceanside/z0add8c5215d15a40882574a200643a52.txt

Got a good chuckle from this one :lol:

Ralphie
[-] wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:46 PM:
Hey TikiDaddy! You should cruise around town and carve up all the city's trees! Do it, Dude!

On Friday, he filed papers to run for mayor.
He failed to qualify, however, as more than half of the signatures he collected could not be verified as registered voters, according to the city clerk's office.

:o :o

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

at least if the trees are removed they have a chance of someone carving a DECENT tiki into them...

Latest news on this story:
update on this story:

Oceanside To Ax Tiki-Trees

POSTED: 10:40 am PDT September 27, 2008
UPDATED: 11:07 am PDT September 27, 2008

OCEANSIDE -- An Oceanside artist has carved two living, city-owned palm trees into giant tiki heads, and a tree expert said the trees were weakened and must be chopped down.

"I'm going to put on a protest," vowed Steve Tustison, the artist who calls himself the "Tiki Daddy." "They better be ready, man, there are going to be people here putting on some kind of revolt."

The North County Times reported that the palm tree-tiki heads on Freeman Street have become a roadside attraction. But assistant city attorney Barbara Hamilton said Oceanside hired an arborist, who reported that the palm trees are weakened and susceptible to disease.

Shoe told the newspaper the city "just can't let them stay, unfortunately."

If the city removes the tiki heads, Tustison said he has a plan.

"I'm going to carve full-sized nudes and put them in my yard as rebellion," he told the North County Times

That guy is an asshole, and an embarrassment to my town.

How in the hell is he going to take on the contours and form of nude statues when he cant even carve a tiki worthy of Home Depot style tikis ????
I was just amazed the first time I met him . The tiki Farm parking lot sale had just opened 10 minutes prior and the customers had I think only 2 hours to shop . He walks up to my booth pushing my customers out of the way and knocking over things on my table when he asks " Does anyone want a hit off my pipe ? Look , its a tiki pipe and I carved it myself" He slurred his words saying it and reeked of days of drinking . Little did we know that a few hours later he would be escorted off the premises by two rather large bouncers . Chris and Paul saved the day !

Nudes hu? Now we're talkin'! My kinda town, baby!

Seriously, now...from someone who claims to be so concerned about kids in the neighborhood, (getting people to slow down so they don't hit a kid, giving out little tiki's, ect) does placing big wooden boobies and god knows what else really going to be accepted by that neighborhood? I mean tikis (good nor not) are one thing, offensive material is another entirely.

I kinda saw both sides of this issue at first. That is NOT to say that I agreed with it...I mean, the guy obviously isnt the crunchiest cookie in the box, but I could "kind of" see where he was maintaining his section of Government owned property. I also absolutely see the destructive issues. Why cut into a living tree? I mean, come on!
Yes, poor judgement certainly prevailed. He should have asked the City (the rightful owners) for permission first - gotten some advice before he started carving. It would have avoided much headache and financial loss.

But common sense would dictate that you don't just carve something that is not yours. But I commend him on his alleged attempt to bring some tiki culture to his neighborhood. And I will say that his work is better than mine...take that for what it's worth.

And wow, those babies are pretty damn tall - they look like the tallest on the block, so yes, to weaken them by carving causes potential risk of falling on one of the houses of those kids and neighbors he feels are so supportive.
I'm willing to bet he would not have as much support if they had some decent hurricane type winds that bent those bad boys a little too much and they crushed a kid, or a home, or even a car.

I don't know the guy. Navy man or not, he doesnt look that tough to me. LOL.
Interesting story though. I'll continue to follow the saga.

What an idiot.
Know when you're beat.

anybody want to call the tree cutter and see if we can get the logs so we can carve them :wink:

Im unwilling to believe Tiki Daddy had any influence on Shags new print.

I think he's an asshole too, but doesn't every neighborhood have a Tiki Daddy?
(wrote a song about it.).....

I always knew this thread was about tiki daddy, just never read it.
man what a goofball.

One time going down to San Diego, JonPaul and I stopped at all the tiki places along PCH. One of them was Tiki Daddy's store (is it still there?)
If I recall correctly it was open and nobody was in there. we were kinda perplexed, as we were getting ready to leave a severely hung over and drinking booze outta a coffee cup Tiki Daddy emerged from the tiny bathroom.

JP and I tried to have a conversation with the mumbling mess of a human, but after about 5 min, we were like, dude,lets get the F outta here.

then I heard about the tiki parking lot sale and tiki fest probs , and
wasn't surprised at all.

can somebody say intervention?

Jeff(bigtikidude)

WHAT A DOUCHEBAG!
met this clown and his "Boy" at the Big Ol Tiki Bash
showin off his "tiki"pipe!
What a KOOK!
Somethin about the guy just didn't click..
He was Waaaaay Hammied before he even entered the BOTB!
and then he was pickin fights and stumblin around
before the Moai mafia saved the day!
The guy needs to get rehab and then buy a Book of Tiki
and a few Oceanic Art books and STUDY them before carving again!
looks like his roller coaster is about ready to stop....

Not to defend the legality or his craziness, here are a couple of other live palm tree carved into.

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=9971&forum=2

I wonder how they are holding up?

There was a thing in the newspaper a few weeks back about his battle. He's actually getting some supporters. He also has some lawyer guy who is defending him. It's a joke. Whether carving the trees will hurt them is not relevant. The whole point is that the dumb-ass carved city property. If he wins in the name of "art" then it stands to reason that any city property could be carved, painted or whatever in the name of art. He's an idiot and should have just backed down from the word go. Now he's so deep into the battle he can't back out. Real class with a capital ass.
I can't wait to see how the whole thing pans out for the guy. Anybody want to make some predictions?