Official Introductions Thread. New Members, Post your introduction here...

Well hello there my beautiful girlfriend Miss Hell.

Get a room, you two...

Aloha everyone! I'm Riannon and I'm new here (very cool site!) I am originally from Kauai and now live in Southern California. I have always enjoyed tiki's and look forward to getting to know a lot of you. :)

Welcome Riannon, now get to your local Tiki Bar asap!

Hey everyone!!! My name is Jason Hamilton. I'm a 36 year old artist/musician from the land of exotica, New Jersey!!! Yes 36 years here and i'm just about ready to leave the mainland. For me this all started back in the mid 90's. I read a review in Juxtapoz art magazine for a cd by Esquivel. I bought the cd, brought it home, listened to 2 tracks, paused it, went back to the store, bought another cd. This led me to find Martin Denny, Les Baxter and all the rest. I have been working on some very realistic tiki, stone idol, designs using Zbrush and Photoshop. I'm going to be posting them as they are finished. I also am working on a few tiki tunes here in my home studio. I keep the traditional style intact but i've added some heavier percussion. Conga's and all with 808 style drum beats underneath. Growing up in NJ and having a strong desire to be on some tropical island i decided to blend the two together. Not a new concept but it's a little bit harder and moodier than I've heard so far. I'm hoping this site can help me find some new things. I'll be posting more very soon. Hope to hear from some of you!!!!!!!

Welcome Hamiltonianstudio

I don't know if everyone here is ready for the "Techno Tiki" sound
but I think it will be an interesting conversation, but prepare yourself
for a very "Heated" discussion.

Aloha. I'm tiki_martin from Glendale, California. I signed up a few months ago but thought I'd introduce myself to those tiki folk I've not met. I've really enjoyed meeting the So Cal crowd...such a fun group! I look forward to many more Mai Tai's with everyone. See you at the Tonga Hut!

Hello,

My name is Elizabeth. I am new to this forum. Just thought I should say hi to everyone here. :wink:

Cheers!

This is an excellent site I love it

[ Edited by: elizabethmc 2012-03-08 23:36 ]

Welcome to all the new folks...look forward to seeing many of you at the San Diego Crawl and the 2012 Oasis.

I'm happy to know this sight exists! I was turned on to it tonight by Big Tiki Dude as he DJ'd at the Tunga room in North Hollyweird. My interest in the Tiki scene is primarily the music. I got hooked on the lounge/ bachelor/ space age scene in the '90's. My particular interest is in what I call the early "stereo exploitation" records. I love the imaginative arrangements and excellent stereo fidelity of the Enoch Light Command label albums, Esquival - the great genius of the era, and of course all the great Drasnin, Baxter, Lyman and Denny exotica records.

That Beachcomber Trio at Kahiki '65 that Lee Joseph put out was a great treasure. I was happy to see more detail on the release here. I'd love to see more detail posted about the discovery of the tape. I'll be sure to ask that on the appropriate string.

I've got my Username set as 'Nokie' (in tribute to the great Ventures guitarist) but my name is Marty. See y'all inside!

Hello, my name is Derek, and I'm a tiki-holic! Lol, just a little play on Miss Hell's post. I'm from Kentucky, aka the anti-tiki state. It's almost impossible to find good tiki stuff locally. Oh well, thank goodness for the internet. I just recently started getting into tiki, but thanks to this site and a few others, I'm learning. If you wanna know anything else, just send me a message.

[ Edited by: HeavyD 2012-02-13 04:33 ]

Derek-HeavyD, you'd be surprised how much tiki there is to find in the Midwest. I'm finding stuff all the time here in Indiana.

Aloha!
My TC name is KokoKele. I live in Portland, OR but plan to move to Maui in about 18 months. I already own the home, I just need to break away from the mainland roots. Fortunately I'm spouseless and childless, so it shouldn't be too hard. The only thing stopping me is my job, which pays me handsomely enough to prevent my departure.

It's my love of the islands that interested me in Tiki Central. I have a pseudo artistic proclivity, so I wanted to make something that reminded me of Hawaii. You know where this is going. Yep, I decided to make a tiki. In fact, I decided to make a ceramic tiki fountain. I wanted to put it in my "prosperity corner" (a feng shui thing) so I could think of Hawaii and encourage the flow of money into my life. Corny, yes, but it gave me something to do while waiting for retirement.

I started researching tiki, which eventually led me to Tiki Central. Naturally I spent a lot of time in the "Other Crafts" section of "Creating Tiki." I'm constantly amazed at the talent of the artists who display their wares, and looking at their works gives me thoughts as to how to create my own original piece. It's going to be impossible for me to accurately reproduce an actual Hawaiian tiki, and it would be culturally insensitive for me to do, so I'm going to go for something that no one would ever mistake for an original Hawaiian tiki but could see the influence. If I can make something that is generally accepted as "neat" by TC members it will really be exciting!

I browsed "Creating Tiki" for years before finally joining the forum and commenting. Boy, did I screw up! The reason I joined is that some guy named BigBroTiki questioned the "tikiness" of a piece I really liked. I began arguing with him, and when he mentioned that I pretty much didn't know what I was talking about I got testy with him. Next thing I know someone mentions to me that BigBroTiki is none other than Sven Kirsten, the author of the Book of Tiki! He's pretty much the authority on tiki, and I was digging in my heels on questions of style! OH MY GAWWWWWWWWD! My first post and I lay a big, giant stupid egg! I quickly shifted gears, apologized profusely, and went right back to the About Tiki Central link to review the guiding principles, then thumbed through the Book of Tiki to see why I was wrong. It didn't take long to see the light. Sven is all about mid-century tiki style, which is heavily influenced by Polynesian styles but took on its own form when it came to America. From the mid-thirties to sometime in the late sixties or early seventies tiki style flourished and took on a very distinct form. Sven is a scholar of that era, but he also enjoys tiki art of subsequent decades as long as it stays true to the form. The piece we were arguing about was definitely outside the form though exquisitely executed. I also had a most un-scholarly, unstudied opinion about the piece, which made me look REALLY DUMB. At the time Sven noted that I was "culturally ignorant." It pissed me off before I realized an authority was making the statement. Now that I've seen the error of my ways I'm more than willing to admit that I was practicing cultural ignorance to a pretty high degree, and Sven called me on it.

Here's the good part, though. Once I re-grouped and got my act together Sven forgave me and pretty much told me that I'm OK. I will never have his knowledge and innate sense of "tiki" as enjoyed on TC, but I think now he knows I'm going to look at things from a much more considered perspective. One of these days I hope to even come up with something that challenges Sven in a positive fashion. Then I'll feel I've arrived. Sven certainly challenged me, and I'm a better member for it, I hope.

That's my intro to Tiki Central membership! I hope all the other newbies practice more sense and discretion than I did. But I hope they also have an immense amount of fun, learn a few things, and celebrate all things that are really, truly Tiki.

Mahalo nui loa for reading my tale. I hope to post some artwork before too long.

Wow, KokoKele! I really enjoyed your outpouring. (Isn't tiki neato?)

Yes! Tiki is neato, and so is Tiki Forum when I'm not kicking my own ass on it!

On 2012-02-13 04:31, HeavyD wrote:
Hello, my name is Derek, and I'm a tiki-holic! Lol, just a little play on Miss Hell's post. I'm from Kentucky, aka the anti-tiki state. It's almost impossible to find good tiki stuff locally. Oh well, thank goodness for the internet. I just recently started getting into tiki, but thanks to this site and a few others, I'm learning. If you wanna know anything else, just send me a message.

[ Edited by: HeavyD 2012-02-13 04:33 ]

Hahahaha...tiki-aholic! I get it. Love it! And welcome!

aloha fellow tiki lovers, I am YO-C, Joossie or Joost from the cold , rainy and flat netherlands. I tiki too, i carve and print tike's.
Have a look at my website en react: http://joost.a-zeven.nl/#home
bye bye

Awesome! Another artist on Tiki Central! Welcome, and be sure to post regularly!

Finally decided to register in tiki central. I've been a lurker for a while. I've been collecting tiki stuff for 10+ years. I enjoy both vintage and modern, and look forward to sharing my tiki finds with you all.

[ Edited by: wildwahine 2012-02-21 15:49 ]

Hi Ho... I'm a cartoonist and I do a daily comic strip called Squid Row (a comic about a starving artist living in a touristy seaside community). I live in Salinas (Near Monterey CA) and I am a new tiki enthusiast. I've even taken to tiki in my comic strip.

Smiles, Y'all. Squid Row Mama

Welcome yaz alls!

Welcome, Squid Row Mama! There are never too many tiki inspired cartoonists in this world. You'll find lots of nice people here and lots of tiki drama (my coined phrase) for story ideas. I can think of quite a few cartoonish characters that live here. :P
Okole Maluna! :drink:

Aloha! As of yesterday we were delivered into the Tiki Central as newborns. The story is the same as usual: We found TC, we waited to join (and waited some more) then finally came up with some usernames we liked. Silly, huh? It will be great to finally chat with, and meet, many of you tiki folks we've only been able to read about and see in photos online. We were in North Hollywood Monday and happened to stop by Tonga Hut to check it out and met Tiki Central celebrity, GROG. A swell fella!

We live in Thousand Oaks, we love mid-century modern style, and music, and in our condo backyard we've got an old tiki bar (photo below) that we purchased last year from a home in the Hollywood Hills, which the former homeowner operated as an illegal casino - If only that bamboo could talk!

We have reservations for the Don the Beachcomber birthday party this coming Saturday night in Huntington Beach and we'll be attending our first Hukilau event in April. We look forward to meeting many of you TC members at various events to come...

Cheers!
Glenn & Carol Bachman
"20th Century Man" & "Kalola Kini"

On 2012-02-22 15:14, Okolehao wrote:
Welcome, Squid Row Mama! There are never too many tiki inspired cartoonists in this world. You'll find lots of nice people here and lots of tiki drama (my coined phrase) for story ideas. I can think of quite a few cartoonish characters that live here. :P
Okole Maluna! :drink:

Whut choo talkin' bout!!!

:wink:

:wink:

:wink:

On 2012-02-23 08:14, RevBambooBen wrote:

On 2012-02-22 15:14, Okolehao wrote:
Welcome, Squid Row Mama! There are never too many tiki inspired cartoonists in this world. You'll find lots of nice people here and lots of tiki drama (my coined phrase) for story ideas. I can think of quite a few cartoonish characters that live here. :P
Okole Maluna! :drink:

Whut choo talkin' bout!!!

:wink:

:wink:

:wink:

The next breakout comic strip! 'The Adventures of Bamboo Ben and his Tiki Minions'. :lol:

Hello new member here. I discovered this site last summer while looking for inspiration for tiki Carvings. This site has been a huge help. I have now completed Three tikis and cant wait to get the wood for many, many more.
The pictures are from my latest. His name is Ouch! cause I almost cut my thumb off while carving him....

[ Edited by: Templeton Tiki 2012-02-24 22:15 ]

Hi my name is Toadman , joined a while back , just introducing myself now , I live in Vancouver B.C home of the wonderful Tiki bar @ The Waldorf Hotel , anyone visiting Vancouver should check it out , my wife and i got married there last year

Have I been gone so long that I need to post here?

Welcome to TC toadman. I stayed at the Waldorf last February. I'm thinking of coming to Vancouver again this spring, maybe April or May. Perhaps I could meet up with you & the wife at the Tiki Bar?

Hi everyone-
I've been a lurker for the past week when I discovered TC, but I'm official today! Been a big fan of anything Polynesian since my first trip to Disney World as a young child. As you might have guessed, we stayed at the Polynesian village, in the "Bora Bora" section which has since changed names. Anyway, I'm a HUGE Disney fanatic, and I'm also in the process of closing on a house with my girlfriend (soon to be wife). I'll hopefully be sharing the photos of my tiki bar/man cave as it evolves over the next year, and I know I'll be looking to the community for advice/suggestions along the way!

-Rob

Welcome to TC Rob. Where do you live?

Mahalo

McTiki

Hi,

My name is Steve. My interest is in quality velvet art, with an emphasis on Polynesian. Some of the artists I have collected are Leeteg, McPhee, Erwin, Cece Rodriguez, Behan, Cohen, Tyree, Askew, Bouvier, and Lavaisse. Artists that I am looking to acquire are: Gerald T. Eaton, John DePonce, Marcellus Bades, and Mike Dameg.

Filipino and Native American subjects also hold an increasing interest for me, and a great Elvis or Jesus portrait will inevitably be added down the road. Polynesian art and artifacts collecting has been my passion for 30 years, but velvet art is a relatively recent interest. If you share a similar interest or are looking to sell any of the same, I would be interested in talking to you.

My email is: [email protected].

Regards,
Steve

McTiki-

I'm from CT - so I'm excited to build my little indoor hideaway in the upcoming year.

Hi all! I've been lurking for about a year now, after I started planning my own tiki room. I've made much more progress on learning about tiki drinks and exotica than actual construction/decorating, though. Not that I'm complaining...

I just went to the Tikiyaki Orchestra show at Don the Beachcomber last weekend, and had such a good time that I had to make an account. :D

Thanks already to you all for your insights and knowledge! There are probably lots of other people like me out there who have read lots here, but haven't participated... yet.

Welcome to TC LeakyTiki, it is always nice to see people from San Fernando Valley on this sight.

On 2012-02-28 20:44, hiltiki wrote:
Welcome to TC LeakyTiki, it is always nice to see people from San Fernando Valley on this sight.

Cheers to that, and welcome LeakyTiki!

Hey everyone, l know this has been a long time coming and to say l'm a little embarrassed is an under-statement. l have been an avid Tiki collector for about 12 years and run the Careless Navigator site out of Australia. l have so many friends actively contributing to this fantastic forum that l thought it's about time l jump aboard. l look forward to meeting a whole new bunch of you guy's.
Cheers Rohan

Welcome to all the newbies...and glad to see you on the board CN!!! Hope to meet some of you at Oasis this year...get your Spy on. :tiki:

Hey All!

My name is Amber and I found this site while googling Witco information. I think I've got the Tiki itch now. I'm going to go home and take pictures of the pieces I do have that were handed down from my Mother-in-Law.

I'm creativenative my name in the Tiki world of the Web. I'm from Hawaii and part-Hawaiian but reared in both the U.S. mainland (Washington State) and the Island of O'ahu. My strong interests and study for many years are ancient and modern Hawaiian architecture and Hawaiian & South Seas movies & TV (member of the South Seas Cinema Society for over 20 years). Oh , and I also work in the film industry as a member of the Directors Guild. I found this great site a couple of years ago but not until now did I sign up. I've learned much with the vast knowledge of many TC members and I also hope to contribute much to the forums from my prospective and experiences. Mahalo - Long live Tiki!!!!

Lurked for a long time. Finally joined. Will be attending Tiki Caliente this year as well as several other events. Hello everyone.

Hi, all ... new guy, here. I have referenced Tiki Central many, many times, but haven't joined until now. I live in the Detroit area, where I have little more than Chin's in Livonia to feed my need -- so if there are other Michiganders on here who know anything I don't, please clue me in.

I am currently working on a little tiki hideaway in the basement ... just to keep me busy until I win the lottery ... which I will then spend on opening a tiki palace, al la the Mai-Kai, for us tiki-starved northern folks.

If there are any other Detroiters of the tiki persuasion reading this ... is there anyplace around here to get decent 4- or 5-inch bamboo poles, or are we doomed to ordering online?

Thanks!

hey everyone :) my name is angie and i've (finally) just signed up. i thought i signed up awhile back but apparently not. i've been "lurking" as they say since last year's tiki oasis.

obviously a big fan of tiki... since, i duno forever. i think it originated from a love of hawaii, and the tropics in general. i loved tiki oasis. 2011 was my first time. can't wait to go this year! i'm already planning my outfits. ha. (chicks.) i live in san diego, not far from the crowne.

so...yeah. hi :)

angie

Good on ya' Rohan! Aloha and welcome mate!

heyo,

glad to join the TC community. A few friends & I have been floating around Don's, Trader Sam's & a few other spots in SoCal lately. Glad to join the tiki community!

eek

OK, It's taken me far too long to get signed up here! Hey all, I'm Christian, the bass player for the Hula Girls. I already know many of you from the various events, but look forward to meeting more of you. We'll see ya soon!

Cheers!
Christian

WooHoo! Welcome aboard, Christian!

On 2012-03-17 00:51, Slap Happy Swingster wrote:
OK, It's taken me far too long to get signed up here! Hey all, I'm Christian, the bass player for the Hula Girls. I already know many of you from the various events, but look forward to meeting more of you. We'll see ya soon!

Cheers!
Christian

Yo!!
Welcome Christian.
glad to have you aboard.

Jeff(btd)