I'm so impressed that Otto and Baby Doe pulled off another great weekend for all us overgrown kids, as their own lives get busier with more grownup activities like raising their own youngun. Naomi and I had a great time again this year. I was getting over a cold, so I was even more cottonheaded than usual, but actually the dry desert air was very nice. Also pretty neat to have the tie-in art show over at M Modern, and I was surprised how many of the artists came out for that. Many other neat ideas this year, like the guest bartenders, the costume contest, and even the themed nights I think made it more fun. I think there were quite a few kinks from previous years that were straightened out this year, probably many with no one noticing which is a good thing, but also Otto and Baby Doe deserve thanks for that.

The Reef was done beautifully, and the Smokin' Menehunes were just perfect in there on Sat. This was our third time seeing the Maikai Gents play at Caliente, and it was just magical as always. The new steel guitar player sounded great, and I always like when Iuka sings Waikiki. Project Pimento and Fisherman were great too - nice to see Fisherman on the west coast (the best coast) again. And King Kuk continues to display one of the sharpest wits around - can't imagine the event without him!

We did have a few regrets, especially not spending more time with some of our TC friends. Arrived just a little too late to catch Martiki's stint as guest bartender. Naomi wanted to say hi to Purple Jade and also see some of Sabu's grand postcard collection, but we failed on both counts. Also wanted to visit 135 again, but just didn't last that late. The spirit was willing but the head was foggy.

But it was nice talking to the people we did see. Some great vendor stuff from Munktiki, Tikidiablo, Swampfire, Johnny Velour and others. Also some rather odd vendor stuff. Here are some pictures from the weekend...

Project Pimento

Smokin' Menehunes in The Reef

The Maikai Gents featuring the Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa (and a new steel guitar player)

Aaron Marshall's piece at the M Modern art show

The multi-talented artiste Cherry Capri with her Aloha Jhoe

Naomi with her favorite Bosko piece

Swamp Fire / Mr. Crafty in his booth on Sun

The Munktiki booth on Sun, with two guys from the Japanese group that was visiting and taking photos over the weekend for a magazine. Also the guy in the red shirt works for the company that makes the silver pendants that were for sale in the Munktiki booth. They know each other from Munktiki's association with M1 gallery in Japan. Some cool pendants, including Munktiki Evil Bastards, and also a Tiki Bob, an Aku Aku style medallion, and a Paul Marshall mug.

Naomi with Dale and Ran kick_the_reverb

Naomi, DJ Lee in the Sunday bamboo grove DJ area, and weirduncletiki

Naomi and TikiVixen

King Kuk proves he still has energy on Sunday

-Randy

[ Edited by: aquarj on 2004-05-21 20:25 ]

On 2004-05-13 13:47, Unga Bunga wrote:

On 2004-05-13 13:38, mrsmiley wrote:

My friend told me that there were hard-core sex scenes on the video that was projected during the "sexy robot" show--I think that is what most of the parents wished they could have shielded their kids from.

So that's why my mom wouldn't let me go.

But, UNGA...you WERE there-up on the video screen!!! :)
hope wecan both go some year(and stay OFF the video screen)--Mr Smiley.

Well, it was a great weekend. We had a blast- it was just what the doctor ordered after one of the worst weeks of my life. Great to see everyone again, and sorry that I missed some folks (Casey!) Also great to meet loads of new centralites. So many thanks to the following, in no particular order:

-Dave, Rebecca and the Purple Orchid Staff. I know I was a little underfoot during my guest bartending stint- it was crowded back there and none of us knew where anything was, so we pulled together to find things! Like bitters! It was hairy at first but it went well. I didn't promote it on TC because I had some jitters, but I quickly sold out and made nearly 30 drinks.
-I am falling in love with Ulla. I want her to dance on my back in stilettos, and I have a feeling she'd like that, too.
-Congrats to Al & Ben on The Reef. Looking fantastic.
-The hospitality of Al & Shelly in 135. Good times as always!
-The hospitality of Dr. Z and his delicious Beachum's Own. I checked and I do not have your glassware.
-Cheeky Girl for all the work on the Zombie Contest. I think it went pretty damn well.
-Really enjoyed The Smokin' Menehunes show at The Reef. Sounds great, guys!
-Casey for so very much.
-Otto & Doe for so very much.
-Monkeyman for doing the picture board- and laying down the law at the Zombie Contest!
-My apologies for saying, "Yeah! That sounds cool!" whan asked, "Should we put the fog machine in Dr. Z's room?"
-My apologies for murdering the melodica.
-Project Pimento: better and better everytime and damn tiki as far as I'm concerned. Exotic instumentation and "Bali Hai"- what else do you need?
-Ape: always fantastic
-Mai Kai Gents: ditto. Plus Astrocaster!

All the best to everyone, and hope to see y'all again soon. In the meantime, here's a few of our select pictures:

Humu and Rebecca

Humu and Vixen

Sir, there is a vertebrae on your face.

Guest bartending

Heat that falsetto? Il Castrato!

Melodica as it's meant to be played.

This is why he gets all the girls.

The scene

Seksu Roba's killer robot. This thing delighted my inner dork. It was like the Rock It video!

Showing mad love for the german.

The thrill of victory

Overcome with emotion

That Miata sure makes a great bench.

back to Mother's day....

as far as founds and PR goes, if the event was held on a normal weekend... maybe ten times the people would go.. (i'd hope).. People that would not even know the Tropics exists!!! This might bum TC'ers out... but more people means more money... bla bla..
My post stated that TCers are a minority of the "populous", and that the event is open to the public.... another weekend in May would not do anything but support the Tropics beyond a 'normal capacity'. April might be debated... but it's hot by May and the #'s drop off.

Having more people than they had is a negative. They would have to build more rooms and increase the size of the lanai! They were at capacity as it was and couldn't accomodate any more.

[ Edited by: floratina on 2004-05-13 16:21 ]

this thing has already out grown the Tropics!... the Tropics will always sell out.. the band venue needs to move off site so the show can go longer and accommodate more folks. Vending would not have to tear down the 'strangers' element would be keep busy off site and at other hotels.. I got an idea or two to run past Otto.

Back to mothers day!
Eric of the Great'band'Ape ditched his wife on her first Mother's day! or should i say she didn't want to make the trip with a small baby and miss out on the Partying etc... she would love to partake in... bla bla bla... This might have been her choice, but this type of discomforts are totally unnecessary....

Interesting idea. But I wonder how many people would want to leave the Caliente Tiki Campus to go see the entertainment? It is a completely self-contained world as it is. We have booze, a restaurant, shopping, entertainment, fellowship and...CASEY! No drunk driving, either.

Shuttle and buses...more volunteers!! weee heee... more work!! more money!!! cabs! baby sitters!! hahaha .... we can all go broke!

any way the 'hukilau' rocks and the main event is off campus... maybe further down the line. Not a lot of kids at the Hukilau however.

[ Edited by: crazy al on 2004-05-13 19:25 ]

Keep in mind that kids are brought to the Oasis because many parents have attended the event FIRST without their kids and after realizing how family friendly the surroundings are they decided to bring them the next time around.

If the previous years had been all out debauchery then I can guess that there would not have been ANY kids there this time.

My kids had a blast and so did my wife and I.

Alright!
The Hukilau Debauchery IV
I'm there.

Many of us have fond memories of going to tiki restaurants with our parents, having tiki bars in the home and wearing cool tiki pendants when we were kids. I am glad that there is a new generation that can accumulate their own happy tiki memories. As I kid I liked that it was a grownups world that we were allowed to experience and it was silly enough to be appealing to us.

Okay, here's the thing to consider on Mother's Day. That's an off weekend, so the Resort is happy to give a discount rate to have the place full. If you move it to another weekend, you can't get a good rate since the event would be filling rooms that would be normally filled by people paying the regular full rate. That is, the price of Tiki Oasis would likely jump by a LARGE amount.

On the entertainment front, my guess is that Otto wants to have new acts and different acts every year. Maybe there needs to be a concensus. Same stuff every year, or new acts every year? My guess is that you might not like it if there weren't new faces on the stage. But then, TO is a tradition and you might go regardless.

The other idea is to do it twice a year. If there is enough support, you wouldn't hang so much expectation on it. But the second good weekend my be worse for everyone to attend.

Sounds like a few minor things are being talked to death here.

BTW, I have a Polynesian Dance groups price list here in front of me.
1 knife dancer $300 for a 3-5 minute dance
2 dancers $450 for a 40 minute revue
8 dancers $1,900... It's expensive. Considing what most performers are making, you'd have to sacrifice a lot to get a decent Polynesian show at the event.

I will always try to attend this event, however I think, as alot of us do, that there's always room for improvement. I do wish I knew about the video porn so I could've put my kid in a headlock til it was over. The burlesque doesn't bother me, but I would rather see the money spent on a polynesian show. (I have to disagree with you brother Al about the "Crappy second rate hula show looking for publicity" My good friend Chief Tama puts on a hell of a fire, drum and hula show and is very reasonable. I know many TCers can attest to that!)I also have many other O'hana in the hula biz that would be happy to dance. Overall though A great time was had by most and cheers to those who make it all happen. I don't know if I'll vend next year knowing that there will probably be even more sellers. As Baxdog sez "When it stops being fun, I'm done" I have a store that more than pays the bills and I would rather see more home grown art and artists showing their goods. IE Crazy Al, Chiki, Ben, Gecko (?????), etc. Saw some awesome tiki paintings this year. Alot of great talent!! ...and a little bit of crap. Lastly, get a real screen so at least some of us can see it at the dive in. Nuff said...Aloha

[ Edited by: shakatiki on 2004-05-13 23:51 ]

Steve from Otto's Shrunken Head in NYC here
Just wanted to drop a line and say how much I enjoyed TO4. It being my first time I didn't know what to expect but everything was incredible! Getting to see APE for the first time and with Brian Fisherman was great. All the people, vendors, entertainers were wonderful! I'll definitely be going next year. Nell one of my bartenders who came with me had such a great time that she wants to represent the East Coast as a guest bartender. Next year we'll have to increase the size of our east coast contingent if only to gang up on King Kukelele.
mahalo