Entice your senses with the alluring vibe of the Polynesian islands and the world of tikiphiles while sipping potent potions this summer during the 10-year anniversary of The Hukilau! The East coast’s largest tiki and Polynesian pop gathering will also be honoring the 55-year anniversary of the historic Mai-Kai restaurant, one the remaining Polynesian and tiki treasures in North America.
The Hukilau, which is a traditional Hawaiian festival held in fishing villages, features a large net cast into the sea where villagers herd the fish and slowly pull the net to the shore. The feast that follows emphasizes the spirit of family and community or ohana.
Hukilau founder and producer and avid tiki enthusiast Christie White’s (aka Tiki Kiliki) Polynesian passion began after seeing a tiki mug in a shop as a child and has continued to embrace the Hawaiian heritage with her tiki gala in Fort Lauderdale.
Past highlights have included exotica musician Robert Drasnin and his 16-piece orchestra, exotica artist Yma Sumac, photographer and model Bunny Yeager, artist SHAG, author Sven Kirsten, Charles Phoenix and his slide show of timeless kitsch and models sashaying down the runway during the Sarong-O-Rama fashion show.
This year’s hula hoopla will include emcees King Kukulele and “Crazy” Al Evans pumping up and entertaining audiences, sampling tiki cocktails during The Hukilau room crawl, the Harold Golen Gallery’s “Fine Art Tiki Show” and shopping galore!
Encounter a time capsule of memories and strong libations during symposiums by mixologist and author Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and The Rum Pack, Disney artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, Phillip Roberts’ “A Celebration of the Tiki Age in Hawaii” and Vintage Roadside’s “Beautiful Girls that Live like Fish!: The Story of Aquarama, the World-Famous Mermaid Attraction.”
Be amazed and tantalized by Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid, shimmy and shake to the sounds of The Tikiyaki Orchestra, The Intoxicators, Grinder Nova, The Exotics, The Fisherman and DJs spinning the tropical beats!
The Hukilau 2011 is one exotic extravaganza the kanes and wahines don’t want to miss! Experience an exotic escape during The Hukilau, June 9-12, 2011 at the Bahia Cabana, Bahia Mar and the Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Festival admission prices are $25-$135. For more information, visit www.thehukilau.com.
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