Category: Art

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The Hukilau 2019 updates: Hotel room parties are back, The Surfrajettes return to The Mai Kai, plus more

The Hukilau 2019 official artwork by Baï, an artist based in Paris

As promised, news and updates on The Hukilau 2019 are flowing like rum from a barrel as villagers gear up for Feb. 1, when tickets and hotel rooms will go on sale for the 18th annual Tiki weekender in Fort Lauderdale.

Announcements last week included this year’s featured artist, plus countdown parties at Miami Rum Congress in February and The Mai-Kai in March featuring The Surfrajettes. Now, we have exclusive news that The Hukilau will be hosting its first guest room parties in nearly a decade. Scroll down for all the details …

The Hukilau 2019 official artwork by Baï, an artist based in Paris.
The Hukilau 2019 official artwork by Baï, an artist based in Paris.

The Hukilau: June 5-9, 2019, at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina and The Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.
* TheHukilau.com | Facebook: Page and Group | Twitter | Instagram
Previous story: First official announcement promises enhancements, same vintage experience

NEW: Latest announcements on The Hukilau 2019

Hotel room parties return: It’s been quite a while since The Hukilau’s guests, known affectionately as “villagers,” have been able to throw their own official full-blown room parties at the host hotel. It was 2010, in fact, when we last enjoyed an official “crawl,” back when The Hukilau was at the Bahia Cabana and special guest artist Shag served as one of the room party judges. There’s now a pent-up demand for such parties, but they have unfortunately long been a logistical challenge.

In 2019, however, The Hukilau organizers have risen up to meet that challenge. There will be 10 room parties approved by Pier 66 and sanctioned by The Hukilau, we’re told. They will be held on one night only: Thursday, June 6, following the signature Tiki Tower Takeover. Organizers will begin accepting proposals for themed rooms starting next Monday, Jan. 21, and ending on Feb. 8.

Flashback: During The Hukilau 2010 room crawl, the artist Shag visits Robotiki's Planet of Forbidden Tiki while the Disasternauts perform in the Go11 Spaceport at the Bahia Cabana on Fort Lauderdale Beach (RIP). Click photo for a recap and gallery.
Flashback: During The Hukilau 2010 room crawl, the artist Shag visits Robotiki’s Planet of Forbidden Tiki while The Disasternauts perform in the Go11 Spaceport at the Bahia Cabana on Fort Lauderdale Beach (RIP). Click photo for a recap and gallery.

“This is a great opportunity for villagers to get more involved and help create and shape part of The Hukilau experience,” said Richard Oneslager, the event’s owner and head organizer. He explained that applicants will be selected with an eye toward creating a broad mix of styles and unique experiences. In other words, if you want your party proposal to be picked, be creative.

Continue reading “The Hukilau 2019 updates: Hotel room parties are back, The Surfrajettes return to The Mai Kai, plus more”
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Event spotlight: SoCal’s Original Tiki Market Place celebrates seventh anniversary

The Original Tiki Market Place 7th Anniversary print by Clee Sobieski

Jan. 12 – The Original Tiki Market Place 7th Anniversary in Garden Grove, Calif. At the Garden Grove Elks Lodge, conveniently located just 2.5 miles south of Disneyland and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. Featuring Tiki vendors, live Hawaiian entertainment, cocktails, food, and more. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: $10 (cash only; includes a drink voucher).
The Tiki Times: See all the upcoming events

The Original Tiki Market Place 7th Anniversary

About the Original Tiki Market Place

Launched in 2012 at the now-closed Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, the Original Tiki Market Place was conceived as a tribute to Don and the original International Tiki Market Place in Waikiki. Held seasonally, it quickly became a favorite spot to buy and sell vintage wares in Southern California, attracting the top artisans from the area.

In 2015, the market place moved to its current location and has out-lived a competing event that replaced it at Don the Beachcomber, which closed in 2018. Through more than 50 events, the organizers have always stressed a friendly “ohana” atmosphere and this vibe has permeated the event since its inception. A post on Tiki Central states: “We are grateful for our friends, both vendors and guests, for your support!”

The Original Tiki Market Place 7th Anniversary print by Clee Sobieski

Event highlights

* Free high-quality art print (11-by-14) by Clee Sobieski (see above) to the first 70 paid guests. After those run out, there will be more available for $10.

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Epcot’s Native American art exhibit includes Hawaiian and Polynesian artifacts

The Hawaii and California display spotlights one of seven geographic regions of Native American art, both historical and modern, in the American Heritage Gallery at Epcot. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

During a recent visit to Epcot at Walt Disney World, we made sure to visit the new exhibition celebrating American Indian art. The American Heritage Gallery always does a great job with its exhibits, featuring multimedia and interactive displays plus plenty of artifacts and poignant narratives in the relatively small space. The previous exhibit on African-American history and culture was a must-see.

The Hawaii and California display spotlights one of seven geographic regions of Native American art, both historical and modern, in the American Heritage Gallery at Epcot. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The Hawaii and California display spotlights one of seven geographic regions of Native American art, both historical and modern, in the American Heritage Gallery at Epcot. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

The exhibit, “Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art,” opened in July at the American Heritage Gallery inside the American Adventure Pavilion in World Showcase. It’s a collaboration between Disney Imagineering; the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.; and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

All of the artwork comes from the collections of those two museums. Included among the 89 pieces representing 40 different American Indian tribes is a prominent display dedicated to California and the islands of Hawaii. It includes models of a canoe and a sailboat based on those used by Polynesian seafarers who settled the Hawaiian islands more than 1,700 years ago. There’s also a huge piece of Polynesian tapa cloth, circa 1900s. Of interest to more modern tastes is the hand-printed He’e Aloha Shirt crafted by native Hawaiian Craig Neff of The Hawaiian Force. You can find his store in downtown Hilo, Hawaii.

Tapa cloth on display at "Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art," a new exhibit at Epcot in Disney World. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
Tapa cloth on display at “Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art,” a new exhibit at Epcot in Disney World. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

Native communities from six other geographic regions across the United States are included. Members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida performed at the exhibit’s opening.

The goal of the exhibition is to showcase authentic, historical artifacts alongside contemporary works of American Indian art. Guests learn how cultural traditions have been handed down through generations via interactive displays with narration and insights by some of the artists with works on display.

Objects from the 1800s are displayed alongside those created within the past year as a way to show the complete arc and look toward the future of American Indian art. Many of the contemporary pieces have never been on display, according to the Smithsonian magazine for the National Museum of the American Indian.

The Hawaii exhibit includes a sailboat model, circa 2000, made of native materials such as balsa wood, coconut fiber and canvas. It's on loan to Disney World from the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)
The Hawaii exhibit includes a sailboat model, circa 2000, made of native materials such as balsa wood, coconut fiber and canvas. It’s on loan to Disney World from the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)

The three interactive video exhibits feature displays that resemble a campfire. When guests wave their hands in front of the flames, the displays turn into video presentations. The music heard throughout the gallery was recorded by Native musicians from the regions showcased in the exhibition.

Among the featured artists are fashion designer Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo), doll-maker Glenda McKay (Ingalik-Athabascan) and Juanita Growing Thunder (Assiniboine Sioux).

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They’re back: Flaming Tiki swizzle sticks from Grider Adventure Art

Grider's Torch Swizzle and the 2018 Mai-Kai Barrel Mug by Tiki Diablo. (Photo from GriderCo.Etsy.com)

The must-have Tiki bar accessory of 2018 may have been the custom swizzle sticks designed and made by California artist Michael Grider that take flaming cocktails to a new level.

Grider’s Torch Swizzle and the 2018 Mai-Kai Barrel Mug by Tiki Diablo. (Photo from GriderCo.Etsy.com)

It didn’t take long for these inventive items, priced at $25 each, to sell out on Etsy. Grider’s Torch Swizzle also requires a specially formulated lemon extract “Torch Juice” developed by Grider. Buy four and you got a free Torch Juice Kit.

But if you’re a procrastinator like me, you missed the boat when these first hit the Internet and took off like wildfire. The last batch was shipped in November. These are not mass produced, but hand-sculpted by Grider and then created using a centrifuge and a mold filled with hot metal. After the top is cast around a stainless steel rod, it’s hand-sanded and polished before it’s sent to be plated and receive a copper, nickel, or brass finish. Grider then completes each swizzle with patina, polish and a coat of clear enamel.

I hate to clue more people into this, but what the hell: A limited amount of torch swizzles will be up for grabs on Thursday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m. (Pacific time). Grider and his wife Karissa promise that a few torches will go online for pre-order. They won’t be available again for a few months due to Michael’s upcoming surgery, so now’s your chance to snag one at the same $25 price tag, plus $15 for the juice kit. The kit includes Torch Juice in a reusable dropper bottle for easy dispensing, two replacement wicks, and four replacement screens. The free kit offers stands if you’re able to snag four torches.
Go to GriderCo.Etsy.com to pre-order

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Event preview: The Hukilau 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, June 5-9

The Hukilau returns for its 18th annual Tiki weekender in June, serving up five days of immersive rum-fueled experiences at the Pier 66 Hotel & Marina and The Mai-Kai restaurant, both 62-year-old landmarks in sunny Fort Lauderdale.

The Hukilau 2019 Organizers made the first official announcement of 2019 on New Years’ Day, promising the return of all the hallmarks that make the event one of the Tiki revival’s top summer destinations. Tickets and hotel rooms will not go on sale until Feb. 1, but more details are due to be released throughout the month.

It will be the fifth straight year that The Hukilau has pitched its tent at Pier 66, and the 17th year at the legendary Mai-Kai. (The Hukilau launched in 2002 in Atlanta before migrating south to Florida the next year.) Below you’ll find all the news from the initial communiqué, embellished with some of our favorite photos from last year’s festivities to whet your appetite. Stay tuned for future updates on The Atomic Grog.

The Hukilau official sites
* TheHukilau.com | Facebook: Page and Group | Twitter | Instagram

THE HUKILAU 2019: Official announcement
June 5-9 at Pier 66 Hotel & Marina and The Mai-Kai, Fort Lauderdale.

Tickets and hotel rooms go on sale Feb. 1. Look for more details throughout January.

What can you look forward to in 2019? The same things you love:

* Rooms and events at Pier 66 (plus B Ocean Resort)
The views of Fort Lauderdale from the 17th floor ballroom at Pier 66 are stunning. (Photo by Chris Kridler) The views of Fort Lauderdale from the 17th floor ballroom at Pier 66 are stunning. (Photo by Chris Kridler)

* Same Wednesday through Sunday schedule
Guest bartenders at Thursday's Tiki Tower Takeover included cocktail legend Brother Cleve (left) and Doc Parks of Pagan Idol and Zombie Village. (Photo by Heather McKean) Guest bartenders at Thursday’s Tiki Tower Takeover included cocktail legend Brother Cleve (left) and Doc Parks of Pagan Idol and Zombie Village. (Photo by Heather McKean)

* Tiki Treasures Bazaar
Vendors come from far and wide to The Hukilau. (Photo by Hukilau Mike) Vendors come from far and wide to The Hukilau. (Photo by Hukilau Mike)
* More photos from Hukilau Mike

* Tiki Tower Takeover (Thursday)
Italy’s Daniele Dalla Pola (Nu Lounge Bar) always puts on a show. (Photo by Chris Kridler) Italy’s Daniele Dalla Pola (Nu Lounge Bar) always puts on a show. (Photo by Chris Kridler)

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The Tiki Times: Full 2019 events calendar now available!

The Tiki Times: Full 2019 events calendar

The Tiki Times

NEW: Announcing The Atomic Grog’s updated calendar for all the major events across the world of Tiki culture. This list includes rum events, plus modernism, surf music, Disney and other happenings of interest to the Tiki community. It will be continually updated throughout the year, so check The Tiki Times main page frequently:
UPDATES: FULL 2019 EVENTS CALENDAR
2018 in review: Photos, video, recaps of all the top events NEW
Social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

2019 EVENTS CALENDAR
Updated Jan. 18, 2019

Jan. 12 – The Original Tiki Market Place 7th Anniversary in Garden Grove, Calif.
* Atomic Grog event preview
The Original Tiki Market Place 7th Anniversary print by Clee Sobieski


Jan. 17 – Tiki Bingo at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.
* Atomic Grog event preview
Tiki Bingo at The Mai-Kai

Jan. 19 – The Mai-Kai Takeover in Fort Lauderdale.
The Mai-Kai Takeover Atomic Grog event preview: ‘Demerara Rum – The Mai-Kai’s Secret Weapon’ The Mai-Kai Takeover on Jan. 19

Jan. 25 – Book signing and spirited discussion with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Calif.
Book signing and spirited discussion at Trader Vic's with Beachbum Berry

Jan 26 – Winter Surf Fest in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Feb. 8-9 – Miami Rum Congress in Miami Beach.
Miami Rum Congress
Takeover by Reàl Ingredients & The Hukilau at Miami Rum Congress

Feb. 14-24 – Modernism Week in Palm Springs, Calif.

Feb. 15-17 – Inuhele: Atlanta’s Tiki Weekend.
* Atomic Grog preview: Iron TikiTender goes on tour
Inuhele: Atlanta's Tiki Weekend

Feb. 22 – Taste of Aloha and Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach.

Feb. 23-24 – Polynesian Cultural Festival in Oakland Park, Fla.
Polynesian Cultural Festival 2019

March 2 – Exotica Moderne #3 release party hosted by House of Tabu at The Devil’s Reef in Tacoma, Wash.
Exotica Moderne #3 release party

March 2 – Taste of Rum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

March 3 – Adventureland Day at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

March 9-10 – Arizona Aloha Festival at Tempe Beach Park.

March 10 – Adventureland Day at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Orlando.

April 5-6 – Magical Tiki Meet Up at Walt Disney World, Orlando

April 12-14 – Arizona Tiki Oasis in Scottsdale.
Arizona Tiki Oasis

April 12-14 – Chicago Area Tiki Tour
Chicago Area Tiki Tour

April 13-14 – Rhum Fest Paris.

April 18-21 – Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekend.
Viva Las Vegas

April 27 – Chicago Rum Festival.

May 16-19 – Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs, Calif.
Tiki Caliente

May 17-18 – Rum Renaissance Festival in Coral Gables, Fla. [Atomic Grog past coverage]
Rum Renaissance Festival

May 18 – Czech RumFest in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

May 23-26 – Nashville Boogie vintage weekender and car show.

May 25 – Club Rum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

May 27-30 – International Rum Conference and Madrid Rum Festival in Spain.

June 5-9 – The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale. [Atomic Grog past coverage]
UPDATE: Hotel room parties are back, The Surfrajettes return to The Mai Kai
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Tickets go on sale Feb. 1
The Hukilau 2019

June 7-8 – Rum Love Festival in Wroclaw, Poland.

June 8 – Manchester Rum Festival in the UK.

June 15 – New York Rum Festival in New York City.

June 27-30 – Ohana: Luau At The Lake at The Tiki Resort, Lake George, N.Y.
Ohana: Luau At The Lake

July 5-7 – Tiki Kon in Portland, Ore.

July 16-21 – Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, La.

Aug. 7-11 – Tiki Oasis in San Diego, Calif.
Tiki Oasis 2019

Aug. 16-18 – Hi-Tide Summer Holiday: Asbury Park in New Jersey.
Hi-Tide Summer Holiday: Asbury Park

Aug. 31-Sept. 1 – German Rum Festival in Berlin.

Sept. 7 – California Rum Festival in San Francisco.

Sept. 20-21 – Southern Surf StompFest in Atlanta.

Oct. 19-20 – The UK RumFest in London.

Make our calendar better
Feel free to share events via email or Facebook message (special events only, no regular band gigs or general bar promotions).


More on The Atomic Grog
2018 in review: Photos, video, recaps of all the top events
* Past news and events from 2015-2017
Special spotlights: Artists | Bands/music | Bars | Websites | Rum | Cocktails

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The Year in Tiki 2018: Recap all the top events with photos and video

The Year in Tiki 2018

The Tiki Times

In 2018, The Atomic Grog consolidated previous news and events coverage into a comprehensive 12-month calendar that offers dates, links and previews of all the major Tiki and rum events, plus a touch of modernism, surf music, Disney and other happenings of interest to the Tiki community. Below, you can still find the official artwork and links to the official sites. Following the events, the calendar was updated to include images and videos culled from social media, along with some of our own photos and relevant press coverage. We’ve archived this full year of coverage for posterity.
UPDATES: 2019 EVENTS CALENDAR
Social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

THE TIKI TIMES: 2018 EVENTS RECAP

Feb. 15-25 – Modernism Week in Palm Springs, Calif.

Feb. 23 – Taste of Aloha and Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach.

Feb. 24 – Inuhele: Atlanta Tiki Homebar Tour. Atlanta Tiki Home Bar Tour

Feb. 24-25 – Polynesian Cultural Festival in Oakland Park, Fla.

March 4 – Adventureland Day at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom in Disney World.

March 31 – Bamboo on The Bayou’s Bamboo Bash in Houston.

April 7 – Magical Tiki Meet Up at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. Magical Tiki Meet Up

April 7-8 – Rhum Fest Paris.

April 14 – Chicago Rum Festival.

April 19-22 – Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekend.

May 17-20 – Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs, Calif. Tiki Caliente

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The Mai-Kai digs up old friends for 10th annual Hulaween party

Hulaween 2018: Back from the Dead - 10th Anniversary Reunion

Hulaween, South Florida’s Tiki-inspired and retro-themed Halloween bash, celebrates its 10th anniversary at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 26, with a “Back from the Dead” reunion party.

NEW: Hulaween 2018 photos on Facebook
The Atomic Grog’s gallery | The Mai-Kai’s gallery

Hulaween 2018: Back from the Dead - 10th Anniversary Reunion
Facebook event
Artwork by Robert Jimenez (Tiki Tower) | See the artwork from previous years

*** Friday, Oct. 26 – Hulaween 2018: Back from the Dead – 10th Anniversary Reunion featuring Slip and the Spinouts at The Mai-Kai. Sponsored by Appleton Rum. Free admission. Happy hour 5 to 7 p.m., plus drink specials all night. Live music and costume contest in The Molokai bar, 7 p.m.-midnight.
The Atomic Grog: See 2017 party recap, photos | All past Hulaween coverage

Returning for the eighth time to rock the house is veteran roots rock band Slip and the Spinouts, cranking out three sets of classic covers and originals in the historic restaurant’s Molokai lounge. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the bar’s extensive happy hour, featuring some 50 half-priced tropical drinks and dozens of appetizers. The festive mood is set by themed music and a fully-decorated bar, including the signature sarong-clad servers (aka Molokai Girls) in costume.

Slip Mahoney and Spinouts drummer Dominick Daniels keep the party hopping at Hulaween 2017. (Atomic Grog photo)
Slip Mahoney and Spinouts drummer Dominick Daniels keep the party hopping at Hulaween 2017. (Atomic Grog photo)

The live music kicks off at 7 as the always-creative costumed revelers get into the spirit of the festivities with some of the most clever and well-crafted creations. The costume contest happens around 10, with cash and prizes to the top three winners.

Guitarist/vocalist Slip Mahoney and his band will keep the party going late into the evening with an eclectic mix of styles, from blues to rockabilly to classic country to surf. The bar fills up fast, so get there early to reserve a table. The dance floor is always a sight to behold as costumed revelers shake, rattle and roll to the beat of the Polynesian Pop party.

Several of The Mai-Kai’s acclaimed tropical drinks will remain half-priced all night long, and Appleton Rum will also present specials and giveaways. New sponsor Drive-In-Sanity Films will provide ghoulish giveaways themed to its cult B-movies. The Atomic Grog blog is back as media sponsor and musical programmer for the seventh straight year. The exclusive artwork for Hulaween 2018 was created by South Florida artist Robert Jimenez.

Continue reading “The Mai-Kai digs up old friends for 10th annual Hulaween party”

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Photos: The Mai-Kai updates bar menu, adds classic ‘lost’ cocktail

Updated June 2019

A new cocktail menu made its debut on May 17 in The Molokai bar at The Mai-Kai, marking first update to the classic tropical drink lineup since 2014.
Related: The Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide | See all 100+ recipes

The 2018 cocktail menu at The Mai-Kai

The front and back covers are now blue, replacing the previous yellow. The centerspread featuring the classic tropical drinks remains the same color, and the entire menu has a matte finish (instead of the old laminated, shiny menu).

The 2018 cocktail menu at The Mai-Kai

The rum and wine lists are also updated …

The 2018 rum menu at The Mai-Kai

Continue reading “Photos: The Mai-Kai updates bar menu, adds classic ‘lost’ cocktail”

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The Hukilau 2018 symposiums to include Disney Imagineer, Tiki on TV

An artist's rendering of Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at Disney World from Walt Disney Imagineering, and a photo from the grand opening in March 2015 (Atomic Grog photo)

Updated Feb. 8, 2018
Polynesian Pop has always been deeply ingrained in American culture, from Tiki’s mid-century heyday through today. This symbiotic relationship will be explored in colorful detail during special symposiums at The Hukilau, the 17th annual Tiki weekender happening June 6-10 in Fort Lauderdale.

Among the special presentations now on sale at TheHukilau.com are “Travel with Trader Sam” hosted by Disney Imagineer Kyle Barnes and “The Golden Age of Tiki and the South Pacific on Television” with film and video collector Ron Ferrell.

Disney's Kyle Barnes was art director of Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at Disney World and Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland. He also oversaw the 2015 refurbishment of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort in Orlando. (Contributed photos)
Disney’s Kyle Barnes was art director of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney World and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland. He also oversaw the 2015 refurbishment of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in Orlando (left). (Contributed photos)

The Hukilau: June 6-10, 2018, at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina and The Mai-Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.
* TheHukilau.com | Facebook: Page and Group | Twitter | Instagram
Quick links: Tickets | Book hotel | Symposiums | Schedule
Previous story: The Hukilau 2018: More bands, more bars, more Tiki!

Guests who buy multi-day passes get first shot at these and other educational activities, including Okole Maluna Cocktail Academy classes and rum tastings, craft classes with noted artists, plus many other hands-on activities. Also on sale are tickets to the three aquatic performances by Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid and her pod of aquaticats at The Wreck Bar at the nearby B Ocean Resort.

Previously announced were symposiums by special guests including rum and cocktail luminaries Ian Burrell and Brother Cleve, craft classes with South Florida artists Tom Fowner and Will Anders, “go-go aerobics” with burlesque queen Angie Pontani, a mid-century makeup symposium, plus hula lessons. The symposiums and craft classes range from $10 to $25, with most priced at just $15. This is a reduction from years past intended to offset a slight rise in the price of passes, which run from $175 to $399.

Here’s a preview of the new symposiums and classes:

An artist's rendering of Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at Disney World from Walt Disney Imagineering, and a photo from the grand opening in March 2015 (Atomic Grog photo)
An artist’s rendering of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney World from Walt Disney Imagineering, and a photo from the grand opening in March 2015. (Atomic Grog photo)

* “Travel with Trader Sam” with Kyle Barnes (Friday, June 8): What made the Jungle Cruise’s head salesman venture beyond Adventureland? Why open his first cocktail outpost at the Disneyland resort? How did he land on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World? Veteran Walt Disney Imagineer Kyle Barnes will answer these questions and share rarely seen details from the design and development of both locations of Disney’s popular Tiki bar concept.
* Related: Say ‘Aloha’ to Disney’s revamped Polynesian resort
* On The Atomic Grog: Trader Sam’s profile | Kyle Barnes at Mahaloween 2014

* “The Golden Age of Tiki and the South Pacific on Television” with Ron Ferrell (Saturday, June 9): An exclusive look at how Polynesia was represented during the golden age of television. See clips and enjoy the commentary as Tikiphile and cinema fan Ferrell shares his collection of film and video of Tiki and Polynesian pop from Hollywood, TV shows, and commercials.

At The Hukilau 2017, villagers had the opportunity to participate in classes ranging from Tiki carving, to cocktails (with Chicago's Three Dots and a Dash), to rum tasting. (Photos by Heather McKean)
At The Hukilau 2017, villagers had the opportunity to participate in classes ranging from Tiki carving, to cocktails (with Chicago’s Three Dots and a Dash), to rum tasting. (Photos by Heather McKean)

Updates: The presentation “The Rise, The Fall, The Resurrection, The Redemption” by Boston-based music, Tiki and cocktail pioneer Brother Cleve will be held on Friday. Global rum ambassador Ian Burrell will host his symposium “Who’s Your Daddy? The Pina Colada Paternity Test” on Friday and a rare rum tasting on Saturday. Still to be added to the schedule: A Tiki history symposium in the works from Tim “Swanky” Glazner, author of Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant, (2016).

Continue reading “The Hukilau 2018 symposiums to include Disney Imagineer, Tiki on TV”