For the 24th time, Tikiphiles from around the world gathered under The Hukilau banner for a long weekend of Polynesian Pop revelry on June 3-7. For the past six years, the event has been headquartered at the picturesque Beachcomber Resort, located right on the ocean in Pompano Beach, just north of Fort Lauderdale.
More below: Reviews, tributes to top event cocktails
• We tasted 44 drinks; see the sweet 16
Bonus recipes: Coral Reef Cooler (Tiki Tiki Bang Bang) | Endless Summer (Tiki Tatsu-Ya) | Sunken Pearl (Boca Island Tiki Lounge)
In addition to the tropical environment of the beachfront hotel, The Hukilau’s anchor and nerve center since moving to South Florida in 2003 has been the historic Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. The 2.7-acre Tiki temple is a destination unto itself, attracting fans for its vintage mid-century experience that was taken to the next level by a $20+ million restoration completed in late 2024.
Check out our previous story for photos, video and a full recap of all the activities that took place at the Mai-Kai, including an exclusive presentation by retro pop culture expert Charles Phoenix. That story also includes reviews and ratings of the special cocktails served at the Mai-Kai.
We previously published an extensive collection of social media posts, including photos and video plus our annual playlist spotlighting the performing bands. Mahalo to everyone who contributed!
This story will cover the events at the Beachcomber, pulling together the best photos and our key memories, plus contributions from Hukilau villagers. As a bonus, you’ll also find our cocktail ratings and reviews of the tasty libations we sampled all weekend, plus three bonus recipes.
We hope all this coverage gives you a taste of the event and inspires you to join us in 2027, when the Mai-Kai celebrates its 70th anniversary and The Hukilau hosts its 25th weekender.
The Hukilau 2026 – June 3-7 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach and Mai-Kai restaurant in Oakland Park. Featuring live music, special guests, symposiums and classes, 20 guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
• The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
More Hukilau 2026 recaps
At the Mai-Kai: The Hukilau honors a legend, welcomes Charles Phoenix
Photos, video: Live coverage from social media
A limited number of official event mugs, created by John Mulder and Eeekum Bookum, are still available for purchase online via the official website. This is a second edition, limited to 100 mugs with a new color scheme, released after The Hukilau. The mug pays homage to The Hukilau’s original event logo tiki by Kevin Kidney. [Previous coverage]