{"id":12941,"date":"2016-06-22T21:19:40","date_gmt":"2016-06-23T01:19:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=12941"},"modified":"2017-02-17T04:37:27","modified_gmt":"2017-02-17T09:37:27","slug":"the-hukilau-2016-day-1-photo-recap-pre-party-at-the-mai-kai-the-wreck-bar-mermaid-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2016\/06\/22\/the-hukilau-2016-day-1-photo-recap-pre-party-at-the-mai-kai-the-wreck-bar-mermaid-show\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hukilau 2016, Day 1 photo recap: Pre-Party at The Mai-Kai, The Wreck Bar mermaid show"},"content":{"rendered":"

Highlights and photos from the 15th annual The Hukilau Polynesian Pop weekender in Fort Lauderdale. The opening day included the Smuggler’s Cove book signing and kick-off party at The Mai-Kai<\/a>, plus the first of three exclusive swimshows from Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid and her pod of aquaticats at The Wreck Bar.
\nDay 2: <\/strong> Savage Jungle Swimshow, Tiki Tower Takeover, Kickoff Party and Tiki Treasures Bazaar, Shag’s SkyLounge, After Party at Kreepy Tiki<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016<\/strong>
\nClick for photos and more below:<\/em>
\n* 7:30-9:30 p.m. – Smuggler’s Cove book signing<\/a><\/strong> (The Mai-Kai gift shop)
\n* 8 p.m.-midnight – Pre-Party at The Mai-Kai<\/a><\/strong> (live music by Gold Dust Lounge)
\n* 10:30 p.m. – Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid’s Glamour Girl Swimshow<\/a><\/strong> (The Wreck Bar at the B Ocean Resort)
\nBonus cocktail recipe:<\/strong> Spicy Hula Girl from The Mai-Kai<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

Smuggler’s Cove book signing in The Mai-Kai gift shop<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
\nA trio of newly installed tikis greets guests in The Mai-Kai’s porte-coch\u00e8re, to the north side of the drive-up entrance. The tikis were carved by Florida’s Will Anders, Tom Fowner<\/a> and Jeff Chouinard<\/a> and installed May 28-29. (Photo by Kevin Upthegrove)<\/em>
\n* More photos, full coverage of the installation<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The
\nThe Hukilau organizer Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White<\/a> and spirits coordinator Dean Hurst visit the newly installed carving, King Kai, in The Mai-Kai’s outdoor gardens. (Photos by Go11Events.com)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The rains swept through South Florida, threatening a wet weekend but the skies suddenly cleared for the opening night festivities at The Mai-Kai. The hundreds of villagers, many coming straight from the airport, were swept up in the majesty of the Polynesian palace. Many made a pilgrimage to the garden to see King Kai, the new Tiki carved by South Florida artist Will Anders.<\/a> Others made sure to check out the new Tiki trio in the porte-coch\u00e8re.<\/p>\n

\"Martin
\nMartin Cate and Rebecca Cate kick off their book tour at The Mai-Kai. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward \/ The Atomic Grog)<\/em><\/p>\n

The first order of business was to meet Martin Cate<\/a> and Rebecca Cate, the power duo behind the new book Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum and the Cult of Tiki<\/em><\/a>. The owners of the acclaimed San Francisco rum bar Smuggler’s Cove were signing copies of the book in The Mai-Kai gift shop, where they also had limited-edition mugs (a “Ports O’ Call” glaze on The Kuhiko) for sale that are exclusive for the book tour. And it’s indeed a tour. After two book signings at The Hukilau, the pair headed straight to Miami for a Sunday night event, then on to other events across the country.<\/p>\n

\"Martin
\nMartin Cate and Rebecca Cate sign copies of their new book in The Mai-Kai gift shop. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward and Susan Hayward \/ The Atomic Grog)<\/em><\/p>\n

Martin and Rebecca were thrilled to be at The Mai-Kai for the book’s release (it officially hit shelves and mailboxes the day before), and to meet their many friends and fans. As soon as you walked in The Mai-Kai Trading Post<\/a>, you were greeted by a full display of the epic new book, which has the Tiki and cocktail scenes abuzz with its comprehensive look at the modern Polynesian Pop revival. I was one of the first in line to get my copy signed (and pick up a mug), and the authors made a special effort to personalize their signings and pose for photos. Their assistant, Peggy Williams, was also on hand to give out copies of the book’s accompanying trading cards, a novel way to promote the book and stir interest. Fans can collect the full set of 20 and discuss the recipes that appear on each on a special Facebook page.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Family
\nFamily man Jimi Gonzalez of the Straw Hat Barmen<\/a> and The Hukilau bar team (left) arrives at The Mai-Kai. Meanwhile, Bill Dillard of Go11 Events<\/a> enjoys cocktails with artists Tom Fowner (left) and Crazy Al Evans (right) during the book signing. (Photos by Go11Events.com)<\/em><\/p>\n

Official photos:<\/strong> Browse the book signing gallery from Go11 Events<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

***************************************<\/div>\n

Pre-Party at The Mai-Kai featuring Gold Dust Lounge<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The
\nThe Hukilau’s opening-night villagers enjoy The Molokai lounge, which is styled after the legendary British merchant ship HMS Bounty. (Photo by Barron Elam)<\/em><\/p>\n

With a 90 percent chance of rain forecast, the showers promised to at least cool off the festivities. But nothing could douse the aloha spirit on opening night. The sold-out Molokai lounge<\/a> filled up quickly after happy hour, with Miami’s Gold Dust Lounge<\/a> providing the jazzy, surfy soundtrack to the evening’s mellow vibe. VIPs flowed into the bar to sample The Mai-Kai’s famous cocktails.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Gold
\nGold Dust Lounge performs in The Molokai lounge at The Mai-Kai during The Hukilau Pre-Party on June 8. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward \/ The Atomic Grog)<\/em><\/p>\n

We spotted Jeff “Beachbum” Berry<\/a> and wife Annene Kaye, along with Brad Smith – head bartender from their acclaimed New Orleans Tiki bar Latitude 29<\/a>. Next to them was Ed Hamilton, head honcho of the Hamilton Rum<\/a> empire, who always has a new product to tout. We sampled a new 30-proof pimento liqueur that he’s about to launch. “It was great to meet so many rum lovers,” Hamilton later posted on the app.<\/p>\n

\"Cocktails
\nCocktails in The Molokai bar, served by The Mai-Kai’s famous sarong-clad waitresses. (Photo by Barron Elam)<\/em><\/p>\n

The many villagers who filled the bar were enthusiastic and, of course, very happy to be there. “It was a great first night! Gold Dust Lounge was off the charts awesome again,” Lei Patrick posted in the news feed of The Hukilau’s new event app.<\/p>\n