{"id":31750,"date":"2024-06-02T21:15:24","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T01:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=31750"},"modified":"2024-07-05T15:52:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T19:52:36","slug":"the-hukilau-2024-preview-flashback-inside-and-outside-the-mai-kai-with-tiki-carver-will-anders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2024\/06\/02\/the-hukilau-2024-preview-flashback-inside-and-outside-the-mai-kai-with-tiki-carver-will-anders\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hukilau 2024 preview & flashback: Inside (and outside) The Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated July 5<\/em><\/p>\n

There’s probably no better tour guide through the exotic landscape of carvings, masks and other Oceanic art contained within The Mai-Kai than Will Anders. The South Florida artist first explored the historic property as a child in the ’60s, became its exclusive cigarette vendor for decades, then transitioned into an artistic career that saw him carve the most significant large tikis added during the new millennium.
\nSee below:<\/strong> Audio walking tour with Will Anders, Kern Mattei <\/a> (2018)<\/p>\n

\"Mai-Kai<\/A>
\nRECAP:<\/B><\/FONT> Mai-Kai from the Outside In<\/em> with Will Anders<\/strong><\/a>
\nThe South Florida artist gave The Hukilau a fascinating, insightful presentation that took a look inside his career and his contributions to the historic restaurant over the past 20 years.
\nMore Hukillau 2024 recaps<\/B><\/FONT>
\n* The Atomic Grog’s photos, video and memories<\/a>
\n* Live coverage, photos and video from social media<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Artist<\/a>
Artist Will Anders is a self-taught expert at recreating Mai-Kai carvings in cement using molds made from the originals. (Photos by Tiki Tom-Tom for Polynesiacs: Tiki at Home)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But some of his most important contributions to the restaurant’s 2.7-acre property aren’t original creations at all. Over the past 20 years, Anders took on a unique role as a sort of “keeper of the tikis.” If you see a small or medium-sized figure or art piece in the back garden and other outdoor areas, it’s likely it was replicated by Anders in his nearby compound with his own cement mix using molds curated by the founding owners.<\/p>\n

It’s a fascinating story that will be explored during a presentation on June 8 at The Hukilau, the annual Tiki weekender that has been joined at the hip with The Mai-Kai<\/a> since 2003. Anders will share a tale or two during The Mai-Kai from the Outside In<\/a><\/em>, which will reveal the artist’s back-story, his carving tips, his approach to creating cement tikis, plus lots more.<\/p>\n

The Atomic Grog is honored to be hosting this exclusive look at Mai-Kai history with Anders. It starts early (10:30 a.m.), the perfect way to kick off The Hukilau’s Saturday schedule. We may even have a special cocktail for attendees to enjoy and start their day right. The presentation is included in all multi-day passes.<\/p>\n

\"Carvings<\/a>
Carvings by Will Anders featured at The Mai-Kai include King Kai (left) and Hiroa Nui, shown sporting new coats of sealant in June 2023. His Hawaiian Lono (left) stands with tikis carved by fellow Florida artists Jeff Chouinard and Tom Fowner at the entrance to The Mai-Kai in September 2021. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Below you’ll find more info on The Hukilau and Anders, including photos and audio of a special walking tour<\/a> we conducted with manager Kern Mattei in 2018. The walk-through of much of The Mai-Kai property in suburban Fort Lauderdale was recorded for an episode of Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast<\/em>. Now, as the restaurant nears the final stages of its multi-year, multimillion-dollar restoration project<\/a>, it’s an interesting look back at the state of the property around six years ago.<\/p>\n

The Hukilau<\/a><\/strong> – June 6-9 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach. Featuring live music (Messer Chups, Surfer Joe, L’Exotighost, Slowey and the Boats, Lords of Atlantis, The Intoxicators, The Disasternauts, The Mermers, Skinny Jimmy Stingray), symposiums and classes (Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Ian “Rum Ambassador” Burrell, David Wondrich, Matt Pietrek, Daniele Dalla Pola, Spike Marble, Marie King, Lucky Munro), 20+ guest cocktail bars, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
\n* The Hukilau on social media: Instagram<\/a> | Facebook page<\/a> and group<\/a>
\nPrevious coverage: <\/B><\/FONT> Symposiums, vendors and more announced for 22nd Tiki weekender June 6-9<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Mai-Kai from the Outside In<\/strong><\/em> – Saturday (June 8), 10:30 a.m.
\nDon’t rush inside – learn about the history of the gardens and tikis outside from artist and carver Will Anders. Forty years of personal Mai-Kai stories up to and including the current restoration of the historic tikis. Will’s tales are woven with threads of passion and reverence, offering a glimpse into the soul of this sacred sanctuary. So, linger a while, and let the whispers of history caress your senses, for in these moments of reflection lies the true essence of our enchanted realm.<\/em> – From TheHukilau.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Will<\/a>
Will Anders teaches a carving class during The Hukilau 2016 in the lounge at the top of the Pier 66 hotel. (Photo by Sherill Gross)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to his long history with The Mai-Kai, Anders has been associated with The Hukilau for decades. His art pieces gained a cult following after he showed them in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar. He then began sharing his knowledge as a presenter and instructor. His hands-on classes have included DIY \u2013 Carving 101<\/em> (2016) and Carve Your Own Tiki Pendant<\/em> (2017- 2019).<\/p>\n

Anders is a true old-school artist with no website and little social media presence. You can easily find him, however, on the Tiki Central message board, where his long-running “Will carve” thread<\/a> is chock full of photos of his latest work. For a deeper history on The Mai-Kai’s Tiki carvings, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Some wider exposure came recently when Anders was featured in Polynesiacs: Tiki at Home<\/em><\/a>, the popular book on home bars and collectors from author Tiki Tom-Tom, published by Wonk Press<\/a> in 2023. The peek inside Anders’ home studio tells the origin story of the veteran carver, who discovered The Mai-Kai in sleepy Oakland Park, Fla., as a bike-riding youth who had to be chased from the Tiki gardens by restaurant staff.<\/p>\n

As Tiki Tom-Tom tells it:<\/a> “Will was nine years old, living just a few blocks away with his parents. His family, like many others, were Jersey transplants. For Will, it was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with tikis at the Mai-Kai.”<\/p>\n

\"Just<\/a>
Just a few of the many tikis created by artist Will Anders in his home studio. (Photos by Tiki Tom-Tom for Polynesiacs: Tiki at Home)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The affair later included decades of seemingly mundane work: Filling the cigarette machine inside the historic restaurant. But this was not only a thriving business for Anders, it kept him coming back to study more than just the cocktails. He became enamored with the rich decor and artistry of The Mai-Kai, especially the large carved tikis.<\/p>\n

Anders became a carver relatively late in life at age 40, but just in time to put his indelible stamp on The Mai-Kai. His early carvings caught the attention of management, and he eventually contributed two giant tikis to the rear garden: King Kai<\/a> and Hiroa Nui.<\/a> A notable third carving became part of a trio that greets guests under the porte-coch\u00e8re.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Anders and fellow contemporary carvers Tom Fowner and Jeff Chouinard are the latest in a long line of artists who have contributed to the authentic look and feel of The Mai-Kai. Much of the indoor artwork, including the contributions of the late LeRoy Schmaltz and Oceanic Arts<\/a>, is currently being lovingly restored by Mai-Kai creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller<\/a> and artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A few vintage outdoor carvings remain, including a 1960s tiki by the legendary Barney West.<\/a> But Florida’s unrelenting heat, humidity and tropical weather have not be kind to many others. Founding owners Bob and Jack Thornton<\/a> also accumulated a vast array of original pieces from the South Pacific.<\/p>\n

\"Some
Some of the outdoor Tiki statues cast in cement by artist Will Anders. The Mai-Kai showed this image during a January 2023 meeting of Oakland Park’s Historic Preservation Board.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Luckily, at some point, the owners came up with the idea of creating rubber molds of the smaller outdoor pieces, then casting them in cement. This not only created more durable versions of the originals, it also preserved them for future generations to enjoy. But even cement can fall victim to brutal storms and deterioration.<\/p>\n

As years passed, the molds were forgotten. But they were discovered in the restaurant’s warehouse just as Anders was honing his new craft. He convinced management to let him take some molds home to nearby Wilton Manors and take a stab at creating replacement Tiki statues. After finding the perfect mix (1 part cement, 2 parts sand, 3 parts gravel), Anders was off to the races.<\/p>\n

“Over the next ten to fifteen years, Will would methodically check out each mold, produce the tiki or war club or paddle of that one mold, and bring them back,” the story in Polynesiacs<\/em> says. “Over time, he fully replenished the gardens of The Mai-Kai with more than two hundred tikis.”<\/p>\n

Here are some examples of his recent work, posted in February by Anders on his Tiki Central thread:<\/p>\n

\"Empty<\/a>
\nEmpty molds of Mai-Kai Tiki figures, waiting to be filled.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
\nA day after pouring the cement for The Mai-Kai figures, Anders waits for the molds to harden. He’ll “unmold” them in the morning after they sit another night.<\/p>\n

\"After<\/a>
\nAfter the tikis bound for The Mai-Kai dry for a day or so, they get their initial paint job.<\/p>\n

Anders’ role in keeping The Mai-Kai gardens lush with fresh tikis will be a central topic during his presentation at The Hukilau 2024. We hope to see you there! <\/a><\/p>\n

Flashback: The Mai-Kai audio walking tour with Will Anders <\/h3>\n

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

In July 2018, The Atomic Grog was joined by carver Will Anders and manager Kern Mattei for a 70-minute walking tour inside and outside The Mai-Kai, captured by David Phantomatic for Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast.<\/em> It’s sort of a cross between a Mai-Kai history lesson and a Tiki museum audio walking tour.<\/p>\n

We’ve had the audio to enjoy since it was posted in May 2019, but for the first time we’re now pairing the podcast with photos. Some were taken that day, while others are from the same general timeframe. Use them as reference and to augment the audio. The resulting audio-visual tour below provides a great look back at the state of The Mai-Kai in 2018-2019, just before the pandemic and roof collapse in late 2020 that led to the extended closing and current restoration.<\/p>\n

Make yourself a Mai-Kai cocktail<\/a> (or two) and take a trip back in time with us for this immersive experience. The $15 million renovation and reimagination will change some of the areas covered in the tour (notably the porte-coch\u00e8re), but much of the inside and the Tiki Garden are being restored exactly as they were.<\/p>\n

Click here to listen to the podcast<\/a> or use the player below.<\/p>\n