The 2012 Hukilau will be held Thursday through Sunday, April 19-22, at The Mai-Kai and several Fort Lauderdale beachside hotels. Official sites: TheHukilau.com
Facebook page | Facebook group | The Mai-Kai
With Hukilau 2012 fast approaching, we have a couple late updates from the organizer of this annual Polynesian Pop celebration, Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White:
We reported earlier that the folks at Common Machine Productions will present a sneak peek of their upcoming documentary, Plastic Paradise: A Swingin’ Trip Through America’s Polynesian Obsession, during Hukilau 2012. But more details have been announced, including the exclusive showtime.
The sneak preview will be shown just before the first dinner show at The Mai-Kai on Saturday, April 21, and will begin promptly at 5 p.m. You must have dinner show reservations to see the film. We’ve heard it’s more than just a short clip so you won’t want to skip this opportunity. The early happy hour begins at 4 p.m. If you haven’t made reservations, call now: (954) 563-3272.
The documentary, which will hit the film festival circuit later this year before being shown on PBS in 2013, tells the story of Tiki culture’s original rise and fall, and its subsequent rediscovery by a new generation of Polynesian Popsters. Filmed in Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale — much of it on location at The Mai-Kai during Hukilau 2011 — Plastic Paradise features interviews with many of the Tiki scene’s creative forces, such as Sven Kirsten, Beachbum Berry, Tiki Kiliki, Otto von Stroheim, Swanky, Shag, and many more.
Acclaimed artist and designer Kevin Kidney is the film’s art director. Filmmakers Brett O’Bourke and Gaspar González of Common Machine will host the screening, discuss the film, and take questions from the audience afterward. Click here for a short preview.
Hukilau organizer gets inked
Tiki Kiliki invites you to see her get tattooed at this year’s Hukilau. Paul Roe, Tattoo historian and owner of British Ink Tattoos in Washington, D.C., will present another informative symposium – “Ta-ta-u: The Mark of Civilization” – and plans to give her a traditional “tatau” as part of the presentation on the importance of the male and female tattoos in Samoa. It’s set for Saturday, April 21, at 11:30 a.m. at the Best Western Oceanside Inn.
Click here to get your tickets to this and all of the symposiums before they sell out.
Yo, ho, ho, it’s a free rum symposium
Immediately following at 12:30, you won’t want to miss a free cocktail symposium. Paul Monahan of Sailor Jerry rum will talk about the history of spiced rum, its links to Tiki culture and its place in the competitive world of spirits. In addition, Richard Boccato and his team from New York City Tiki bar PKNY will demonstrate classic spiced rum cocktails using Sailor Jerry.
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Hello there!
Last year was our first opportunity to partake in the Hukilau . It was SOOOO fun we vowed never to miss it. However, we have a hair salon and this is still high season for us so WE COULDN’T GO!!
Is there ANYWAY to find out when the 2013 hukilau will be? Our lives are alittle more difficult than most so there is alot of pre planning involved. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
JodyLeigh Rico
Hukilau 2013 was announced in this year’s event program for June 6-9 in Fort Lauderdale!