Updated July 4
The Hukilau was back on the beach for 2022, hosting its many retro-themed Tiki festivities at a scenic hotel just north of Fort Lauderdale. The 20th Polynesian Pop weekender (the second longest-running in the world), featured four days of live music, educational seminars, cocktails and rum tastings, plus lots more. Click below for extensive photo/video recaps on social media.
Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
The Beachcomber, a family-owned property in Pompano Beach, features lots of outdoor space just steps from the Atlantic Ocean. The Mai-Kai, the longtime host restaurant that remains closed for refurbishment, participated by serving cocktails and offering villagers drinks to go. The new ownership team also presented an exclusive symposium on the exciting new plans for the historic property.
The Hukilau 2022 – June 9-12 at the Beachcomber Resort & Club in Pompano Beach. Featuring live music (The Surfrajettes, The Intoxicators, The Manakooras, King Kukulele, Skinny Jimmy Stingray), symposiums (Ian Burrell, David Wondrich, The Mai-Kai, Rocket Betty, Spike Marble, Headhunter Ray, Jeff Ballard), 15 guest bars, rum tastings, luau on the beach, pool parties, Tiki Treasures Bazaar, plus more.
Official website | Instagram | Facebook page and group
WELCOME PARTY: Wednesday rum dinner at Esotico Miami
The Hukilau kicked off early with a party hosted by Esotico Miami on Wednesday night. Owner Daniele Dalla Pola, a longtime guest of The Hukilau, served up a four-course meal with three Chairman’s Reserve cocktails and a flight of three rums from St. Lucia.
DJ Hi-Tide (aka Vincent Minervino and Magdalena O’Connell) played vintage tunes as guests enjoyed the party at the bar and vast dining rooms at this three-year-old neo-Tiki hotspot near downtown Miami. Dalla Pola also brought his outstanding cocktails to the Beachcomber as a guest bar at the event for a fifth time.
Previous story: More info on the welcome party
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ENTERTAINMENT: Musical performers poolside at the Beachcomber:
The Intoxicators – Bombastic surf and instrumental rock from Tallahassee. Also appearing: the band’s alter ego, simian surf band The Disasternauts.
King Kukulele – Longtime emcee and ukuleist from Southern California.
The Manakooras A mashup of surf, exotica and traditional steel guitar from an all-star band from Charlotte, N.C.
Skinny Jimmy Stingray Traditional instro surf and rockabilly from nearby Deerfield Beach.
The Surfrajettes – Reverential instrumental surf by an all-female quartet from Canada.
DJs: Vincent Minervino and Magdalena O’Connell of Hi-Tide Recordings, Spike Marble of The Hula Girls, Brian Crum of The Intoxicators, and James Brown’s Sweat.
* Past coverage: Preview of the performers
* TheHukilau.com: Hear streaming music from the bands
GUEST BARS & BARTENDERS: Some of the world’s top Tiki bartenders mixed up signature cocktails all weekend. This included pop-up bars, plus cocktails in bungalow parties and other special events. Mahalo and okole maluna to Dirty Dick (Paris), Esotico Miami, The Honu (Dunedin, Fla.), Hidden Harbor (Pittsburgh), The Inferno Room (Indianapolis), Luau Lads (Jacksonville, Fla.), The Mai-Kai (Fort Lauderdale), Sabai / The Jungle Room (Richmond, Va.), The S.O.S. Tiki Bar (Decatur, Ga.), Three Dots and a Dash (Chicago), Tiki Tiki Bang Bang (Cincinnati, Ohio), Tiki Tatsu-Ya (Austin, Texas), Tiki Underground (Akron, Ohio), Tonga Hut (Los Angeles), and VenTiki (Ventura, Calif.).
THE HUKILAU 2022: Daily schedule, photos and video
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
3-9 p.m. – Registration (Aloha Desk)
3-8 p.m. – Welcome Reception with DJ Hi-Tide and friends (Poolside)
3-5 p.m. – South Seas Lounge with VenTiki
5-6 p.m. – First Timer’s Reception (Barracuda Lounge)
7-8 p.m. – The Intoxicators (Poolside)
9 p.m.-midnight – Bungalow Parties (Courtyard & Bungalows)
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FRIDAY, JUNE 10
Previous story: Bios of all the bands | Classes and symposiums
11 a.m.-9 p.m. – Registration (Aloha Desk)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Rum Island Pool Party hosted by King Kukulele with DJs James Brown’s Sweat, Spike Marble, and Vincent and Magdalena of Hi-Tide. Bands listed separately.
11 a.m.-noon – Tiki Treasures with Jeff Ballard of the Tiki Trail (South Tiki Hut)
Noon-4 p.m. – “Ohana-Rama” games (Courtyard & Bungalows)
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Rum Amok with Ian Burrell (South Tiki Hut)
1-3 p.m. – South Seas Lounge with Three Dots and a Dash
1-2 p.m. – The Intoxicators (Poolside)
2-3 p.m. – Alfred Shaheen: Iconic Hawaiian Textiles with Rocket Betty (South Tiki Hut)
3-5 p.m. – South Seas Lounge with Hidden Harbor
3:30-4:30 – A New History of Rum Until 1900 with David Wondrich (North Tiki Hut)
4 p.m. – The Surfrajettes (Poolside)
5-6 p.m. – Designing Immersive Environments with HeadHunter Ray (North Tiki Hut)
6 p.m. – The Manakooras (Poolside)
7-10 p.m. – Luau Cocktail Hour and Dinner (South Tiki Hut)
7:30-9 p.m. – King Kukulele and live Polynesian show (North Tiki Hut)
9-10 p.m. – The Manakooras Jungle of Steel release party (Poolside)
10 p.m.-midnight – Bungalow Parties (Courtyard & Bungalows)
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
Previous story: Bios of all the bands | Classes and symposiums
10 a.m.-6 p.m. – Registration (Aloha Desk)
10:30 a.m.-noon – The Okole Maluna Cocktail Academy with Ian Burrell (Barracuda Lounge)
11 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Rum Island Pool Party hosted by King Kukulele with DJs Brian Crum, and Vincent and Magdalena of Hi-Tide. Bands listed separately.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – South Seas Lounge with The Inferno Room
Noon-7 p.m. – Tiki Treasures Bazaar (Courtyard & Bungalows)
Previous story: Browse the full list of 26 marketplace vendors
TheHukilau.com: Photos and more information on all the vendors
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour Live (South Tiki Hut)
1-3 p.m. – South Seas Lounge with Tiki Underground
1:30 p.m. – Skinny Jimmy Stingray (Poolside)
1:30-3 p.m. – How to Make Punch Like Captain Kidd with David Wondrich (Barracuda Lounge)
3-5 p.m. – South Seas Lounge with Tiki Tiki Bang Bang
3:30-4:30 – The Mai-Kai: Present & Future with Bill Fuller (North Tiki Hut)
NEW: The Mai-Kai’s new owner reveals renovation plans during The Hukilau
Tiki enthusiasts get preview of refurbishment of the 65-year-old landmark during discussion at annual event in June.
5 p.m. – The Manakooras (Poolside)
5-6:30 p.m. – $1,000 Rum Tasting with Ian Burrell (Barracuda Lounge)
5-6:30 p.m. – Tiki Bingo benefit (South Tiki Hut) hosted by the Gumbo Limbo chapter of the Fraternal Order of Moai
6:30 p.m. – The Surfrajettes (Poolside)
8 p.m. – The Disasternauts (Poolside)
9 p.m.-midnight – Bungalow Parties (Courtyard & Bungalows)
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SUNDAY, JUNE 12
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Aloha Brunch (South Tiki Hut)
The Hukilau 2022 previews
The Hukilau countdown: 20th Tiki weekender blows into South Florida for beachfront bash June 9-12
The 20th Polynesian Pop celebration will feature a luau on the beach, giant Tiki marketplace, symposiums by industry experts (Ian Burrell, David Wondrich), music by top underground bands (The Surfrajettes, The Intoxicators, The Manakooras), and cocktails served up by 15 Tiki bar teams from near and far.
>>> LATEST UPDATES, FULL EVENT PREVIEW
The Hukilau announces entertainment lineup as tickets go on sale for 20th Tiki weekender
The Hukilau returns to June, oceanfront resort near Fort Lauderdale
The Hukilau 2021 recap
The Hukilau 2021: Daily recap, photos and video
The Hukilau returned to the picturesque Fort Lauderdale area oceanfront for an 18th time Sept. 16-19 for four days of Polynesian Pop paradise in America’s vacationland.
Zombie party is final challenge for The Hukilau villagers
The Hukilau finale featured live surf music and deadly cocktails at the “Hereafter Party at Death or Gory in Hellray Beach.”
The Hukilau: Past coverage
Photos: 10 highlights from The Hukilau 2019 in Fort Lauderdale
* 2019: Photos and video from social media
* 2018 social media recap | More highlights
* 2017 daily recaps, news, photos and video | More highlights
* More recaps: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2002-2008
More on The Atomic Grog
UPDATES: Latest news on The Mai-Kai renovations and reopening in 2022
When will the historic Polynesian restaurant be welcoming back guests? We’ll keep you updated with the latest news.
UPDATES: The Tiki Times: Exclusive 2022 events guide
Check the calendar for the latest upcoming live and virtual events.
UPDATES: Support Tiki bars: Visit their online stores, buy the latest merchandise
Check out our updated guide for links to dozens of establishments with online stores, including news on exclusive new releases.