Updated July 5
The East Coast’s longest-running Polynesian Pop weekender features an all-star lineup of musical, mixological and scholarly talent for its annual gathering in South Florida next month. In other words, The Hukilau 2024 is a top-tier smorgasbord of Tiki delights.
2024 EVENT RECAPS
* The Hukilau highlights: The Atomic Grog’s photos, video and memories
* Live coverage, photos and video from social media
With the early June dates just around the corner, organizers have been busy finalizing all the various seminars, classes and expert presentations featuring some of the top names in the spirits world. Fans of the worldwide instrumental surf scene will happy to see the schedule features some of the top bands playing on multiple nights.
Along with the plethora of guest bartenders, nightly bungalow parties, and marketplace full of artists and vendors, the challenge (as usual) will be how much fun The Hukilau’s “villagers” can pack into the four-day event. Following is a handy guide that might help.
The Hukilau – 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.
More info below: Daily schedule and symposiums | Pre-order official mug | Tiki Treasures Bazaar lineup | Exclusive Mai-Kai tours
* The Hukilau on social media: Instagram | Facebook page and group
MORE PREVIEWS
* The Mai-Kai restoration work expands, sneak previews offered at The Hukilau
* Inside (and outside) The Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders
* The Hukilau 2024 attracts bands, bars and VIPs from around the globe, returns to The Mai-Kai
This story will cover recently confirmed additions, including a day-by-day schedule, full lineup of classes and symposiums, the Tiki Treasures Bazaar vendors, plus the official 2024 mug. You’ll also find details on the exclusive tours of The Mai-Kai.
Our extensive preview story in March covered the announcement of the bands and presenters plus the full lineup of guest bars and news on the special events. We also detailed the host venue, and how to book a room at the Beachcomber Resort.
Rooms are still available, so if you plan on attending you should reserve now before they sell out. The Hukilau reservations are available only by phone at (954) 941-7830. Note: You must book three nights (Thursday-Saturday). If the Beachcomber sells out, or if you prefer a quieter hotel just 2 miles to the south, you can book a room at the Plunge Beach Resort via the link on The Hukilau website.
After lodging is secured, you’ll want to start your Hukilau adventure on the tickets page, where you can secure your multi-day pass that will give you access to most of the fun at no extra charge. The passes page includes a breakdown of what you get with the South Seas ($599 + fees) and Aloha (379 + fees) passes. There’s also a Saturday-only Palm Pass ($169 + fees) that will get you into that day’s pool party (featuring all of the top bands), the Tiki Treasure Bazaar, and that evening’s bungalow parties.
While most presentations are included with a multi-day pass, premium tastings and classes require a separate tickets. All are listed on the site and noted below. Cocktails during the pool and bungalow parties are included with all passes.
Here’s a day-by-day breakdown that lists everything on the agenda. Check TheHukilau.com for a full schedule with more events and exact locations, plus detailed symposiums descriptions.
The Hukilau 2024 day by day
Daily: Click here for Camp Tikiwachee activities
Pop-up bars: More than 20 bartenters and bar teams from around the world will be serving cocktails throughout the event. Look for Bar Tiki (Clearwater Beach, Fla.), Bare Bones Tiki (South Florida), Cocomama Tiki Room (Cozumel), Dirty Dick (Paris), Doc Parks (San Francisco), Don the Beachcomber (Madeira Beach, Fla.), Hidden Harbor (Pittsburgh), The Honu (Dunedin, Fla.), Huli Huli (Powell, Ohio), Kahala Koa (Arlington Heights, Ill), Kaona Room (Miami). Luau Lads (Jacksonville, Fla.), Max’s South Seas Hideaway (Grand Rapids, Mich.), The Mermaid (Los Angeles), Porco Lounge & Tiki Room (Cleveland), Remora (Salt Lake City), S.O.S. (Decatur, Ga.), Strong Water (Anaheim, Calif.), Swizzle (Dallas), Tiki Tiki Bang Bang (Cincinnati), Tiki Underground (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), and Tonga Hut (Los Angeles).
Thursday, June 6
Aloha and South Seas passes. Registration 3-9 p.m.
South Seas Lounge, 3-8:30 p.m.
Kickoff party featuring The Intoxicators and The Mermers, 7 p.m.
Bungalow parties (cocktails and themed events), 9 p.m.
Friday, June 7
Aloha and South Seas passes. Registration 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
South Seas Lounge, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Featuring Hidden Harbor (noon), Dave Wondrich (2 p.m.), Don the Beachcomber (6 p.m.), more.
Presentations, classes and tastings
There’s a Hole in my Barrel: Rum-Free Tiki with Phoebe Esmon, Lucky Munro, and Amie Ward, 10 a.m. [Buy ticket]
Kings, Cannibals, and Kava: The Roots and Rituals of Partying Like Pacific Royalty with Darren Perlmutter, 10:30 a.m.
O-HI-O Tiki with Tiki Underground, Porco Lounge & Tiki Room, Tiki Tiki Bang Bang, and Huli Huli, 11 a.m.
RUMMMBlings Around the Globe with Ian Burrell, 11:45 a.m. [Buy ticket]
Pour-fect Construction: Crafting Your Home Bar Masterpiece with Johnny & Shanna Lowe (Rita’s Lost Weekend) and Don & LuRu (Hammerhead Hideaway), noon.
Wind From the East: Tiki’s East Asian Mixologists with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and Dave Wondrich, 1 p.m.
One of Sour, Two of Sweet with Marie King, 1:30 p.m. [Buy ticket]
Rum Amok with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Ian Burrell, Matt Pietrek, and Dave Wondrich, 2:30 p.m. Rum samples can be purchased for $20.
Pouring Power: The Women Behind Your Favorite Bars with Jen Ann Tonic (Swizzle), Devon Kitty Lopez (Bar Tiki), Arelene and Katie (The Mermaid), 3 p.m.
Ti’ Punch 2.0 with Daniele Dalla Pola, 3:15 p.m. [Buy ticket]
That Hidden Harbor Look: Creating a Modern Tropical Bar Brand through Art, Design & Merchandising with Adam Henry and Tony Canepa, 4 p.m.
$1000 Rum Tasting with Ian Burrell, 4:30 p.m. [Buy ticket]
Mas Tequila: Tiki Through the Agave Lens with Matt Pietrik, 5 p.m. [Buy ticket]
Most People Wish for Another Island: Tiki Stylings from Around the World with Scotty Schuder, Resa Mueller, and Maria Cabrero, 6 p.m.
Mai-Kai tours: Buses leave the Beachcomber starting at 10:30 a.m. and run throughout the day. (More info below)
Pool party (cocktails and bands): Slowey and the Boats (2 p.m.), Surfer Joe (4 p.m.), Lords of Atlantis (5 p.m.), L’Exotighost (6:30 p.m.), Messer Chups (8 p.m.).
Bungalow parties (cocktails and themed events), 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 8
Aloha, South Seas, and Palm passes. Registration 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
South Seas Lounge, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Featuring Daniele Dalla Pola (11 a.m.), Spike Marble and Ed Hamilton (12:30 p.m.), Doc Parks (2 p.m.), Jeff “Beachbum” Berry (6 p.m.).
Tiki Treasures Bazaar opens at noon for South Seas passes, 1 p.m. for other passes. Closes at 7 p.m. See the full lineup below.
Presentations, classes and tastings
The Mai-Kai from the Outside In with Will Anders (hosted by Jim “Hurricane” Hayward), 10:30 a.m.
EVENT PREVIEW: Inside (and outside) The Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders
Tiki On Vinyl: Oceanic Art & Iconography On Album Covers with Jonpaul Balak, 12:30 p.m.
From Don to Denizen – The Evolution of Tiki Rums with Matt Pietrek (aka Cocktail Wonk), 2 p.m.
Meet the authors: Book signing with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Dave Wondrich, and Matt Pietrek, 3:15 p.m.
World War Tiki: Fighting the Big One on One Hundred Million Drinks a Day with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and Dave Wondrich, 5 p.m.
Rum & Cigars with Carlos Cuarta, 6:30 p.m. [Buy ticket]
Pool party (cocktails and bands): Skinny Jimmy Stingray (noon), The Intoxicators (1 p.m.), Lords of Atlantis (2 p.m.), Slowey and the Boats (4 p.m.), L’Exotighost (6 p.m.), Surfer Joe (7 p.m.), Messer Chups (8 p.m.), The Disasternauts (9 p.m.).
Bungalow parties (cocktails and themed events), 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 9
Spike’s Breezeway Tiki Brunch with Spike Marble, 9 a.m.-noon. Includes cocktails and a taping of Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour.
* Video: Spike’s Breezeway Tiki Brunch 2023 with Garret Richard, Hurricane Hayward, plus more
Included with South Seas pass. A $59 ticket is available à la carte.
Full schedule at TheHukilau.com
Pre-order the official mug by Eeekum Bookum now
John Mulder and Eeekum Bookum have once again created a distinctive and memorable piece of art that we can conveniently fill with a cocktail in honor of The Hukilau. The 2024 official Tiki mug pays tribute to one of the icons of The Mai-Kai.
“It’s based on a Tiki that stares at you through the window of the Molokai bar,” Mulder wrote in a Facebook post. “I’ve looked over my shoulder while sipping a delicious Rum Barrel and caught this guy watching me through the rain storm.” Haven’t we all?
Mulder’s mugs are always whimsical and stylized, but they also contain a good deal of reverence. His past mugs for The Hukilau include Mai-Kai designs, such as the A-frame mug (2022) and vintage Tiki mask (2016).
It will be available exclusively for The Hukilau passholders while supplies last. Avoid the lines and reserve yours now.
* Click here to preorder ($139) for pick-up when you check in.
Tiki Treasures Bazaar lineup announced
The Hukilau’s Tiki Treasures Bazaar is one of the longest-running Tiki marketplaces featuring artists, craftspeople, vendors and collectors of modern and vintage products and collectibles. You name it, you can find it here during this one-day-only event on Saturday afternoon.
Here are the confirmed booths, the items that will be offered, plus official links if available.
Aloha, Art, and Alligators – Vintage Tiki, Hawaiiana, and exotic Treasure.
Bamboo Betty Wear – Handmade bamboo wood-carved and fish float purses, and Tiki jewelry.
Bare Bones Tiki – Tiki cocktail décor including swizzle sticks, shirts, and stickers.
Big Mike’s Tiki Gods / Gill’s Art and Collectibles – Original art, masks, Tiki and retro goodies from the ’50s and ’60s..
The Black Lagoon Room – Tiki mugs, shirts, enamel pins, barware.
Captain Cowfish – Tiki/tropical/oceanic décor, signs, and necklaces.
Chelo Tiki – Books, shirts for dogs and cats.
Dead Serious Customs – Accessories, purses, jewelry, hair flowers, hats.
Eeekum Bookum – Limited-edition Tiki mugs created by artist John Mulder (see official event mug above).
Fassionola: The Torrid Story of Cocktails’ Most Mysterious Ingredient – Author Gregorio Pantoja and mixologist Doc Parks will be selling the new book and offering a sneak preview of the upcoming syrup.
The Green Tiki / Monkey Skull – Paintings, carvings and mugs from Florida artist Patrick Vassar.
Kymm! Bang – Gravel art, jewelry, and more from the Chicago artist.
Laz in Daytona – Carved Tikis from Florida artist Lazaro Ninou. Also look for his carved ice demonstrations in the Tiki Treasures Bazaar area.
Miss Merry Mermaid – Fun, functional and funky accessories.
The Modern Historic – Records, vintage clothing, and Tiki home goods.
Momma Q’s Craft and Jewelry – Handmade jewelry, designer sneakers, sleep masks.
Nancy Blauers Art – Tiki wildlife fine art and sculpture.
Skaterdaterdude – Vintage Hawaiiana and clothing (aloha shirts).
Tikiphile – Tiki-inspired ceramic shot glasses and mugs, decorative tiles.
Tiki Visions – Tiki lamps; bamboo, rattan and wicker items; handmade Tiki accents and decor.
Tom Fowner – Hand-carved Tikis, pendants, and more.
Trader Van’s – Vintage (made In Hawaii) aloha shirts and dresses.
Vienna Boutique – Hand-crafted, scented soaps.
Volcano Designs – Mid-century poolside apparel featuring vintage and modern repro fabrics.
VooBoo Studios – Graphic artist and illustrator Robbie Whelan.
Wikiwiki Tiki – Custom glassware and ’50s-inspired paper lantern umbrellas.
Wonk Press – Author Matt Pietrek will be signing books and promoting his past and new releases, including The Tequila Ambassador V.O., Modern Caribbean Rum, and Polynesiacs.
TheHukilau.com: The official Tiki Treasures Bazaar list
Exclusive tours of The Mai-Kai during The Hukilau
Multi-day passholders will get the chance to see the progress made on the $15 million restoration of the historic restaurant, now in the final months of a multi-year project. Tours are scheduled for Friday (June 7), starting at 10:30 a.m.
Aloha and South Seas passholders who sign up for a tour will be taken by bus from the Beachcomber to The Mai-Kai. No other modes of transportation will be allowed.
After each group is given its tour, villagers will be taken back to The Hukilau. Each tour will take a maximum of 2 hours to complete, including travel time. Important: Cameras and phones will not be permitted inside The Mai-Kai during the tours. Guests will be entering a construction site and walking on uneven surfaces, so proper footware is encouraged (no high heels).
Your first stop is The Molokai bar, where you’ll receive a sample-sized Mai-Kai cocktail created by general manager Kern Mattei and his team. You’ll then tour parts of the restored interior and reimagined back-of-house areas that were detailed in our recent update on all the work.
The guided tours will be given by Mattei, creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller, artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly, and Jim “Hurricane” Hayward of The Atomic Grog.
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to see The Mai-Kai up close in an intimate setting before its grand reopening and meet the people working on the project.
The Mai-Kai restoration work expands, sneak previews offered at The Hukilau (May 2024 update)
The $15 million project continues to engulf the 2.7-acre historic property as event passholders are treated to special tours of fully restored indoor guest areas.
>>> EVENT PREVIEW, EXTENSIVE UPDATES AND PHOTOS
THE HUKILAU: 2024 PREVIEWS
Inside (and outside) The Mai-Kai with Tiki carver Will Anders
The South Florida artist shares his experiences creating authentic Polynesian art – both large and small. Includes a preview of The Hukilau presentationm, plus an audio-visual waking tour from 2018.
The Hukilau 2024 attracts bands, bars and VIPs from around the globe, returns to The Mai-Kai
Check out the lineup of headlining bands, special guest presenters and 18 guest bars attending the 22nd Tiki weekender in South Florida.
THE HUKILAU: PAST COVERAGE
2023
The Hukilau highlights: Photos and memories from Tiki weekender
The 21st annual event featured four days of nonstop music, cocktails and education on modern and historic Polynesian Pop at the oceanfront Beachcomber Resort in South Florida.
MORE: The Hukilau 2023 live coverage, photos and video from social media
* Full 2023 coverage
2022
The Hukilau 2022: Daily recap, photos and video
The 20th Tiki weekender featured four days of live music, educational seminars, cocktails and rum tastings, plus lots more.
* The Mai-Kai’s new owner reveals renovation plans during The Hukilau
* Full 2022 coverage
PREVIOUS YEARS
- 2021: Daily recap, photos and video | Zombie party is final challenge | Full coverage
- 2020: Virtual events honor The Hukilau, help those in need
- 2019: 10 highlights and photos | Social media recap | Full coverage
- 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 UPCOMING EVENTS
UPDATES: The Tiki Times: Exclusive events guide
Check the calendar for all of the major happenings around the world, from Tiki weekenders to rum festivals to marketplaces and music fests.
MORE ON THE MAI-KAI
The Mai-Kai reveals new images, plans for restoration at Orlando event, continues $15M project (April 2024 update)
Full coverage of the panel discussion at Tiki-a-Go-Go, including new photos and renderings of plans for the reimagination of the entry experience at the historic restaurant.
EXCLUSIVE: The Mai-Kai Restoration Guide
Check out all the latest news, photos, video and deep details on the refurbishment and reopening of South Florida’s Polynesian Palace.
>>> COMPLETE COVERAGE FROM THE ATOMIC GROG
MORE ON DON THE BEACHCOMBER
Don the Beachcomber announces new bar concept, three upcoming locations in Florida
Everything you need to know about the expansion of the iconic restaurant brand, including a full recap and photos from Tiki-a-Go-Go in Orlando, plus new renderings and info on the new sites.