Tiki Talk

Tiki customized Marshall-series vinyl dolls revealed

Ken Kanaka — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:39:31 +0000

Sculptor Nemo (Mike Mendez) posted some teriffic photos of his latest project — a series of tiki-themed scupts and paint-jobs on Tenacious Toys’ Marshall series of vinyl dolls.

Details are still scarce on when the figures will become available, but designer toy blog collect3d reports they’ll sell for $50 each.

See more photos at the nemos sculpture studio blog | Visit the rotofugi gallery website | visit the Tenacious Toys website | Mahalo, Collect 3D!

Wine Country Ukulele Festival 2010, St. Helena, CA

Ken Kanaka — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:24:14 +0000

The 2010 Wine Country Ukulele Festival is September 10, 11 & 12, 2010 in St. Helena, California, at the Beringer Vineyards.

Activities include workshops with instructors Brook Adams, Faith Ako, Kani Ka Pila, Jim D’Ville, Steven Espaniola, James Hill, Hula Honeys, Kimo Hussey, Gordon & Char Mayer, Liko Puha, Del Rey, Gerald Ross, Ralph Shaw, Ukulele Bartt, and Victoria Vox; a concert by James Hill & Friends, and a Saturday Night Luau with entertainment from The Hula Honeys.

For more information and tickets, visit the Wine Country Ukulele Festival website

Wine Enthusiast magazine reviews the Mai-Kai

Ken Kanaka — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:50:30 +0000

Wine Enthuiast Magazine has published a nice article about a visit to the Mai-Kai, Ft. Lauderdale’s famous tiki palace and one of my favorite places in the world.

The story doens’t mention wine much, but does delve into the restaurant’s history and the cocktails of Mariano Licudine, the original bartender and creator of the bar’s extensive (and delicious) drink menu. Hukilau, the annual tiki pilgrimage to the restaurant, is also mentioned.

Read The Call of the Mai-Kai: Tales from South Florida’s South Pacific at WineMag.com

New Pokeman game features cute ukulele toting creature

Ken Kanaka — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:29:52 +0000

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, the third installment of the Pokémon Ranger series, features Ukulele Pichu, a ukulele-toting Pokémon that assists players by strumming his uke with electricity. Looks like I’ll be pulling out my wife’s old pink DS!

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs will be released on October 4, 2010.

$34.99

Preorder Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs at Amazon.com

Toy Story 3 tiki mugs

Ken Kanaka — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:12:38 +0000

Awesome art and toy blog Superpunch found this equally-awesome tiki mug on j_pidgeon’s flikr photostream.

Given to Toy Story 3 crew members by tiki fan/Pixar director Lee Unkrich, the two-sided mug features a faux-wood carved Buzz Lightyear on one side and a moai Woody on the other.

Now all I have to do is wait 40 years for one of these to show up on ebay!

The Return of Puttiki, Hastings, UK

Ken Kanaka — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:31:46 +0000

The Return Of Puttiki is a UK-based Tiki event featuring an art show, mini golf contest and the UK debut of the Tikitz toys. It is a small, independent event (now in its second year) that seeks to promote new art, fine cocktails and act as meeting place for the UK’s Tiki enthusiasts.

Friday the 27th of August:

Puttiki Art Show Opening: 6.00pm to 2.00am. @ Hunny Lu Lu’s (56 Robertson Street, Hastings)

First chance to behold (and purchase) the many artistic wonders on offer from a wide range of new and established artists including Tiki Racer, Trader Tark, Alexis Camburn, Mummy’s Little Monster, David Heulun, Clumsy, Trader Jim, Los Furias Tiki and more!

First chance to sample the delicious ‘Haole-In-One’, a brand new cocktail created for Puttiki by Ken Kanaka of Tiki Talk, The Enchanted Tiki Blog! We can’t say much… But it involves Pimms and is delicious! Should that not tickle your pre-golfing taste buds, then fear not… A full range of classic cocktails (including virgin delights for the drivers) are on offer from the Hunny Lu Lu’s bar, mixed by the very talented hands of Joe Cocktail and Lady K.

Another opportunity to get your hands on one of the VERY impressive mugs created for the Tiki Today show by Tiki Racer himself! If you missed the show in June, then remember to leave some room in your bag for this beauty… The bar will also be carrying a small selection of other delightful mugs for you to either simply enjoy your drink in or take home to treasure forever!

Saturday the 28th of August:

Entry for the Puttiki Mini Golf Contest: 1.00pm to 6.00pm @ Hunny Lu Lu’s (56 Robertson Street, Hastings)

All those who have signed up will only need to come to the bar, pay the very reasonable entry fee of £6, collect their Return Of Puttiki golf ball and score card and treat themselves to another view of the art and a calming cocktail or two. The bar will re-open at 8.00pm to allow for post golfing drinking…

The bar will remain open from 1.00 through 6.00 to allow for more viewing of the art show and to meet all of your cocktail needs!

The First Puttiki Mini Golf Championship: 4.00pm to 9.00pm @ Planet Hastings Mini Golf (White Rock Gardens, Hastings)

Time to get serious as the challenging 18 hole course tests your hung-over nerves! Two Mini Golf champions will be on hand to ensure fair play and, yes, you will be marking someone else’s scorecard to ensure that no miracle ‘hole in one’s’ occur. Sorry, them’s the rules.

Enjoy a mid round cocktail from our Hunny Lu Lu’s Mini bar, located at the legendary tenth hole. Serving a small selection of classic cocktails, this may be the only way you will make it through the challenging back nine!

Hang on to your ball… You may need it on Sunday should you emerge as the most skilled (or least inebriated) Puttiki challenger!

UK Premier Of ‘Tikimentary: In Search Of The Lost Paradise‘: 9.00pm & 10.00pm (tbc) @ The Electric Palace Cinema (High Street, Hastings)

US postal service willing, this will be your first chance to wallow in the luxury of a beautiful cinema and take in Duda Leite’s documentary film detailing the current Tiki revival. Having already been a huge success with the American Tiki crowd, we hope you will enjoy a good watch in a lovely setting that has the added bonus of a licensed bar!

(Due to the complications surrounding this event, we are unable to guarantee that this particular portion of the day will occur. We will update you as soon as we know.)

Sunday the 29th of August:

Trophy Presentation And Wind Down: 12.00pm to 4.00pm @ Hunny Lu Lu’s (Robertson Street, Hastings)

A last chance to take in the art show and brace yourself for the announcement of the first ever Puttiki Mini Golf Champion! The winners ball will be placed in a unique trophy (created by Trader Tark) and proudly displayed in the bar for all to see! An honour like no other… Next year may be a different winner but this will be the first name on that trophy for ALL time.

Live Surf Instro and cocktails will round out the weekend as we bid farewell to what promises to be a great few days.

Get all the details at The Return of Puttiki Facebook event page

Barbie Princess of the Pacific Islands doll

Ken Kanaka — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:30:21 +0000

I don’t often pay attention to Barbie, but this collectible version depicting the iconic doll as a Hawaiian princess is so well done even I can appreciate it.

Dressed in a muu muu, she comes with a plumeria lei and kukui necklace and stands approximately 12 inches tall.

The doll must be discontinued, because the price right now on Amazon is varying from $30–$90.

Shop for Barbie Collector Pink Label – Dolls of the World – Princess of the Pacific Islands at Amazon.com

Tiki Resort Facebook game puts you in charge of a tropical island

Ken Kanaka — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:26:28 +0000

Playdom, the makers of Facebook favorite game Tiki Farm, have another tiki-themed game that puts the player in charge of running a tropical island resort. Tiki Resort uses “tycoon-style” gameplay, where the player is tasked with creating an island getaway for patrons complete with attractions, hotels, and yes, even bathrooms!

If you’re ever dreamed of running your own tiki bar, this may be the easiest way to do it.

Play Tiki Resort on Facebook

Remaining ComicCon Tikitz LE toys available for sale online

Ken Kanaka — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:20:08 +0000

Last month we broke the story about Tikitz, a new toy line and entertainment brand being developed by Sprite Animation Studios. At ComicCon 2010, the company had 1000 limited edition pieces of the toy for sale.

The remaining pieces from ComicCon are in stock and now available for purchase online. Tikitz Gloo comes in two colors, pink and green.

$11.99 each, plus shipping.

Buy the ComicCon Tikitz at Big Bad Toy Store

2010 (and earlier) Luau on the Lake mugs available for internet ordering

Ken Kanaka — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:08:19 +0000

In case you missed Luau on the Lake this year, the ultra-fun tiki get-together which takes place each summer in Lake George, New York, or went and spent all your money on rum drinks and miniature golf while you were there, all is not lost: the event organizers have an online store where this and previous years’ souvenir mug can be purchased. Up for grabs:

2010 mug, designed by Squid. $50 plus shipping
2009 mug, designed by Squid. $40 plus shipping
Custom Luau on the Lake Mouth of Pele mug designed by Gecko. $75 plus shipping

There’s also a few other goodies in the store, so be sure to check them all out.

Visit the Luau on the Lake store