No Way! The Ohana Hut Won!!!

Well, words cannot explain how {{{STOKED}}} I am about winnin'. This is one of the coolest things that has happened to me in a long long while. Big, big, big thanks to Hanford and the all the judges at Tiki Central for having this contest. Another huge thanks to Paul and Miles over at Munktiki for also being a huge part of this contest and for taking on this mug design. It was a pretty detailed design, but I know those guys are really gonna make this thing shine! There were lots of great entries and some stiff competition. I still can't believe that they chose mine and I can't wait to see this when it is done. I am really looking forward to mixin' up a cocktail in The Ohana Hut and sharing it with my friends. Yeah!!!

How cool is your Mom?

My Mom is so cool that she got me The Langhorns CD Mission Exotica for Valentimes day. That my friends is pretty dang cool. A while back I had a pretty tough time trying to find anybody that was even carrying The Langhorns. I had to pick up "Club Gabardino" online from a record store in Italy. The Mission Exotica CD is way cool and comes packed with lots of bonus tracks and a video. Tell your Mom She can pick you up one at Amazon.

BIG SURF

Last week I found myself at the end of Capitola wharf around dusk as a HUGE swell filled in. I rode my bike to the end of the pier and checked out the whompers as they rolled in and rocked the pilings! Scary and Hairy! When I got home I learned the Mavericks contest was GO!
The next day, and under some of the best conditions ever seen to date, Grant Baker out shined the S.C. locals and had his unforgettable day as the King of perfect giant California surf. Right On Grant, you charged!! The following week was filled with epic surf conditions up and down the California coast as it lit up with sunny skies and head high peelers for everybody! I took this fuzzy shot of a grom surfin' the Cappy pier as the surf kept getting bigger!
Music to watch giant surf too:

Tiki Oasis 6 May 4-7 th 2006

UPDATE: Tickets are on sale now! Check out the website for more info on how to get yours. I am waitin' for vending info and hopefully gonna make it down with a boat load of goodies!

It looks like Tiki Oasis will be held this year in San Diego, California rather than Palm Springs. The dates for this tiki event of the year are May 4-7th. FInd out more at Tiki Oasis 6. Check out this years fine Tiki Oasis Poster by none other than super artist Derek Yaniger Derek's art has been used for the Tiki Oasis and the Florida Hukilau at the Mai-Kai posters. Derek's art has also graced the cover of the first edition of Tiki Magazine.

Keepin' On

Plenty of stuff going on and I find myself busy busy busy. But I did find some time to bust away from the grinder and paint this crazy monster tile at my cute lil nieces 8th birthday party.

The tile was made at one of those places where they provide the ceramic doo-dars (like figurines, soap dishes etc) and the different colored glazes with names like "Tahitian Blue" and "Speckeled Lizard green." After you pick out your peice, you then get to go nuts. Last year, I did a monkey riding a dolphin wavin' his top hat. Like I said You get to go nuts. Hey man it ain't just for the kids.

Yup, It looks like a Podcast from Chongolio and freinds will be in the near future. I have been stuffin' my melon with all kinds of info and have been askin lots of questions of the podcasting community. Stay posted for more info about my first adventures in the Podosphere.

Satan's Pilgrims on tour again

Click on image to see larger.
A super sick flyer and killer news from Satan's Pilgrims...

"We are pleased to announce that after weeks of intense negotiations, that Satan's Pilgrims will be taking the stage once again for a wild weekend in Seattle and our beloved Portland. Save the dates -March 17 and 18 2006. We are also excited to announce that The Nebulas from MA have agreed to be our special guests for both nights. Hope to see you there!
SP"

The Verb will also be playing at the Funhouse for that show!

Satan Pilgrim's on myspace
The Nebulas on myspace
The Verb on myspace


Upcoming Show
Mar 17 2006 8:00P The Funhouse Seattle, WA
Mar 18 2006 8:00P Doug Fir Portland, OR
Mar 25 2006 8:00P Asbury Lanes Asbury Park, NJ

Sam Gambino, Grandpa Munster & Hot Rod Hi Jinx

Updated: Sadly,Al Lewis a.k.a Grandpa Munster passed away last Friday after years of failing health. He made it to 95. We will miss you Grandpa.

Mad Man Sam Gambino is on the loose again and unveiled another one of his monstrous creations over on his thread on Tiki Central. I for one am always {{{STOKED}}} to see Sam's latest work of art and this time he proves that 'ol Grandpa Munster is still dead and breathin' Yes sir, old man Munster is still creepin around, creatin' his concoctions, crankin' on his camshafts and appears too have hit high gear with his Super-Powered Rocket Fuel.



Old man Munster isn't the only celebrity icon to come callin' on Sam. Check out samgambino.com to see who else has paid his studio a visit. You may run into more monsters, a tiki or two, a notorious gangsters or possibly a hot 60's pin up. While at his website be sure to check out Sam's Shrunken Head. Produced by Tiki Farm and designed by Sam, this creeptacular mug pays tribute to the long lost art of Drinkin' and shrinkin'.

The Singing Treholipee

Check it out my very own Singing Treholipee! I picked this up yesterday morning during my rounds at the Santa Cruz Flea Market. Apparently Treholipee means "Tre" for "three" and "holi" for "holes" The "pee" part remains a mystery. These long instruments were one of a family of nutty ukes that were pretty popular in the 60's and became a small sensation. The Treholipee was the most bizarre looking with it's long headstock. The concept was that when you went out surfin' you could stick it in the sand and it would be waiting for you when you got out of the water. These things were made by Swaggerty Co. Swaggerty was a San Clemente, California company who also made the Surf-a-lay-lee and the the Kook-A-Lele.



I am pretty stoked about this pick up. I have wanted one these obscure bits of beach culture ever since I first saw one at Uke Fest West! One of the perfomers Mark Kapner was playing his Kook-a-lele. I totally dig the lil surfer dude graphic on the back of the neck. Tiki King has confirmed it is a Rick Griffin design. So that adds extra coolness points in my book.

There are a few things wrong with this Treholipee. Two of the tuning pegs are busted so I have to find new ones, which is starting to look like it could be difficult and take time. So I may have to fabricate my own. I don't really want to start crankin on the other ones for fear of breakin' them. It is also missing one of the long strings and the others are soundin' flat. I don't have any idea of how hard those strings will be to find. The plastic fretboard is faded but not cracked and some of the fasteners are a little rusty too. Otherwise it is in pretty good shape and sound fairly bright when you pluck at the remaining strings. I am going to retire it as a playable instrument and let it become a prized wall hanger.
You can find more info, buy and see more pics of these crazy ukes at these links:

Oddball music.com

Elderley Instruments

My Treholipee Post On Tiki Central

Flea Market Music Collector Uke Yak

What a week!

BZZZZZZZZZZ!


So this past week I had a real blast! I got to hang out with one of my favorite people my good ol Uncle Sasquatch. He and I went up to San Francisco for the Mac Expo to take a look at all the new whistles and bells for our beloved Macs and discuss prehensile tails with the Mac Geniuses. In addition too tons of brightly colored and weird shaped iPod thing-a-ma-jingys we also got to check out and poke at Apple's new laptop The Macbook Pro with the controversial but highly acclaimed Intel chip. The sleek new laptop looks pretty bitchin' and has a video camera built right above the top of the screen. It also comes with iLife 06 which includes podcasting capabilities inside Garageband and iWeb a new application that lets you create and publish websites, blogs, podcasts and video to the internet. Of course everything in the iLife suite seamlessly integrates with each other. Well, I simply had to have it and placed my order right when I got back home. I am going to give it a try and if it works out use it for my web publishing endeavors. I was pretty impressed with the whole Expo and left with my propeller spinnin' crazy RPM's.

HANA HANA HANA HO HO HO!
Last night was another magical evening at the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz meeting. Visiting us again was our good friends and club members Herb Ohta Jr, Keoki Beamer and Daniel Ho. They played some beautiful Hawaiian tunes that brought smiles to everybody's face and there was a lot of faces there too! Those three Hawaiian guys play so effortlessly and precise it's completely amazing. And oh boy were they havin' fun up on stage too. They were also accompanied for a couple of songs by Valerie, Garrick and Dana who are some of the Hula dancers from Ka Lei Wehi O Ka Mailelauloa Although it was a chilly night da boyz kept us all cozy with warm Hawaiian tunes. I was super stoked to hear Keoki talk story and here him sing his song about Pele and Kamapua'a called Ho's Kupu off his album with Herb entitled Hana Ho. A truly memorable night. As my good buddy Pat said to me "you couldn't get any closer to the the islands unless you are there."


THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG BABY
The secret is out and it's more BIG tiki news for the Bay area. Did you think it was going to stop at the Kona club? Nope, The great gods of tiki desire a temple of worship in Alameda as well and so be it. Thanks to a cast of unbelievable talent, skill and knowledgies aplenty the Forbidden Island should appear on the horizon as soon as April. Find out more about this news at Humuhumu's blog.

My next entry maybe comin' in a new format if the iLife 06 package works out. Keep your fingers and eyes crossed

Until next time eek-eek

Jungle Trader Tikis at The Lost-Isle

Good 'ol Jungle Trader from Tiki Jungle came out for a surf trip and dropped off some tikis here at the Lost-Isle. Jungle Trader carves a bad ass tiki and his influences are endless. He has done carvings that embrace Marquesian, Maori, Hawaiian, Tongan even pelican style! His Tikis have stood vigil over the world famous Minnie's of Modesto and the former Wanga Rei. JT is also the man responsible for the creation of Pika Kelawaka, the signature Minnie's Tiki Mug. Jungle T has been knee deep in the creative juices and so busy that he doesn't have the time to peddle the stuff he is crankin' out. At least that is what he told me last time he was hangin' out in S.C. after an all day surf session. Come to think of it he had a Mai Tai in his hand and his shoes were off too. Anyways, I dig the Jungle Trader like a brother so I told him I would try and help him out. So here is what I did...

I currently have his tikis listed on Craigslist.com and on the new classified site BlockRocker.com Just search for tikis in the Santa Cruz and they should blink up. I also have his mugs at The Lost-Isle Trading Post. If anybody out there readin' this is interested give me a call and I will zap your over a pdf with all the prices and pics. These are killer tikis made by a man who knows and speaks their ancient silent language.