Polyamnesia

Hukilau 2006

Short version:

This was the best experience of any Tiki event I have ever attended.
This was the worst-run Tiki event I have ever attended.

Long version:

THE BAD:

I suppose the take-home message from The Hukilau (“The largest Tiki event in North America”) is that an event does not have to be well-planned, well-run, or organized for attendees to enjoy themselves.

I’m not necessarily listing these issues as criticism and I do not know the difficulties (well, to a smaller scale I do as a coordinator for our own event) involved. I did see some things that concerned me and served as warnings to our own group. The main coordinators (whose names were all over every piece of literature) appeared to be doing very little while a team of non-mentioned coordinators (or helpers) were madly running around doing the real work. I see this very often in many endeavors and I myself have been the non-thanked non-mentioned actually-working person in teams, so perhaps I am sensitive to the issue.

Side-note: This makes me appreciate the NWTiki group we have even more – we all pull our weight, we all are gracious in giving and directing credit, we are all equals and friends. I love you, Noel, Kim, OMP, Mark, Heather (in more ways than just NWTiki, of course, and in no particular order)

Nearly nothing at the entire weekends events were on time. Registration not only did not start on time, no names were present and “the honor system” was used to grant the weekend’s registration. For an example Major presenter’s seminar times were eaten into by shortages of time due to improper and poor planning: Instead of cutting short a powerpoint presentation so the author of the major drink-guide in use by all Tikiphiles could start-on time, he was cut short. Unacceptable poor choice or forethought. I was embarrassed for them (though for all, it seemed to only be my issue, which is fine!)

Another example of poor planning: There was a tiki-carving seminar outside. In actuality, it was a “watch-the carvers carve from behind a rope” event. There was no presentation, there was no discussion, there was no order. Just a rope and a crowd watching carvers carve. What a waste.

We went to have fun and learn, which we did. We learned that we are thankful with the stellar talent we have in our group, re-invigorated the possibilities for our own event, happy that we have not (and will not) reach the size of an event like this (so we can keep the quality top notch), and saw exactly what-not-to-do.

THE GOOD:

Hukilau does have location. And by that I don’t mean Ft. Lauderdale in specific, I mean the weather, the beach, the ocean, the MAI-KAI.

Fort Lauderdale is a hellish pit. It seems that perhaps it hit a peak in 1987 and stopped there. The upper-classish people and general public were rude, unfriendly, hostile. The lower-classish (servers, maids, cabbies, etc.) people were kind, friendly and helpful. Whenever we spoke to our servers as people (like you do), they seemed surprised and taken aback by our own friendliness. An honest response and friendly tone returned to a greeting was taken well, though with wonderment it seemed. This is the Land of Paris Hiltons. I thought LA was devoid and insipid – Nothing compared to the void of Ft. Lauderdale.

The beach and weather was freakin’ amazing. Floating around in the warm ocean at 2AM under a full moon sure doesn’t suck. Just don’t look around you at the freaks-on parade of hideous men with their plastic trophy wives.

The food was ok, but about 10 years behind the times. Meat, meat, and more meat + carbs. Oh, and at about 150% prices at the cheapest.

I’m complaining here in the “good” section, aren’t I? Oops! ok back on good track.

The MAI-KAI. OH MY GOD. We spent over 50% of our time (and about 75% of our money) there. If I return to the Hukilau, I’ll increase that amount. I have never been in such a magnificently-decorated Polynesian complex (save perhaps Disneyworld’s Polynesian resort). And the Kicker? The best god-damned Tropical drinks I have ever had in my life. If heaven exists for me, it looks exactly like the Mai-Kai. As soon as I get my hands on pictures from the weekend, I’ll post em. And the food (pricey) — amazing. Just top-notch. Service wonderful (and beautiful). It is a treasure beyond belief. Such a sad, sad reality that it is surrounded by Ft. Lauderdale.

Our ~~resort~~motel was decent – run down and ghetto, but I kinda liked that aspect of it. It was kinda like roughin’ it. The attached restaurant had over-priced bland fare that seemed to please the locals. Also, Beer? Forget it. The quality-beer movement hasn’t hit South Florida it seems.

So Heather and I went in the ocean at least once-a-day, usually twice. Daytime and night-time. It was lovely.

The Seminars we attended were amazing and full of wonderful information. This added such value to the event, I wonder if we can somehow squeeze a similar bit into our own event. Now, I’m the schoolboy-geek here who grew up watching PBS and sitting in the front row of class, so perhaps my valuing the worth of seminars is skewed, but damn was it great.

So the good completely eclipsed any of the bad in regards to Hukilau and I had such a blast. I don’t need to go again any time soon, but I can see myself back in about 5 years, though I’ll likely just go for the MAI-KAI.

Non-Hukilau part of the trip:

We got to carve out a bit of time (I felt poorly we didn’t have more time) to have lunch with , , , her friend and Jude.
Jude is super cute and it was fun playing pose-the-baby with him. We were really wiped-out at that point and were poor in socializing skills, so I apologize for that. The Karaoke sounded like a blast, a shame we couldn’t make that.

Oh One more thing: Liquor? CHEAP!! WOWZEE! I guess the proximity to the Caribbean makes for cheap rum. 🙂 🙂

So there it is: 2006 Vacation over with and back to work. SIGH. I did miss my beloved Portland and I’m glad to be back. Blair and Sara are moving here at the end of the month, Halloween is coming soon, the weather is getting lovely-fall-like and there is so much pleasantries in the near future.

I wonder why I’m still having trouble seeing that, though. Fighting the good fight with my mood, edeavouring to persevere. There is love all around me, I need to bask in it.

Love you all!

Good morning everyone.

Something broke in my mind on this past Monday – I hit some sort of brick wall or rock bottom or something, but every waking second was frustration and depression and I was on the verge of EMOTION! Yuck!

Still no better in theory, though I’m handling very well. I think it is these computers. I’m cutting them out of my life for a bit (LJ won’t likely notice). Too much play and not enough work at home, I’m afraid. At least re-focusing on completing projects at home has helped me deal with my CRAZYNESS as of late. So I may be bound for the nut-hatch, but I’ll leave behind lovely completed projects.

In one week and I leave for Florida and The Hukilau. Vacation! I wonder what that is? Haven’t had one like this in 4 or 5(?) years. I hope that helps my fragile little psyche as well.

OK, back to work!

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