Harold Golen Gallery of Miami.

Elena.

Photo by Vince Martini.

Candy Del Rio and the Reverend Valentine getting into the caveman spirit.

Photo by Vince Martini.

The Neanderthals.

Photo by Vince Martini.

Photo by Vince Martini.

The Sweet Hollywaiians were accompanied by Marina doing a more traditional Hula dance.

Photo by Vince Martini.

The Sweet Hollywaiians.

Photo by Vince martini.

Photo by Vince Martini.

The Wreck Bar in the Yankee Clipper.

Outside the Wreck Bar.

Entrance to the Tiki bazaar at the Bahia Mar.

Vendors were located in the Tiki bazaar at the Bahia Mar.

Room crawl at the Bahia Cabana.

There were 2 go-go dancers that performed at Hukilau 2010; Candy Del Rio and the Reverend Valentine.

Elena - Hula Hooper extraordinaire.

Marina is "hot" as always. The girl likes to play with fire.

Poolside at the Bahia Cabana.

View from our room at the Yankee Clipper.

Looking out to our balcony at the Yankee Clipper.

Shag designed T-shirt that nearly got me in trouble with the TSA.

2010/06/13 24:00 Karen tells me that I should be careful when I talk to strangers because she says I am scary looking. She says that’s because of my beard. It takes awhile for people to realize that I am really just a very warm and fuzzy kind of guy. Karen says, in her own words, that I “look like a terrorist”. Sunday morning we were going through the security checks before boarding the plane when one of the TSA agents approached me. She said, “There is something fishy about you and I can put my finger on it” and she poked me in the chest. I thought, holy crap, I really do look like a terrorist. I quickly realized however that she was just joking with me. I was wearing my Shag designed Hukilau T-shirt with a fish design on it.

I bought a Tiki Magazine T-Shirt at the bazaar. The shirt has a design by Tom Thordarson on it depicting Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid swimming at the Wreck Bar. I wore the shirt to the premiere of Tikimentary and was lucky enough to catch up with Marina wearing the same shirt! I posted the picture on Facebook with the comment "The shirts are identical but somehow it looks better on Marina..." Marina, being the sweetheart she is, responded, "You look quite dapper in your Tee, Scott! I'm happy to be swimmin' on y'er chest!"

I had way more fun at the Tiki fashion show, the Sarong-O-Rama, than I expected to. Never having been to a fashion show, and never having had a desire to attend a fashion show, my expectations were low. What made it so much fun were the hosts and the witty dialogue they had. Also, the models were amateurs, were in fact hukilau attendees, and they were having so much fun that it transferred to the audience.

Last year at the Hukilau the Yankee Clipper and the Wreck Bar were closed for renovation. So, this year was my first chance to see Marina and her pod performing at the Wreck Bar. I would be lying by omission if I didn't say this was one of the highlights of the weekend for me. I actually had to skip the premiere of the Tiki documentary because they were running late and I wanted to make sure I got a good spot in the Wreck Bar. The bar was packed for the show. It was elbow to elbow. When the mermaids appeared the cheers were near deafening. An awful lot of fun was had by all. Renowned Tiki artist Crazy Al Evans joined the mermaids towards the end and it was a hoot.

The Neanderthals were the last band to perform Friday night. The headline act is an Eddie Angel band. Eddie played guitar for Los Straightjackets last Hukilau. The Neanderthals put on a great high energy show and at midnight it was my birthday. The Neanderthals were playing my birthday party!

The Neanderthals playing for Khan Tiki Mon's birthday party.

Photo by Vince Martini.

Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, author of "Grog Log", "Sippin' Safari", "Taboo Table", and "Intoxica". It was a great lecture and came with super delicious cocktails.

Arlene Brooks, Marina, Debbie McDonald, and Lu Vickers.

Mermaids Bre-elle and Marina.

Arlene Brooks and Debbie McDonald - mermaid veterans.

Debbie is on the far right in this picture from 1947. I can't imagine anyone being at all interested in anything I did more than 60 years ago. Debbie seemed genuinely flattered and happy that people were taking such an interest in something that was obviously a big part of her life all those years ago. She made It just a very real and genuine moment.

Lu Vickers, author of "Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids; A History of One of Florida's Oldest Roadside Attractions"

2010/06/11 09:00 I was one of the first ones to arrive for the Weeki Wachee presentation. I am glad that I got there early because I got to meet Debbie McDonald before the presentation. Debbie was one of the original performers at Weeki Wachee.She had her scrapbook with her and she graciously gave me a picture of her performing in 1947.

2010/06/03 23:00 Seven days until Karen and I are in Ft Lauderdale. I found this vintage travel guide. All about Ft Lauderdale and things to do and see while visiting.

2010/06/02 23:00 Eight days to the Hukilau. Karen and I will be staying at the Yankee Clipper in Ft Lauderdale. This picture is from a postcard in my collection. The Yankee Clipper was built in 1956. No neon today. And, sadly, the Polynesian Room is gone. The Wreck Bar, located in the Yankee Clipper, still lives - made famous in the movie "Where the Boys Are" and more recently as home to Marina the Fire Eating Mermaid. Karen and I have a deluxe oceanside room with balcony.