Aloha,

Tikiphiles from around North America and Europe wrapped up summer 2009 with a bang at the first annual Ohana: Luau at the Lake at the famous Tiki Resort in Lake George, New York.

Ominous rain clouds departed and the sky cleared Friday evening as Bamboo Saxotica and special guest Jimmy Virani took to the main stage to warm up the crowd while the Paradise Lounge turned out cocktails using recipes provided by Jeff "Beachbum" Berry and garnished with fabulous Ohana swizzle sticks designed by Royer Corporation for the event. They are sure to become collector's items. As guests arrived they received gift bags with product samples from Dole Foods, Royer Corporation and lots of other sponsors like Trader Vic's, Kahiki Foods, Surfabilly Freakout, Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas, Tiki Magazine, Daddy Katz and SquidArt. And then even more from friends of Ohana like Bachelor Pad Magazine, Go Kat Go! Radio, Mai Tai Online and Ipu Ki's personal favorite: The Hawaii Board of Tourism. Plus a copy of Ohana magazine, the official event program!

Then it was time for the room crawl and more entertainment. After a round of original cocktail creations people responded to the call from event M.C. Jet Sterling from Surfabilly Freakout and gathered to listen to a great set of surf rock by 9th Wave from Connecticut. And then, after even more room crawling, the crowd gathered for a surprise appearance by the entire WAITIKI 7 as they added an additional stop to their Adventures in Paradise CD release tour. After a fantastic set of Exotica the revelry continued well into the early hours of the morning assisted by heart shaped jacuzzi tubs in some of the larger suites.

There was no time to rest Saturday morning as the action continued with the start of the mini-golf tournament and the cocktail contest, sponsored by Dole Foods. Judges from Dole Foods, Ryan & Wood Distilleries, New York's Rhum Rhum Room and the Fraternal Order of Moai worked tirelessly in the bright sun as amateur mixologists presented cocktails designed to intrigue and amaze.

Meanwhile in the vendor area Ryan & Wood Distilleries was offering free samples of their newest product, Folly Cove Rum, fresh from the cask while Ohana attendees tried their luck at the pirate chest raffle and browsed vendor booths or the silent auction table looking for that perfect addition to their tiki room or closet. Stay tuned to Ipu Ki for the announcement of the release of Folly Cove Rum and the final tally of the proceeds from the silent auction half of which will be donated to the Easter Island Foundation.

As the afternoon entertainment prepared to kick off attendees were invited to pick up free mixing glasses from KegWorks and Trader Vic's potted parrot swizzles on the way to the pool deck. First up.... The King! Elvis himself made a surprise appearance to begin the show and warm up the crowd before yielding the stage to the Fisherman Tiki Trio and Chicago's Cocktail Preachers.

As the sun began to sink in the sky Carl "Granite Tiki" Ayotte and Pablus of the Crazed Mugs kept people entertained in the Paradise Lounge while they waited to be seated for the Waikiki Supper Club and the Polynesian Show. In addition to the usual entertainment the dinner show featured the now traditional Mystery Bowl auction, sponsored by Trader Vic's, where the crowd was asked to bid on a genuine Trader Vic's bowl filled with a Mystery Drink and delivered by a Mystery Girl or Boy dancer. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Easter Island Foundation.

Post-show the crowd braved unseasonably cool weather to socialize around the hotel property and watch vintage films projected on the hotel drive-in style by Jon "Artdog" Mooers including crowd favorites Hawaiian Eye and the Brady Bunch in Hawaii.

Then it was time to bid farewell to the staff at the Tiki Resort and return to the 21st century. But we'll be back.

But until then... a limited number of copies of Ohana Magazine, event posters, the "George" event mug designed by Squid, and "George" pendants designed by Squid are available for sale on the Ohana Luau at the Lake web site: www.luauatthelake.com. Supplies are limited so get yours now!

To see more event photos, visit us on Facebook!

Keep the torches burning,

—Tagata Maori Rogorogo