Hand Carved Pendants by Hottiki

The Taboo Islanders are excited to announce a new line of amazing tiki carvings by Orange County tiki carver and artist Hottiki! First off are his wonderful tiki pendants which are available now. Each is hand carved from exotic South Seas wood such as koa, teak, mango monkeypod, rattan and more. No two are alike! They have a great retro modern look - simple, witco like forms with intricate tattoo designs carved in.

You can find them now on our website or on ebay, and watch out for more items coming soon!

Woodrow the 2nd Tiki Mugs by Squid from Taboo Island

The islanders have finally finished their first batch of Woodrow the 2nd tiki mugs by Squid! He is the reworked version of the 2011 Luau at the Lake mug. Each one of these is made as a custom one off with no two alike and limited to the life of the molds. On ebay now as an easy but it now! Check them out here!

Tiki Wonderland 5 - December 3rd

It's that time of year again, time to get all your tiki Christmas shopping done. Which means it's time for the annual Tiki Wonderland art show at the Tonga Hut. This is number 5!! They will also be celebrating the GRAND RE-OPENING of the Tonga Hut. Taboo Island and other vendors will be set up outside from 12 to 4:30, and then the party moves inside with great drinks and the Glasgow Tiki Shakers playing from 5 to 8! Tonga Hut - 12808 Victory Blvd. - North Hollywood. Click here for more info.

Even the Taboo Island natives decorate a Christmas tree and prepare for Santa's arrival during the holiday season. Only thing different is that Santa comes via seaplane! They finally got off their butts and got some of our xmas ornaments up on the website. Check them out here!

Vintage Travel Trailer Signs

Inspired by the recent Mojave Oasis tiki and travel trailer event, the Taboo Island natives have created a whole series of vintage travel trailer signs, using logos and emblems from the actual trailers of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Everything from classic Airstreams and Shasta Trailers to the fun Flamingo and Serro Scotty campers.

You can see more of them here!

Tiki Bob Vintage Signs

The natives at Taboo Island just finished a small batch of vintage tiki bar signs, all dedicated to one of the most famous Polynesian Pop icons - Tiki Bob! These were produced as part of the Tiki Bob Art Show that was held at the Tonga Hut, North Hollywood in March, 2011. These 1950s graphics come from menus, matchbooks, and signs from that wonderful tiki bar and restaurant in San Francisco.

As always, these wood signs are made out of recycled and reused wood and paint. 100% environmentally friendly!

You can check them out here!

Squid Super Sale 3.0

Taboo Island is proud to announce the third run of the Squid Super Sale.

Celebrating his 10th anniversary in the Tiki movement, artist Squid has decided to release many mugs from his personal stash back into the wild. These are all factory samples or artist proofs with test glazes of mugs that he designed or sculpted. Lots of very rare and early Tiki Farm mugs! As proof that they come from his own collection, each mug is signed by Squid and comes with a certificate of authenticity as well. Squid has authorized Taboo Island to conduct this sale, going on right now on eBay.

Auctions end Monday, so check them out here!

Here's a quick sampling of some of the great mugs for sale now.

Southern California Slack Key Festival - Redondo Beach - Jan. 23

Taboo Island will be vending out at the Southern California Slack Key Festival in Redondo Beach on the 23rd. Come by and say aloha!

Here's some info from their press release:


KALA KOA PRESENTS THE 2011 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SLACK KEY FESTIVAL

The biggest Hawaiian music concert event outside Hawaii returns to Los Angeles January 23, 2011

WHEN: January 23, 2011
WHERE: Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Redondo Beach CA 90278
TIME: 2pm - 5pm (Island Marketplace featuring island-themed food and gifts opens at 11am)
TICKETS & INFO: http://www.slackkeyfest.com

(REDONDO BEACH, CA) On January 23, 2011, Kala Koa Entertainment will present the highly anticipated 4th Annual Southern California Slack Key Festival at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, a showcase of the best Hawaiian slack key guitarists in the world, all on one stage.

The 2011 lineup features Cyril Pahinui (son of Gabby Pahinui) performing with GRAMMY winner Jeff Peterson, Guitar magazine Guitar Superstar finalist Makana, three-time GRAMMY winner George Kahumoku, Jr with internationally renowned steel guitar player Bob Brozman, slack key guitarist and falsetto singer Gary Haleamau and - for the first time - the legendary slack key master Keola Beamer (Honolulu City Lights)together with one of Hawaii's top female vocalists Raiatea Helm.

The Festival - the first one of its kind anywhere outside Hawaii - set a major milestone for Hawaiian music events on the mainland when it debuted in 2008 and has already garnered a huge loyal following - creating, cultivating, and renewing interest in Hawaii and its music.

What is Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Music?

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (ki ho'alu) is truly one of the world’s great acoustic guitar traditions, considered to be one of the oldest music traditions to still be a viable (other than just historical) part of a modern culture. Ki ho'alu, which literally means to "loosen the key," is the Hawaiian language name for the solo finger-picked style unique to Hawaii. In this tradition, the strings (or "keys") are "slacked" to produce many different tunings, which usually contain a major chord, or a chord with a major 7th note, or sometimes one with a 6th note in it. Each tuning produces a lingering sound behind the melody and has a characteristic resonance and fingering.

Proud sponsors of the 2011 Southern California Slack Key Festival: Trader Vic's L.A. LIVE, Bruddah's Hawaiian Food, Sun Noodles, PRIMO Beer, Bridges Design Group

Castaway Ceramics Tiki Mugs by Squid

This just in! - A few crates of Castaway Ceramics mugs by Squid have washed ashore on the beaches of Taboo Island. The local natives were more concerned with the wood from the crates to make some "home improvements", so they've decide to put the mugs up for sale! We have the whole line up for sale now on the website, and at new, lower prices! Check them out here!